Having tried and failed to cower Crimean Tatar leaders into submission, the Crimean puppet government installed after Russian soldiers seized control last February is now attempting to replace elected members of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis and Qurultay with ‘reliable people’.

A Russian court has upheld the ban imposed after Russia’s annexation of Crimea on veteran Crimean Tatar leader and Ukrainian MP Mustafa Dzhemiliev. A migration service official said that the 71-year-old had been banned for 5 years “to ensure the state’s defence capacity and security, and to safeguard public order.”

Akhtem Chiygoz, deputy head of the Mejlis, or Crimean Tatar representative assembly has been remanded in custody for a further three months, and a peaceful protest against his arrest prohibited on grounds as surreal as the charges against the Crimean Tatar leader

Yet another Crimean Tatar has been arrested in connection with a criminal investigation by the occupation regime that indicates either legal illiteracy or truly staggering disregard for rule of law

A second Crimean Tatar has apparently been arrested in Russian-occupied Crimea on charges relating to a protest on Feb 26, 2014, the day before Russian soldiers seized control

The arrest of Akhtem Chiygoz, Deputy Head of the Mejlis, on suspicion of ‘organizing and taking part in mass disturbances’ is of unprecedented cynicism. There is not only video footage demonstrating his innocence, but the charges are under Russian legislation which not even Russia would claim was in force on Feb 26, 2014

Two court hearings over appeals lodged against bans imposed since Russia’s annexation of Crimea on people linked with the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, or representative assembly, have been postponed.

The Crimean authorities under Russian rule have ‘deported’ Sinaver Kadyrov, a Crimean Tatar activist with Ukrainian citizenship, Crimean registration, but with views and a concern over human rights violations that the occupation regime clearly finds inconvenient. The message this sends any Crimean is chilling.

Edem Osmanov whose father earned fame and gratitude last December when he cooked pilaf for freezing EuroMaidan protesters has become the fifth Crimean Tatar to be facing dubious charges over the peaceful protest on May 3 when veteran Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemiliev was prevented from entering his homeland.

Emine Avamileva, a well-known public figure, lawyer and member of the Mejlis or Crimean Tatar representative assembly is the latest Mejlis representative to face harassment in the major offensive waged by the Russian occupation regime.

Overt attempts by paid thugs to cause a fight and give a pretext for stopping the conference were thwarted, and its participants able to adopt an appeal to the UN on grave violations of their rights under Russian occupation

On Dec 18 a Crimean Tatar home and the mosque in the village of Turgenevka [Bakhchysarai region] were subjected to an armed search after an employee of the home owner Mustafa Yagyaev denounced’ him following disagreement about Russia’s annexation of the Crimea

In apparent retaliation for the appeal lodged by the Crimea Foundation, a charity closely linked with the Mejlis, or representative body of the Crimean Tatar people, against a massive fine, the FSB have initiated a criminal investigation against the Foundation’s Director, Riza Shevkiev.

Veteran of the Crimean Tatar national movement Vedzhie Kashka turned 80 recently and should have been admitted to hospital on Dec 10 over a heart condition. She couldn’t because she had been summonsed for questioning by the FSB [Russian Security Service].

In the first positive move of an increasingly worrying criminal prosecution, Crimean Tatar activist Tair Smerdlyaev has been released from custody pending trial.

Bans were not enough for the Russian-installed puppet regime in the Crimea, and riot police, FSB, metal detectors and young louts were deployed to ensure Crimean Tatars were prevented from holding traditional meetings on international Human Rights Day.

The Crimean Tatar Mejlis is yet again prohibited from holding traditional gatherings, this time marking Human Rights Day, while a marginal group demonstrating ‘in support of the Russian President was not only allowed, but given support and guards.

A fourth arrest on Nov 25 has heightened suspicion that Russia’s puppet regime in the Crimea is manufacturing its own Bolotnaya Square trials, like those in Russia, aimed at intimidating Crimean Tatars and silencing opposition.

A court in Simferopol has imposed massive fines on the Crimea Foundation and its director in what the latter calls the latest step in a politically-motivated attack aimed at destroying the Foundation.

Who else could achieve a return to the worst forms of Soviet repression in less than 9 months? Why is Vladimir Putin’s only response to the disappearances and abductions of Crimean Tatars a claim that it’s all news to him?