PART 4 A YEAR AFTER: MAIN VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CRIMEA demonstration, march or picket according to the relevant Russian law. The real reason for the arrest, according to the activists, was the use of the Ukrainian U ag. On October 14, 2015, the Simferopol police arrested three Ukrainian Cultural Center activists, including Leonid Kuzmin, while they were laying U owers at the monument to Bogdan Khmelnitsky in Simferopol. They were taken to the local Extremism Com- bat Center for interrogation without drawing up a protocol. 4.9. Pressure on Media After the annexation by the Russian Federation, the process of rolling back the freedom of speech and free expression of opinions started in Crimea, including the implementa- tion of the legislation on countering extremist activity, criminal responsibility for ‘sepa- ratist appeals’, reduction of the number of alternative information sources, as well as the harassment of journalists by law enforcement agencies and the ‘Crimean self-defense’. Over the two years, the freedom of expression in Crimea transformed dramatically, going through a “hot phase” (February 2014-August 2014), with forcible takeover of premises, broadcast shutdowns, attacks on journalists and “systemic work” (Sep- tember 2014-December 2015) with searches, launching of criminal cases, unlawful tenders for frequency redistribution and the denial of registration and re-registra- tion of media outlets. The current situation can be described as the completion of the transition to the phase of “adjustment and control”, which involves the blocking of websites, introduction of prepackaged news stories, interference with editori- al policy, internal and external censorship and arbitrary detention of independent journalists aimed at exerting pressure and intimidation. The occupation of Crimea was ac- companied by ‘mopping up’ of the media scene, especially of television. In particular, the broadcasting of the largest opposition TV and radio com- pany ‘Chernomorskaya’ (‘Black Sea’) has been disabled since March 3, 2014, while all Ukrainian TV channels were disabled from broadcasting in the territory of Crimea on March 9. Pictured: Alexander Kravchenko at the time of arrest during the Shevchenko Memorial However, in the spring of 2014 inde- Event on March 9, 2015 pendent Crimean media and individ- 98