November 21, 2024 - Ukraine, Crimea

Update: November 23, 2024

Russian FSB officers forcibly abducted 61-year-old Crimean Tatar journalist Ediye Muslimova, the Chief Editor of Armanchyk, a children's magazine with 1,485 subscribers. Muslimova was seized near her home in Simferopol, held incommunicado for over 36 hours, denied legal representation, and subjected to sleep deprivation during interrogations. She was released on November 22 following international pressure, including calls for action from Women Press Freedom.

On November 21, 2024, Muslimova disappeared after informing her niece she was heading to visit her mother. Her car remained near her home, and her phones were turned off. Witnesses later reported seeing her forced into a vehicle by FSB agents.

The next day family members filed a formal disappearance report, met with vague police responses, and confirmed FSB involvement only late that evening.

Late on November 22, 2024, Muslimova was returned home by FSB agents, who bizarrely presented her with flowers after the ordeal.

The abduction comes amidst escalating repression against Crimean Tatar media in occupied Crimea. Independent outlets, like the newspaper Qurim, face relentless legal harassment and crippling fines, reflecting a broader crackdown since Russia’s illegal annexation in 2014.

This incident exemplifies a troubling pattern of intimidation and enforced disappearances targeting journalists and Crimean Tatar communities under Russian occupation. Muslimova’s abduction underscores the severe risks faced by journalists reporting in repressive environments. The use of incommunicado detention, psychological intimidation, and suppression of independent media reflects Russia's aim to silence dissent and erase Crimean Tatar identity.

Women Press Freedom condemns these violations and demand accountability for the FSB's actions. Solidarity and vigilance are essential to protect Crimean Tatar journalists and preserve press freedom in occupied Crimea.