02/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU condemns shutdown of media in Crimea. On 1 April, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini condemned the shutdown of several media in Crimea, including the private independent television company Crimean Tatar ATR, following searches of its premises and attacks on its journalists in recent weeks. “This constitutes a blatant violation of the right to freedom of expression and is part of a wider pattern of persecution and intimidation of the Crimean Tatar community”, the spokesperson states in a press release. “We call for an immediate reestablishment of ATR's broadcasting rights and full respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of all inhabitants of Crimea”, she added, stressing that the people of Crimea deserve unhindered access to the plurality of the media. ATR was the last media entity which opposed the annexation of Crimea to Russia in Simferopol. (CG)