Ten years since its illegal annexation, Crimea is a template for newly occupied parts of Ukraine | CNN
Crimean Tatar woman highlights oppression and repression under Russian occupation of Crimea.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
A Crimean Tatar woman, Lutfiye Zudiyeva, was calmly escorted from her home by Russian forces following her third arrest since 2019. Zudiyeva, a human rights activist, highlighted the oppression and repression Ukrainians face under Russia’s occupation of Crimea. The situation has worsened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with increased cases of abduction and detention. The UN reports efforts to erase Ukrainian and Tatar identity in Crimea, including land expropriation and forcing residents to obtain Russian passports. The fear is that Crimea’s situation could serve as a model for other occupied Ukrainian regions. Russia attempts to mask its oppression through propaganda, emphasizing infrastructure development. Zudiyeva, originally an educator, turned to activism and journalism due to the persecution faced in Crimea.