Lawyers for Lawyers, together with the Law Society of England and Wales, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, Federation of European Bars and International Observatory for Lawyers at Risk, is gravely concerned by the Russian authorities’ escalating attacks on lawyers in occupied Crimea, including the recent designation of 16 lawyers as ‘foreign agents.’
On 26 June 2026, Russia’s Ministry of Justice designated the Crimean Solidarity human rights movement a ‘foreign agent’ in what observers regard as the latest attempt to silence its legitimate human rights activities. The movement was established in 2016 by lawyers, journalists, and relatives of those arrested following Russia’s occupation of Crimea to provide legal advice to detainees and financial and other practical assistance to their families. The designation was simultaneously applied to eleven others including lawyers, civic defenders and journalists who have defended, supported, or reported on victims of persecution in occupied Crimea. Following this designation, Crimean Solidarity was left with no alternative but to terminate its activities as a movement, announcing this decision in a statement on 21 July 2026. Then, on 24 July 2026, the ‘foreign agent’ designation list was updated to include more than 137 individuals including lawyers, human rights defenders, activists, and current political prisoners and their close relatives. The list now names 12 Crimean Tatar lawyers living in Crimea, and 4 Russian lawyers.
In particular, the designation list names renowned defence lawyers Emil Kurbedinov, Edem Semedlyaev, Lilia Hemedzhy, Nazim Sheikhmambetov, and Rustem Kyamilev all of whom have previously faced reprisals simply for doing their jobs. Both Emil Kurbedinov and Edem Semedlyaev have been subjected to harassment and administrative prosecutions, while Lilia Hemedzhy, Nazim Sheikhmambetov, and Rustem Kyamilev were stripped of their licence to practise as defence lawyers in apparent retaliation for representing political prisoners. Alexei Ladin has also faced arbitrary disbarment and administrative prosecutions in reprisal for his exercise of his right to freedom of expression. Furthermore, the list names two civic defenders1: Server Cholakchyk and Mustafa Seidaliev.
Foreign agent designation chills the exercise of human rights and legal advocacy
Being listed as a ‘foreign agent’ in Russia has implications beyond the label. Individuals and organisations who are designated as a foreign agent must display a disclaimer on all their publications to say they were produced by a foreign agent, leading to social ostracisation, with the lawyer’s professional reputation being discredited in the eyes of the public and the court system. They face extensive reporting and auditing requirements, any errors in this process can lead to fines. Furthermore, they may be barred from certain professional and public activities, including teaching in public institutions, organising public events, and standing for elected office.
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Ukraine: Escalating attacks on Crimean lawyers by the Russian state
