07/04/2022 13:03

The occupying power of the Russian Federation violates the right to freedom of religion in the temporarily occupied Crimea

The so-called "Armyansky and Yalta City Courts" controlled by Russia have launched lawsuits for "organizing and financing extremist activities" against members of the religious organization "Jehovah's Witnesses" - Taras Kuzio, Daria Kuzio, Petro Zhiltsov, Serhiy Lyulin, Tadevos Manuvenky, Alexander Dukan  and Alexander Litvinyuk.

The trials of Kuzio couple, Serhiy Lyulin, Petro Zhiltsov and Tadevos Manukyan began on April 4 in the so-called “Yalta City Court” in the temporarily occupied Crimea.  They are charged under Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of Russian Federation (Financing an extremist organization), the maximum penalty can be up to 8 years in prison.  Tadevos Manukyan will be tried in absentia, as the investigation did not reveal his whereabouts.

The trial of Oleksandr Dubovenko and Oleksandr Lytvynuk began on April 5 in the so-called "Armyansky City Court".  The men are charged under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of Russian Federation (organization of extremist activities).  The investigation claims that they "used the software for video conferencing" Zoom "to attract new members of the banned organization."

The persecution of members of religious organizations in the occupied Crimea is a gross violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 9 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, according to which everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.  In addition, the Geneva Convention prohibits the application of the laws of the occupying country in the occupied territories.

The occupying power continues to ignore UN General Assembly resolution 74/168, in which the international community calls on Russia to ensure freedom of religion and belief without any discrimination or artificial regulatory barriers.

I appeal to the UN Commission for Investigation Human Rights Violations during the Russian Military Invasion of Ukraine and the expert mission set up by the OSCE participating States in accordance with the Moscow Mechanism to take into account these facts of Russian human rights violations in Ukraine.