In March and April, several facts of serious restrictions of freedom of speech were documented in Crimea. Representatives of human rights organizations claim that local authorities use both formal obstacles and methods of intimidation.

According to Olha Skrypnyk, deputy head of the Crimean Human Rights Field Mission, one of such methods is requiring re-registration in accordance with the norms of the Russian legislation.

"Making Ukrainian registration documents valid until 1 April 2015, Roskomnadzor has started to register the mass media very selectively, blocking in this way the work of many media," said human rights activist.

According to Roskomnadzor, there were approximately 3,000 media in Crimea until March 2014. As of 1 April 2015, only 232 re-registered in accordance with the Russian law.

Herewith, among all Crimean Tatar media who have applied, only one media – "Voice of Crimea" – re-registered as of 1 April. Two more are in the process of registration. But documents for re-registration from Avdet newspaper, QHA agency, Meydan radio, ATR and Lale TV channels were not accepted.

Most Crimean Tatar media were denied registration under false pretenses. For example, Meydan radio was denied registration because "the name of the media can mislead the audience." This was stated in the official response of Roskomnadzor branch in Crimea to the radio station owners.

Pressure from Crimean authorities is used not only against Crimean Tatar media. All local radio stations, which worked previously in Crimea, lost their frequencies. It happened because they were not allowed to participate in the competition on the distribution of frequencies that Roskomnadzor held on 25 February.

"All these facts are outstanding examples of curtailment of freedom of speech in Crimea. This leads to one-sided media coverage, government's control over the published information, and the inability to freely express opinions," emphasized Olha Skrypnyk.

Now, FSB is also involved in the persecution of journalists. FSB branch in Crimea brought criminal charges against journalists under Article 280.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (public calls for attacks on the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation), which provides for up to five years in prison.

The precedent was the publication of the Crimean journalist Anna Andriyevska. The article was published in December 2014 on the Center for Investigative Journalism website.

On 13 March, apartments of the author of the material and the former employee of the Center for Investigative Journalism Natalia Kokorina were searched. Natalia Kokorina were detained and interrogated as a witness. Her personal laptop was seized.

FSB officers seized also old note books of Anna Andriyevska (what is left in the apartment where she does not live for 10 years) and a computer that belongs to her father. The journalist said that she is a suspect in this case. Andriyevska is sure that only the fact that she left the peninsula about a year ago and lives in Kyiv saves her from detention.

"Russian authorities demonstrate other journalists who remain on the peninsula what fate awaits them if they doubt the legitimacy of the current Crimean authorities. Given recent developments in Crimea, local journalists have few options: either be silent (leave the profession), or leave Crimea. But the latter will not help to escape the prosecution by the special services of the Russian Federation," said Anna Andriyevska.

On 7 April, FSB summoned another former employee of the Center Anna Shaidurova for interrogation due to publications of the Center. On 8 April, she was interrogated by FSB for 3 hours. The journalist said that she signed a non-disclosure agreement, which prevents her from discussing any details of the interrogation.

Human rights advocates point out that this criminal case demonstrates a clear violation of the principle of territorial jurisdiction because the author of the article is a citizen of Ukraine (she did not receive a Russian passport). Also, the Center for Investigative Journalism is registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and has legal and physical address in Kyiv.

Hence, there is a precedent under which the Russian special services can bring to "justice" any journalist who publicly claims that joining the peninsula to Russia is illegal.

Serhiy Zayets, media lawyer at Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, believes that oppression of free speech on the peninsula have a negative impact on the situation of human rights in general.

"The actions of Russian authorities in Crimea constitute interference with the rights under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Searches and other actions of authorities have also a cooling effect and stimulate self-censorship out of fear of being subjected to the same persecution. As a result, many topics are hushed, which affects the general condition of the realization of all other rights and freedoms in Crimea," said media lawyer.

Serhiy Kostynskyy, advisor to the Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine, said that the government of Ukraine is ready to help journalists protect their rights. "One of the key objectives of the Ministry of Information Policy is freedom of speech in Crimea. Recently, we have supported the Crimea Action Group civil initiative. This is the establishment of the mechanism to protect the interests of the Crimean press in international courts." According to Serhiy Kostynskyy, the Ministry is also developing measures to ensure the broadcasting of independent media in Crimea.