Ukraine: Women Press Freedom Demands End to Lutfiye Zudiyeva’s Legal Harassment by Russian Authorities
Tatar journalist forced to sign document warning her against breaking the law
Location: Ukraine, Dzhankoi
Date: May 7, 2024
Women Press Freedom is appalled by the ongoing intimidation and harassment of renowned Tatar journalist Lutfiye Zudiyeva by Russian occupying forces in Crimea. After a raid, detention, and unjust fine for a Facebook post earlier this year, officers coerced her into signing a document that warned her against breaking the law. Although not legally binding, intimidating Zudiyeva into signing the document is part of Russian authorities’ broader crackdown on independent media in Crimea since its annexation by Russia in 2014. By targeting journalists reporting on human rights abuses and political dissent, the authorities seek to silence independent voices, particularly Crimean Tatars, and control the narrative about events in the region. Women Press Freedom denounces the intimidation; we demand an end to the harassment of media workers and a resounding condemnation from the international community of Russia’s draconian clampdown on free press.
On May 6 and 7, 2024, Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs officers visited Zudiyeva at her Dzhankoi home, in Russian-occupied Crimea. The journalist was questioned and asked to sign a document warning against breaking the law. These actions were supposedly based on orders from higher authorities.
The document included language warning Zudiyeva about the consequences of violating the law of mass protests. Under persistent pressure from officers, Zudiyeva signed the paper on May 7, 2024.
Although the document Zudiyeva has no legal weight, by coercing her into signing it, the authorities seek to deter her from covering events they consider undesirable or critical of their actions. Local lawyers and activists were given similar warnings earlier in the week.
Zudiyeva, a prominent Tatar journalist, has been repeatedly harassed by occupying Russian forces. In February, she was detained after her home was raided by police. Later she was fined for posts she made on Facebook. Last year, she was briefly detained for reporting on a court hearing concerning three Tatar activists.
Zudiyeva's persecution reflects a larger pattern of press freedom suppression in Crimea since Russia annexed the region in 2014. Many journalists have turned to citizen journalism to report on human rights abuses, particularly affecting marginalized groups like the Crimean Tatars.
Crimean Tatars, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority, have long been subjected to discrimination and persecution, which has significantly escalated since Russia's annexation. The branding of the Crimean Tatar self-governing body as an "extremist" organization further exacerbates their marginalization and denies them their right to self-determination. Numerous Crimean Tatar journalists and activists have been put behind bars by Russian forces.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the ongoing targeting of Lutfiye Zudiyeva and her colleagues in Crimea by occupying Russian forces. The coerced signing of a document by Zudiyeva holds no legal weight but rather serves as a tool for psychological coercion and harassment aimed at silencing her and fostering an atmosphere of fear. The lack of legal validity of this document highlights the arbitrary and oppressive tactics employed by Russian authorities to suppress dissenting voices in the region. We call for an immediate cessation of the intimidation campaign against Zudiyeva and other journalists in Crimea by Russian authorities. Furthermore, we urge the international community, including governments, human rights organizations, and media watchdogs, to denounce these flagrant violations of press freedom and to exert pressure on Russian authorities to uphold the rights of journalists in Crimea.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
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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