In Crimea 461 cases of freedom of speech violations recorded in 3 years – human rights defender

Human Rights Information Centre has recorded 461 cases of freedom of speech violations in the Crimea.

As reported by “UNIAN” information agency, this was stated by Tetyana Pechonchyk, the Chair of the Board of the NGO Human Rights Information Centre, during the International Forum “Crimea under occupation: consequences for Ukraine and the world” today in Kyiv.

“In the last three years, we have recorded 461 cases of freedom of speech and freedom of expression violations in the Crimea”, said Pechonchyk and added that this not only involves journalists, but also involves limitations regarding other people, who are expressing their opinions.

Pechonchyk emphasized that despite the reduction of such cases this, according to her, does not mean that the situation with freedom of speech is improving in the Crimea.

“This means that Russia practically suppressed any sources of criticism, freethinking, expressing disagreement with the policy of the Crimean occupiers”, – she said.

In addition, Pechonchyk noted that the biggest outbreak of violence againt journalists was in the first month of the occupation – in March 2014.

“During all this time, in the three years, all these constraints and violations concerned 241 people and 20 publications, which had whole editions repressed”, – said human rights defender.

In this regard, Pechonchyk stressed the importance of conducting an investigation on mainland Ukraine of criminal cases on violations of journalists’ rights in the Crimea. She also considers it necessary to simplify the procedure of access of foreign journalists to Crimea.

In addition, according to her, foreign countries should impose personal sanctions against those involved in the curtailment of freedom of expression and violation of journalists’ rights in the Crimea.