On 7 June 2024, a Russian court in Simferopol, the capital of Russian-occupied Crimea, fined the legal entity of regional newspaper Qirim 300 thousand rubles on grounds of allegedly “discrediting” the Russian army. The news was reported on by activist Elnaz Akimova (Qirimli), who wrote about the decision on Facebook, quoting the newspaper’s lawyer Lila Gemeji.
According to Russian human rights news outlet OVD-Info, Qirim was fined for a publication on the newspaper’s website which cited arguments against inhabitants of Crimea joining the Russian army to fight in Ukraine, as well as another publication which cited a UN report about the human rights situation in Crimea, highlighting, among other topics, arbitrary arrests.
OVD-Info reported that another fining protocol, this time for “disseminating false information” about the Russian army, had also been drawn up in relation to the newspaper. A court decision had, however, not yet been made with regards to this fine.
Both fining protocols were drawn up in mid-May, OVD-Info wrote, when Russian security forces carried out a search at the office of the newspaper.
UPDATE: On 16 July 2024, a court of appeals in Simferopol upheld the 300 thousand ruble fine against Qirim despite an appeal made by the newspaper, local human rights groups reported.