«Reporting can influence attitudes toward the Russian authorities.» The Court of Appeal upheld a fine against Lutfiye Zudieva under Russia’s «foreign agents» legislation

On 10 November, the Russian-controlled Supreme Court of Crimea rejected an appeal by Crimean human rights defender and journalist Lutfiye Zudieva, who was challenging a fine imposed on her under the «foreign agents» laws. During the appeal hearing, Judge Nadezhda Dvirnyk and representative of the Russian Ministry of Justice in Crimea Irina Demetskaya  stated that the administrative prosecution of the journalist was directly related to the fact that in Zudieva’s media publications, there is criticism of the Russian authorities, and a lack of such regarding the Ukrainian authorities. The fact that the human rights defender is challenging her «foreign agent» designation in court was ignored in this case. 

Among other things, it was mentioned at the hearing that there are currently only two people in Crimea designated as «foreign agents» by Russia — Lutfiye Zudieva and political prisoner Iryna Danylovych. 

Here are the details from Graty.

«Do you consider yourself as politically motivated?» 

The Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Dzhankoy District Court finding Lutfiye Zudieva guilty of an administrative offence (Article 19.34, Part 1 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation): allegedly, the journalist was planning on actions pertaining to the «foreign agent» status, and had not voluntarily informed the Russian authorities about those plans in order to be included in the relevant registry in advance.  

She was fined 30,000 Russian roubles (319 euro or over 15,000 hryvnias). The court’s website states that there were changes in the decision of the court of first instance, but they only concerned technical details — the account number to which the fine should be paid. 

The human rights defender believes that she is not anyone’s «agent» and could not have informed the Russian Ministry of Justice of an intention that she had not had.  

As Irina Demetskaya, deputy head of the Russian Ministry of Justice in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol reported at the court hearing , there are currently only two «foreign agents» from Crimea: Lutfiye Zudieva and Iryna Danylovych, who, prior to her enforced disappearance and subsequent conviction, was also involved in human rights work and collaborated with the media, covering politically motivated cases in Crimean courts. 

Zudieva’s activities are described as «political» in the administrative protocol. By this, the Russian Ministry of Justice means her journalistic work for Graty, as well as her work as a human rights defender, in particular her columns and interviews to the international media and human rights organisations about human rights violations committed by Russia in Crimea. 

«Over the years that you have been working as a journalist, have there been any positive feedback about events taking place in Russia in your publications? Name those publications» — Judge Nadezhda Dvirnyk asked during the hearing. 

Lutfiye Zudieva responded by mentioning several of her articles, namely those about the release of blind Crimean resident Olexandr Sizikov from prison (who has since been detained again,) and emphasised that she seeks to cover all events objectively and in a balanced manner, in accordance with journalistic standards. 

«When positive events took place, we definitely reported about them in our articles», — Zudieva said. 

Irina Demetskaya, representative of the Russian Ministry of Justice in Crimea, noted that the report used by the ministry and prepared by its Crimean office designating Lutfiye Zudieva as a «foreign agent», did not mention a single article in which the Russian authorities were portrayed in a positive light, nor were there any articles criticising the Ukrainian authorities. 

«Unfortunately, political activity is not limited by law. It can include anything: criticism of the decisions of state bodies and unwillingness to comply with certain laws of the Russian Federation. In this case, Lutfiye Zudieva’s articles are negative in their nature, and may influence the attitude of other citizens towards the Russian authorities. We note that her publications are not limited to her social networks, but are open to  wide audiences, including those outside the Russian Federation.Judging by her publications, people may perceive the processes taking place on the Russian Federation’s territory today negatively,» — Demetskaya said.  

The journalist responded by explaining that she resides and covers trials in Crimea, which is de facto controlled by Russia, while events and actions of the authorities in mainland Ukraine are covered by other journalists. She added that Russian leaders, who also give interviews to foreign media, are not being labeled as «foreign agents». 

It was also mentioned that in 2024, Lutfiye Zudieva was awarded the Ukrainian journalism prize «Honour of the Profession» for her podcast «Захисниця. Imayeci» about political prisoner Iryna Danylovych. 

«You receive awards from a foreign country. Do you think that’s normal?» — asked Irina Demetskaya.

The journalist explained that the decision had been made by the award’s jury, not by herself.

The judge then proceeded to ask whether Zudieva considered her activities to be political.

— I consider my prosecution to be politically motivated. I believe that the security forces have had political motives, — replied the journalist.

— Do you consider yourself to be politically motivated?

— No, I do not consider myself politically motivated; I am not involved in political activities. In my understanding, political activity means running for office, conducting election campaigns, and carrying out work directly related to politics. I strongly disagree with attempts to interpret journalism and writing as political activity.

Growing pressure on human rights defender

Lutfiye Zudieva lives in Crimea and has been covering repression and human rights violations in the peninsula since 2016, including politically motivated cases against Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians in Crimea, the conditions of detention of political prisoners, illegal transfer of convicts outside the peninsula, and torture in Russian penal colonies. 

Zudiyeva herself has also been persecuted on numerous occasions: the journalist was detained while covering politically motivated trials in Crimea, her family’s home was searched, and she was fined. 

Ukrainian and international human rights organisations have spoken out in defence of Lutfiye Zudieva, demanding an end to her persecution. UN special rapporteurs have recommended that the Russian government take measures to stop violations against Crimean human rights defenders and lawyers, including Zudieva. Russia has not responded to their statements.

This year, Russian authorities have been putting more pressure on the journalist and human rights defender for her peaceful and lawful activities. In particular, she has repeatedly received «warnings against law violation», which may be one of the tools used to put pressure on civil society in Crimea.

«A tool to remind one that “the authorities” are there». Russian security forces have issued another «warning» to Lutfiye Zudieva, journalist and human rights defender from Crimea

To that, on 16 May 2025, the Russian Ministry of Justice recognised Lutfiye Zudieva as a «foreign agent», calling her journalistic and human rights activities «political». The Ministry of Justice relied on the «information» it had received from Roskomnadzor and the Crimean departments of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB in 2024 and 2025. The report contained links to her journalistic materials on human rights issues, as well as interviews she gave to media outlets and international organisations. 

Lutfiye Zudieva has tried to have her «foreign agent» status ruled illegal by the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow, but on 11 August 2025, the court denied her request. The journalist is now waiting for her appeal to be considered.