Ukraine: Russian Occupying Forces in Crimea Detain and Fine Lutfiye Zudiyeva for Facebook Post
Tatar journalist and activist has faced repeated persecution for her work
Location: Ukraine, Dzhankoi
Date: February 23, 2024Update: March 20, 2024
Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns the recent actions taken by Moscow-installed authorities in Crimea against Lutfiye Zudiyeva, a Crimean Tatar journalist and activist, under the spurious charges of "misuse of freedom of mass media." This case underscores the ongoing harassment faced by journalists and activists in Russian-occupied territories, aimed at silencing dissent and stifling freedom of expression. Zudiyeva's own experiences and fears, articulated in a recent Newsweek article, have now been realized in a manner that underscores the risks faced by journalists working under oppressive regimes. We condemn the repeated targeting of Lutfiye Zudiyeva for her reporting on the plight of Tatar citizens in occupied Crimea. The international community must condemn these actions and demand the immediate dropping of all charges against Zudiyeva.
On February 22, 2024, armed and masked occupation forces stormed the home of journalist Zudiyeva in Dzhankoi, Crimea. The pretext for the raid was a supposed "survey" authorized by the Kyiv District Court of Simferopol.
Zudiyeva's husband, Seitasan Chykiyev, reported that the officers forcefully entered their residence and conducted a thorough search, confiscating electronic devices such as phones, a laptop, and a video recorder. Despite objections from relatives and neighbors gathered outside, the occupation forces barred access to the family and filmed those present.
Following the search, officers took Zudiyeva to the notorious "Center E" in Simferopol; she was released after questioning.
The next day, Zudiyeva was charged with "misuse of freedom of mass media" for her Facebook posts. According to reports from Zudiyeva’s news outlet Graty, these posts included content from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), labeled an "undesirable" organization by Russia, and references to the banned Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir.
On March 20, 2024, a Russian-controlled court fined Zudiyeva 2,500 rubles ($27) for allegedly violating Russian legislation on "foreign agents" by not indicating this status in her personal Facebook posts. The court accused her of "abuse of freedom of the media" for disseminating information without indicating her status as a foreign agent. Zudiyeva's lawyer argued that only the editorial board or founders of media outlets can be held responsible under the relevant law. The court rejected these arguments in an 8-minute hearing.
Just days before her detention, Zudiyeva penned a poignant account forNewsweek detailing the pervasive fear of persecution she experiences as a Tatar journalist and activist in Crimea. The raid on her home was executed in a manner eerily like what she described in her article.
Crimean Tatars, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority, have long been subjected to discrimination and persecution, especially since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. The branding of their self-governing body as an "extremist" organization further exacerbates their marginalization and denies them their right to self-determination. Zudiyeva has been detained and interrogated by occupying forces on multiple occasions.
Zudiyeva's case is emblematic of the ongoing harassment faced by journalists and activists in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. Journalists critical of the Russian-imposed administration have been subjected to repeated interrogations and imprisonments, all aimed at silencing dissent and stifling freedom of expression. This egregious assault on press freedom demands immediate attention and condemnation from the international community. All bogus charges leveled at Lutfiye Zudiyeva must be dropped immediately.
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The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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