A YEAR AFTER: MAIN VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CRIMEA PART 4 They were released on March 20, 2014 near Chongar as a result of negotiations of the Ukrainian side with the local self-proclaimed authorities and the RF leadership. During the active occupation of Crimean peninsula by Russia, many other individ- uals were abducted. The exact number of missing persons, abductees, victims of tortures and abusive treatment remains unknown. Nobody has been brought to justice for these serious crimes. Abductions and Disappearances of Individuals, whose Location is Currently Unknown Since March 2014, numerous people disappeared in Crimea. As evidenced, at least 9 individuals have been violently abducted (see below). As some of the abducted people were Crimean Tatars, and the reports of their dis- appearance have lately become more frequent, and the investigative actions of the authorities are not believed to be eT ective, the Crimean Tatar community of the peninsula is experiencing an increasing distrust towards the local authorities, which is extended to the Russian authorities in general. Following the talks between the relatives of the missing Dzhepparov, Islyamov and Zinetdinov, Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov and the representatives of the Inves- tigative Committee of the Crimea in 2014 established a ‘contact group’ to facilitate the investigation of the disappearances. A serious problem is the possible involvement of the so-called ‘Crimean self-de- fense’ in some of these episodes. As the authorities are often said to be involved in the kidnappings, and the actual perpetrators of crimes are never found and brought to justice, the people of Crimea suppose that the government either is directly in- volved in the crimes or covers them. The situation is exacerbated by the proposals of the Crimean authorities to release the ‘people’s militia of Crimea from criminal and administrative liability by recognizing their actions as ‘committed in an emer- gency situation’. A case which stands out, is the recent disappearance Аleksander Kostenko’s father. Aleksander Kostenko is charged by the Crimean investigating authorities for al- leged involvement in the Maidan events. The relatives of the missing person and Kostenko’s lawyer believe that the disappearance may be explained by the pres- sure on arrested Alexandr Kostenko, who had previously reported regular beatings, threats, and abuse. 65