Enforced disappearances in the autonomous republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation

Key Findings:

1. Since the beginning of the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, (“Crimea”) in 2014,1 OHCHR has documented 43 cases of enforced disappearances in Crimea;

2. These mostly took the form of abductions and kidnappings and the victims consist of 39 men and 4 women;

3. The first documented enforced disappearance took place on 3 March 2014 and the most recent on 23 May 2018;

4. Out of the 43 victims of enforced disappearances, 11 persons (all men) remain missing and one man remains in detention;

5. Alleged perpetrators comprised militia groups, such as the Crimean self-defense and Cossack groups; agents of the Russian Federal Security Service; and other law enforcement authorities, including the Crimean police.

6. Perpetrators have used torture and ill-treatment to force victims to self-incriminate or testify against others, as well as retaliation for their political affiliation or position;

7. No individual has been prosecuted in relation to any of the enforced disappearances, as well as torture and ill-treatment, documented by OHCHR.