Occupational authorities in Crimea tighten control over expression online

Crimean residents are afraid of expressing their opinions online, in particular, in social networks, because they are afraid of persecution by local police. This was reported by the co-chair of the Coordination council of NGOs of IDPs Andriy Shchekun on the website Krym.Realii.

According to Shchekun, Crimeans are afraid as the occupational authorities tighten the control over Internet users. It was announced that they would establish a special supervising governmental body to monitor media outlets. 

 The representative of the Crimean human rights field mission Vissarion Aseyev pointed out that any contestation of Crimea belonging to the Russian Federation, even expressed in social network, could get qualified by the local occupational authorities as calls for actions directed at violation of the territorial integrity of Russia. The perpetrators risk either a fine from 100 up 200 thousand roubles or correctional labor up to four years.

Crimean residents are afraid of denouncement. Some have been already summoned for interrogation, arrested, searched, and abducted.