A/HRC/41/CRP.2 unlawful. Nonetheless, even though nearly three years have passed since the forced eviction, not a single person has been found criminally liable. 94. In the territory controlled by ‘Donetsk people’s republic’ and ‘Luhansk people’s republic’ reportedly due to the application of laws criminalizing so-called “propaganda of same-sex relationships”, social stigma and intolerance based on sexual orientation and gender identity have become more acute.102 VII. Human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation 95. The situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation103 continued to be characterised by human rights and international humanitarian law violations committed by the Russian Federation as the occupying Power on the peninsula. During the reporting period, OHCHR recorded human rights violations, including, inter alia, restrictions on fundamental freedoms and education rights, as well as infringements of the right to physical and mental integrity. In total, OHCHR documented 15 violations which occurred within the reporting period; with the Government of the Russian Federation responsible for 14 and the Government of Ukraine for one.104 In addition, OHCHR documented 26 violations which occurred outside the reporting period, all of which are attributable to the Government of the Russian Federation. A. International humanitarian law 96. In violation of its obligations as an occupying Power, the Russian Federation continued applying its legal framework, including its criminal legislation, to the residents of the Crimean peninsula. In addition, the application of this legislation continues to disproportionally affect devout Muslims and sympathisers of religious organisations banned in the Russian Federation. 97. On 27 March 2019, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (“FSB”) together with Russian Federation police and National Guard launched a large-scale operation against alleged members of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Crimea, an organisation considered terrorist in the Russian Federation, but lawful in Ukraine. Twenty-six house searches were carried out in one day in the city of Simferopol, as well as Simferopol, Bilohirsk and Krasnohvardiisk districts. Following simultaneous raids and house-to-house visits, FSB arrested 20 Muslim men on criminal charges of setting up (participating) in a terrorist organisation and remanded them in prison. Four more individuals were arrested on the same charges on 28 March and 17 April 2019. Reportedly, most of the arrested individuals are Crimean Tatars affiliated with the civic movement “Crimean Solidarity”, a non-registered initiative launched by relatives of detained Crimean Tatars.105 98. Since the beginning of the occupation, 59 individuals have been arrested or convicted on accusations of affiliation with banned Muslim groups in Crimea, the vast majority of whom are Crimean Tatars. Twelve of them have been found guilty and received criminal sentences. OHCHR notes that all the individuals were prosecuted under Russian Federation law. 102 103 104 105 UN Independent Expert on the protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Preliminary observations on the country visit to Ukraine, held from 30 April to 10 May 2019, para. 16. Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-third Session, Resolution (A/RES/73/263), para 11. Hereafter Crimea. The violations attributable to the Government of Ukraine did not necessarily occur in Crimea itself, but concern events in mainland Ukraine connected to the situation in Crimea. They are related to freedom of movement, access to public services, and the right to property. OHCHR interviews, 27, 28 and 29 March 2019. 25

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