Crimean journalist returns to Ukraine after four years of captivity and torture

The imprisoned journalist returned to Ukraine after more than four years of Russian imprisonment in occupied Crimea. He plans to recover and continue to draw attention to the fate of other political prisoners of the Kremlin.

This was reported by Krym.Realii.

Journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko, who has spent more than four years in Russian custody, has arrived in Ukraine. He was met at the Kyiv railway station by colleagues and human rights activists. He said that he is currently planning to undergo treatment and then return to active work.

"I don't know yet whether I will return to journalism or human rights advocacy. But I will definitely do everything I can to draw attention to other political prisoners who still remain in Russian prisons," said Yesypenko.

He was released on June 20 after more than four years of imprisonment in occupied Crimea. Two days later he arrived in Prague, where he underwent medical examination and rehabilitation. On August 1, he returned to Kyiv.

Radio Liberty welcomed the release of its journalist and thanked the governments of the United States and Ukraine for their efforts to secure his return. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President Stephen Capus noted that Vladyslav Yesypenko had been subjected to severe trials because of his journalistic work.

He worked as a freelancer for the Krym.Realii project (Radio Liberty) and covered social issues, environmental problems, and life under occupation. In March 2021, he was detained by the FSB and accused of alleged espionage and possession of explosives.

For 27 days, he was not allowed to see independent lawyers. Meanwhile, the journalist's alleged "confession" was published on state Crimean television. In 2022, a Russian-controlled court sentenced him to five years in prison and a fine of 110,000 rubles, although the prosecutor's office demanded 11 years.

Ukrainian and international human rights activists, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, and Radio Liberty have repeatedly demanded the journalist's release.

During his imprisonment, Vladislav Yesypenko received a number of prestigious awards, including the Free Media Award, the Freedom to Write Award from PEN America, the National Ihor Lubchenko Award and the Levko Lukyanenko Scholarship.

In May, the International Coalition included Yesypenko's case in the list of the most egregious violations of press freedom. The Coalition emphasized that the journalist is one of at least 18 Ukrainian media professionals from the occupied Crimea who are being held in Russia for political reasons. The journalist himself spoke about the use of torture, including electric shocks.

Анна Бальчінос