Today, April 10, marks Crimean Tatar Journalism Day. It is a date rooted in a proud intellectual legacy, commemorating the 1883 launch of Tercüman (The Interpreter)—the first Crimean Tatar newspaper founded by the visionary Ismail Gasprinsky. His motto, “Unity in language, thought, and action,” remains a guiding light for the Indigenous Crimean Tatar people today.
However, for more than 12 years, Crimea—an integral part of Ukraine and the historic homeland of the Crimean Tatars—has been under illegal Russian occupation. Since 2014, independent media on the peninsula has been effectively eliminated. Journalists and civic reporters who document life under occupation and the persecution of their community face raids, politically motivated trials, and brutal prison sentences.
The Human Cost of Truth
Today, at least 21 Crimean journalists and civic reporters remain imprisoned by Russian authorities for their professional and civic work. These are not just names on a list; they are parents, professionals, and neighbors whose health is failing under the weight of systemic neglect and torture.
Specific cases demanding urgent international attention include:
- Amet Suleimanov: A father of four suffering from severe heart and arterial insufficiency. Despite his critical condition, his “disability” status was revoked by Russian authorities, and his health continues to deteriorate in a prison cell.
- Iryna Danylovych: A civic journalist and medic who was abducted and held in a basement for eight days. She has since lost hearing in one ear and suffered at least one stroke due to the deliberate denial of medical care.
- Asan Akhtemov: A journalist for the newspaper Avdet who was beaten and tortured with electric shocks by the FSB to extract a confession. He is now rapidly losing his vision and teeth due to the harsh conditions of his 15-year sentence.
- Tymur Ibragimov: A citizen journalist with a pre-existing disability who is now facing a total health crisis. He requires an urgent eye implant that is impossible to receive within the Russian penal system.
- Volodymyr Dudka: Now in his ninth year of illegal imprisonment, he suffers from untreated stomach ulcers and prostate issues. He has been subjected to torture and is frequently placed in punishment cells despite his age and failing health.
A Broader Reality: Over a Decade of Occupation
These cases exist within a wider system of repression that has defined life in Crimea since its illegal seizure in February 2014.
- Religious Suppression: The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has been forced out, while Crimean Tatars face fabricated “terrorism” charges. Jehovah’s Witnesses are banned outright.
- Political Prisoners: At least 218 individuals are currently imprisoned on politically motivated charges.
- Abduction of Children: Ukrainian children are being forcibly transferred through Crimea to Russia in an attempt to erase their national identity.
- Cultural Erasure: The historic Bakhchysarai Palace is under threat from so-called “reconstructions” aimed at erasing Crimean Tatar heritage.
- Active Resistance: Despite the risks, movements such as ATESH and Yellow Ribbon continue to resist the occupation through intelligence and non-violent action.
This is not only a crackdown on journalism—it is an attempt to silence an entire people and erase their identity.
A Call to Action
These journalists are being punished for refusing to let Crimea become an information vacuum. From Aziz Azizov, who was sent to a psychiatric hospital without medical cause, to Remzi Bekirov, who was punished with solitary confinement simply for performing his morning prayers, the message from the occupiers is clear: silence is the only legal option.
We must not stay silent.
On this Crimean Tatar Journalism Day, we ask you to share these stories. Ensuring their voices are heard is the most vital way to honour those who refuse to be silent in the face of occupation.