Law enforcement has investigated over 300 criminal cases related to the persecution of Ukrainians in occupied Crimea.

Since the beginning of the occupation of Crimea, Ukrainian law enforcement has investigated over 300 criminal cases regarding unlawful detentions and searches on the peninsula: the majority of those detained and searched are Crimean Tatars.

This is reported by Suspilne citing a response from the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to journalists' inquiries.

The actions of the occupiers are classified under articles 146 – “Illegal deprivation of liberty” and 162 – “Illegal search” of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

At the same time, law enforcement has initiated 112 cases under article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – “Violation of the laws and customs of war,” related to the unlawful detention of Crimeans.

As of the end of January 2025, five indictments have been sent to court against representatives of the occupying authority and 13 acts concerning “judges,” “prosecutors,” and other officials involved in these crimes.

The Prosecutor's Office of Crimea reminded that Russia systematically violates international humanitarian law. In particular, it concerns the violation of Article 51 of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits coercion into service in the Russian army. Since 2014, more than 34,000 local residents have been forcibly mobilized or pressured into joining its ranks in Crimea.

The agency noted that Ukraine continues to gather evidence for international courts and provide support to residents of the peninsula affected by Russian persecution.

Earlier, ZMINA reported that the Crimean Human Rights Group, as of January 2025, recorded at least 220 citizens of Ukraine from temporarily occupied Crimea who have been unlawfully deprived of their freedom by the Russian temporary authority for political and religious reasons. They are primarily held in detention centers in Simferopol and in colonies on the territory of the Russian Federation. The prisoners suffer from torture and lack of medical assistance.