Almost half the number involves mass detentions of Crimean Tatars back in 2014

352 cases of political prosecution have been reported in Russia since 2007, reports “Krym. Realii”, quoting the report of international human rights group “Agora”, dedicated to politically motivated prosecution.

“The report is focused on the analysis of prosecution against human rights defenders and activists. Most of the prosecutions, 177, were reported in 2014. Human rights defenders link the fact to mass detentions of Crimean Tatars after occupation of Crimea by Russia”, - the report reads.

Among common prosecution methods are phone tapping, illegal access of internet accounts, video- and audio surveillance.

“By mid-2000s, Russia has developed a complex control system using it against political, civil activists and human rights defenders. The system has been constantly improved”, - according to the research.

The research is based on mass media data and other openly available sources such as judicial and court statistics.

Searches, detentions and arrests of Crimean Tatars have become a common practice in Crimea after annexation of the peninsula by the Russian Federation. In April 2016, Russian-controlled Supreme Court of Crimea suspended representative body of Crimean Tatar people – Mejlis.