Today, on August 27, 2025, in Simferopol, representatives of the so-called “Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Crimea,” controlled by the Russian Federation, drew up an administrative protocol against Crimean Tatar journalist and human rights defender Lutfiye Zudiyeva. The document was issued under Part 1 of Article 19.34 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation — “carrying out the activities of a foreign agent without submitting the required declaration.”
According to the journalist, the grounds for the persecution were allegations that she was engaged in “political activity under foreign influence,” in particular through publishing materials about human rights violations in Crimea and the situation of Crimean Tatar political prisoners. As stated in the case materials, her posts on social media, articles in media outlets (“Graty,” CNN, Newsweek, and others), as well as interviews for international organizations, are interpreted by the Russian authorities as “foreign agent activity.”
Allegedly, Zudiyeva “disseminated messages and materials to an unlimited audience and took part in their creation under foreign influence.” She is accused of failing to voluntarily submit an application to be included in the register of “foreign agents” maintained by the Russian Ministry of Justice.
The Russian authorities claim that back in May 2025, the journalist was added to the “foreign agents” register by order of the Russian Ministry of Justice. She is now obliged to label all her content on social media as “18+” and to add the following disclaimer: 18+ THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) WAS PRODUCED, DISSEMINATED AND/OR SENT BY A FOREIGN AGENT. In addition, she must submit quarterly reports on her activities to the Russian Ministry of Justice. At present, Zudiyeva is appealing the decision to include her in this register.
Thus, according to the occupation administration, Lutfiye Zudiyeva “committed an administrative offense” which does not constitute a criminal act but is punishable under the Russian administrative code.
In reality, the persecution is aimed at the Crimean Tatar journalist because of her professional and human rights activities.
“Today at the Ministry of Justice I was told that this protocol was drawn up because I did not voluntarily come to them before being added to the foreign agent register, and I did not inform them that I write materials for outlets outside the Russian Federation. I do not agree with this administrative protocol or with the logic behind these events. First of all, I am challenging the very fact of being designated a foreign agent and am currently trying to restore justice through the courts — although this is unlikely. Secondly, I do not believe that giving comments or writing balanced texts about the situation in Crimea is illegal. In my texts, I always include both the perspective of people affected by repression and the position of the Russian authorities. That is why I do not consider my activities unlawful or fitting the definition of a foreign agent. There is little chance that I will be removed from the register, but I believe it is important to try — from the standpoint of restoring justice in the future,” Zudiyeva told the NGO Women in Media.
“However, today a protocol was drawn up, my written statement was attached to it, and the case materials will be sent to court. Most likely, in September or October there will be a court hearing, and as a result I will probably be fined. As they explained to me today, the fine will be from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles (approximately 12,000 to 26,000 hryvnias),” Lutfiye added.
The journalist says that the materials collected by the Ministry of Justice are based on documents provided by staff of the Crimean Center for Countering Extremism and the Federal Security Service (FSB) in Crimea. Zudiyeva often writes about the employees of these bodies:
“While working on these topics, I was guided primarily by the public interest,” says Lutfiye. “For Crimean Tatars and for society, these arrests, persecutions, and detentions involving torture are a deeply troubling issue. It must not be silenced.”
- Lutfiye Zudiyeva is a Crimean Tatar journalist and author for the outlet Graty. She has continued to live in Crimea and has not left the peninsula even after it came under Russian control in 2014. The full interview with Lutfiye, published by the NGO Women in Media, is available at the provided link.