The Crimean Tatar Resource Center records new cases of Ukrainian citizens being added to Russia’s “List of organizations and individuals known to be involved in extremist activities or terrorism” on a weekly basis.
This mechanism is increasingly being used by the Russian Federation as a tool of political pressure not only against residents of the temporarily occupied territories, but also against persons outside their borders. In this way, the aggressor state is trying to persecute undesirable Ukrainian citizens even outside the occupation zone, extending repressive practices far beyond the front line.
The CTRC emphasizes that adding people to the list of “extremists and terrorists” is a form of political pressure because, according to the legislation of the Russian Federation, inclusion of a person in this list entails automatic blocking of accounts, restriction of property disposal, and de facto economic isolation on the territory of the Russian Federation and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, to which Russia extends its legislation in violation of international law.
The inclusion of Ukrainian citizens on this list is based on criminal prosecution, which is politically motivated and used as a tool of pressure. The use of financial restrictive mechanisms in such circumstances is a form of additional punishment and intensification of repression.
Moreover, the application of this mechanism contradicts the basic principles of law, in particular the presumption of innocence, since inclusion in the List can take place without a court decision and indicates abuse of legislation on countering extremism and terrorism for the purpose of suppressing dissent.
The CTRC emphasizes that this practice by the Russian Federation is a gross violation of human rights and a demonstration of the fight against freedom of speech, conscience, and belief.
In this regard, the CTRC calls on Ukrainian citizens, especially those who are abroad or planning to travel, to check information about possible inclusion in Russian repressive lists. After all, inclusion in the “List of organizations and individuals known to be involved in extremist activities or terrorism” may, in addition to the potential risk of restrictions on financial transactions abroad, indicate the existence of possible criminal proceedings against the person included in it, and, accordingly, the possibility of probable “procedural” decisions, including restrictions on freedom, which may lead to undesirable consequences in third countries.
If you find yourself on the abovementioned list, the CTRC recommends checking a number of official resources to search for court documents: the portal of the State Automated System (SAS) “Justice” — the main resource where you can search for cases by name, case number, or court; the websites of specific courts (Supreme Court, courts of general jurisdiction) and the services of the Federal Bailiff Service (FBS) for debts, etc. Or contact the Crimean Tatar Resource Center for assistance.