In Crimea, occupiers fined a journalist and human rights defender Lutfiye Zudieva 30,000 rubles

September 15, 2025
The Dzhankoy District “Court” of Crimea found a journalist and human rights activist, Lutfiye Zudieva, “guilty” of violating Russian administrative legislation on “foreign agents.” She was fined 30,000 Russian rubles (approximately 15,000 hryvnias). This was reported by Graty media outlet.

The “court” allegedly found that she, intending to carry out the activities of a “foreign agent,” allegedly failed to notify the authorities in order to be entered into the relevant register. The case was heard by “judge” Elena Nikolaeva.

The Crimean Tatar Resource Center strongly condemns such actions by the occupying authorities and considers them illegal persecution of a journalist and human rights activist. We demand to end the persecution of Lutfiye Zudieva and all those who try to cover human rights violations in the temporarily occupied Crimea, because freedom of speech and independent journalism are basic rights that the occupiers systematically violate.

We remind you that on May 16, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation added Crimean Tatar journalist and human rights activist Lutfiye Zudieva to the list of so-called “foreign agents.” A statement on the ministry’s website said that the basis for this was allegedly “the dissemination of inaccurate information about decisions made by public authorities and the policies they pursue.”