Human rights activists: Crimean FSS totally watches Crimean Tatars up to DNA sample collection

PhD in Law, a head of the international human rights group «Agora» Pavel Chikov notes that the Russian authorities have organized a total surveillance of Crimean Tatars and especially activists at the annexed peninsula. The data were presented in the human rights group report dedicated to politically motivated surveillance.

Chikov reminded about this on the radio to «Krym.Realia».

According to him, the Russian security forces may collect DNA samples.

«The Russian authorities choose the most interesting segments of population: surveillance of political activists and members of non-profit organizations.  This group definitely includes Crimean Tatars in Crimea. The Russian authorities added them to  the «collective enemies» and aim to collect information about them, as well as DNA samples», an expert said.

Pavel Chikov also noted that in fact judicial control over the FSS requests for surveillance isn’t working.

«Restrictions for the special services are just nominal. When the FSS wants to tap the phone conversations or read the e-mail correspondence, it requires a court decision. The Supreme Court statistics shows that up to 98% of special services' inquiries for surveillance are met the agreement. Even if you got to know about such a decision, you can’t contest it post factum», Chikov noted.

In August 2017, the international human rights group Agora published a report on politically motivated surveillance. According to its data, there have been recorded 352 cases of spot surveillance over the human rights defenders, political and civil activists since 2007 in Russia.

Russian security service doesn’t disclose is position.

Mass house checks of independent journalists, civil activists, Crimean Tatar national movement activists, the Mejlis of Crimean Tatars members, as well as Crimean Muslims, who suspected of links with the banned organization Hizbut-Tahrir in Russia, have increased after the annexation in Crimea.