Defending human rights activists and political prisoners is some of the most dangerous work a lawyer can do in Crimea. After years taking on these risky cases, Crimean Tatar lawyer Emil Kurbedinov was today awarded a top international prize for human rights activists. Front Line Defenders named Emil the 2017 Laureate of its annual Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.

"When we defend political prisoners and persecuted activists, we are going against a system in which there’s no hope of a fair trial. Winning an acquittal for my clients is almost impossible – but what I can do is show them that despite the risks, I will not abandon them." - Emil Kurbedinov

2017 Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk