The trial has begun of four Crimean Muslims accused by Russia of involvement in an organization – Hizb ut-Tahrir - which is legal in Ukraine but which Russia and Uzbekistan have declared ‘terrorist’ without providing any reason. The ‘court’ on Wednesday also saw no need for the defence to be shown any proof.

How is it possible to prohibit a people from honouring the victims of an act of genocide? With threats, detentions and even warnings to schools that the number of children absent will be noted, and their parents asked for explanations. The ban did not stop hundreds of Crimean Tatars gathering in Bakhchysarai, with the FSB out in full force and openly videoing all those present.

Crimean Tatar self-governing bodies are being prevented from holding any remembrance gatherings to mark the 72nd anniversary of the 1944 Deportation of the entire Crimean Tatar people from their homeland. The escalation in repression over the last week or so has also raised fears that Russia may try to provoke trouble in order to orchestrate a bloody crackdown.

Russian pro-Kremlin channels’ efforts to undermine Jamala’s song 1944 and her victory were probably to be expected. Russia has a lot to conceal, and not first and foremost about the Deportation, but about its repression and terror against the Crimean Tatar people now

It is not surprising that Crimean Tatars and other Ukrainians are so eager for the world to hear and support Jamala. The Crimean Tatar jazz singer and winner of Eurovision 2016 as become a voice not only for the victims of the 1944 Deportation, but also for Crimean Tatars under Russian occupation who are once again facing persecution in their native land.

Tonight’s Eurovision is not just a light-hearted singing contest. It is one of the only chances the Crimean Tatars have to tell the world about Russia’s continuing efforts to wipe out all traces of them

The charges against Ilmi Umerov, the Deputy Head of the Mejlis, or Crimean Tatar representative assembly clearly identify what Russia understands as ‘extremism’, namely opposition to Russia’s occupation of Crimea. Umerov is accused of “openly calling for the return of Crimea to Ukraine”.

Four more Crimean Tatars have been arrested and could face long terms of imprisonment on trumped-up ‘terrorism’ charges following the latest offensive in Russian-occupied Crimea

Ali Asanov, a 33-year-old father of four, is facing an 8-year sentence on legally grotesque charges in a case targeting only Crimean Tatars. It is likely that he remains in detention because of his refusal to provide false testimony against Crimean Tatar leader Akhtem Chiygoz

A Crimean court has formally completed its criminalization of the Mejlis, or self-governing body of the Crimean Tatar people. There have been no serious threats of sanctions or other measures from European structures and western countries although this is a direct attack on the main indigenous people of Crimea

Two years after invading and annexing Ukrainian territory, Russia has effectively declared war against the Crimean Tatar people. More words of concern, without real punitive sanctions, would be frighteningly inadequate.

The warning from a well-known Russian analyst that Russia could be planning to use methods seen in the Caucasus to stage a provocation and then a bloody crackdown against Crimean Tatars is difficult to dismiss, and not only because of the virulent propaganda campaign in the Russian and other pro-Kremlin media.

Nobody expected real court hearings on Russia’s execution of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis [Representative Assembly], but the effective criminalizing of it without a court ruling still came as a shock. The gates of the ghetto are closing, one commentator has said, and all should be warned

At least 35 Crimean Tatars were detained on Friday evening after armed men in masks burst into a café outside Simferopol. Crimean Tatars were openly targeted, with people in the cafe “of Slavonic appearance” ignored

The Mejlis, or representative assembly of the Crimean Tatar people is likely to be criminalized on the basis of unwarranted warnings about supposed ‘extremism’ or criminal charges brought for opposing Russian occupation of Crimea.

Two years after invading and annexing Crimea, Russia appears ready to outlaw the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, the representative body of the largest indigenous people of the peninsula. It is unclear whether Western countries will respond with more than words of deep concern if the Mejlis and its 2,300 representatives at various levels are criminalized. At present, the West is largely silent, although the danger is real and immediate.

If Russia declares the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, or representative body of the indigenous people of Crimea ‘extremist’, around 2,300 members of Crimean Tatar self-government structures could be in immediate danger.

It is almost a year since Russia tried to silence the unique Crimean Tatar television channel ATR, forcing it to close in Russian-occupied Crimea. Relaunched in Kyiv, the channel is now again in danger and, gallingly, this time it is inaction from the Ukrainian government which is jeopardizing the channel’s existence

All young Crimean Tatar men trying to enter Crimea from mainland Ukraine at the Chonhar crossing on Feb 22 were stopped by Russian security service officers, with many taken away for questioning

Russia’s attempt to ban the Mejlis amounts to the ethnic, cultural and political discrimination of the Crimean Tatar people. Please endorse this protest by human rights groups