Russia’s Justice Ministry has demanded that the de facto Crimean Bar Association expel Emil Kurbedinov, with this almost certainly leading to his being stripped of his licence. This is the latest of several attempts to silence Kurbedinov and other courageous lawyers in occupied Crimea. The timing, both of this move and of the second administrative prosecution over a pre-annexation Facebook repost, cited as the pretext, suggests that Russia may be particularly concerned about the united defence team representing the 24 Ukrainian prisoners of war seized when Russia attacked three Ukrainian naval boats on Nov. 25.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
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Halya Coynash: Russia launches dangerous attack on lawyers in Crimea
Crimean Tatar lawyer Emil Kurbedinov poses for a photo, holding the Frontline Defenders Prize stattuette after the ceremony in Dublin City Hall on May 26, 2017.
