Crimean political prisoner may be taken to deportation center

A political prisoner convicted by Russia in Crimea on trumped-up charges may soon be released. His relatives fear that after leaving the colony he may end up in a deportation center or the so-called "gray zone".

This was reported by Krym.Realii.

Soon the term of imprisonment in a Russian colony of Ukrainian businessman and participant of the Revolution of Dignity Valentyn Vyhovskyi will expire. The man was captured by Russian security forces in Crimea in 2014 and sentenced to 11 years on charges of so-called espionage. Despite the approaching date of his release, his family is worried about whether he will be able to return home safely.

Vygovsky was detained at the train station in Simferopol when he arrived at an air show. In a closed trial, he was sentenced to a maximum security colony. According to his family and human rights activists, he spent most of his time in isolation, was subjected to torture and psychological pressure. Ukrainian human rights organizations recognized him as a political prisoner.

Vygovsky's cousin, activist Kateryna Serdyuk, noted that immediately after leaving the colony, Ukrainians are often intercepted by migration officers and sent to deportation centers or so-called "buffer zones." In such places, people can stay for months in terrible conditions, without contact with their loved ones.

Former political prisoner and journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko, who spent almost five years in Russian prisons, confirmed that after release, legal control and publicity are extremely important. Otherwise, there is a risk of new falsified charges and pressure from the FSB.

As noted in the media, Vygovsky's family appealed to international human rights organizations, European embassies and the Red Cross to prevent possible obstacles. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has not yet commented on the situation.

Meanwhile, Ukraine recently returned 65 more citizens from the buffer zone on the Russian-Georgian border. Among them are women and the seriously ill. In total, more than a hundred people have already been released from there.

Also, after completing his sentence in Crimea, Ukrainian Andriy Kolomiets was not released, but placed in a Russian deportation center for six months. And there are many more cases like this: Russia is inventing new ways to keep Ukrainian political prisoners even after their release.

Анна Бальчінос