We call the media to give publicity the trial of Crimean journalist Mykola Semena

Open address regarding launch of court deliberations in the case of Crimean journalist, Mykola Semena

Dear colleagues!

On 28 February the so-called Zheleznodorozhny court of Simferopol in occupied Crimea will start the process against Ukrainian journalist Mykola Semena, who is faced with 5 years in a Russian prison. His crime – an article published on Radio Liberty that was not well liked by the Russian authorities.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that after accusations against the journalist, who is a retiree, his health started giving in. The Kyiv Institute of Neurosurgery stated that Mykola Semena was in need of an operation. Calls of the international community to let Mykola Semena, who is on a travel ban for ten months already, leave for the medical intervention have fallen on deaf ears of the occupation authorities.

Repressions and bashing of those who dissent, dozens of fraudulent cases and politically-motivated persecutions show that the Russian Federation will not stop its aggressive oppression on fabricated cases. For instance, Crimean documentary film director, Oleh Sentsov, was sentenced to 20 years in jail on accusations of plotting a terrorist attack. Mykola Semena is also risking imprisonment – as well as anyone who dares speak what the UN General Assembly reconfirmed: “Crimea is Ukraine”.

Such politically-motivated cases are not from the realm of justice. Russian Federation that, in violation of international law annexed the Crimean peninsula, is using all means possible to annihilate those who may speak the truth about what is going on there. Freedom of speech and expression is all but strangled in Crimea by the occupation authorities throughout the last three years.

Only information widely disseminated gives hope that the repressive machinery will sooner or later grind to a halt. And that is why we call onto journalists, rights-defenders, civic activists, representatives of international organizations, foreign media outlets, as well as all those who care, to watch this court process and report on the case of Crimean journalist, Mykola Semena.

We have faith that all those who refuse to be indifferent will raise their voices to the defense of the persecuted journalist and speak up against trampling of civil liberties on the occupied peninsula.

Human Rights Information Center

Crimean Tatar Resource Center

Taurida Humanitarian Platform

Regional Press Development Institute