A court in Rostov has banned any photos, videos or Internet streaming of the trial of eight Crimean Tatar civic activists, with this even extending to before the hearings begin, and during breaks. The ban on the latter is seemingly not absolute, however, permission must be specially obtained, and there is no guarantee that it will be granted. This is a blow for the families of the men, since only a limited number of people are even allowed into the courtroom. It is also, however, a brazen attempt to restrict information about Russia’s use of terrorism charges to silence peaceful civic activists.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
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Halya Coynash: Russia moves to hide its political trial of Crimean Tatars
A man holds his son and the National flag of Crimean Tatars during a memorial ceremony on the Independence square in Kyiv on May 18, 2019 in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the deportation of the indigenous population of the Crimea by the Soviet Union.
