Head of Russian detention center is notified of war crimes suspicion against crew member of Sapphire vessel

The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine has notified the head of the Pre-trial Detention Center No. 2 in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, Oleksiy Gnipov, of war crimes suspicion.

The notice was published on the website of the Prosecutor General's Office.

According to the investigation, the crew of the civilian search and rescue vessel Sapphire, who were captured in February 2022 while on their way to rescue the military from Zmeinyi Island, were placed in this detention center after the seizure.

During their stay from March 14, 2022, to March 23, 2022, in the pre-trial detention center No. 2 in the city of Stary Oskol, Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, one of the crew members was subjected to physical, psychological and sexual violence by unidentified persons with the knowledge and direct participation of the head of the pre-trial detention center No. 2, Oleksiy Gnipov.

In particular, on March 14, 2022, during personal searches, unidentified persons from among the employees of SIZO No. 2, acting by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, in the presence of the head, persons of the opposite sex and other crew members forcibly exposed and inspected the victim's body, in particular, using their fingers, committed anal penetration, which constitutes sexual violence in the form of forced nudity and invasive medical examination, i.e. committed actions that amounted to another violation of the laws and customs of war.

In addition, on April 2, 2022, one of the persons unidentified by the pre-trial investigation, with the direct participation of Oleksiy Hnipov, realizing that the victim was a civilian and would obey any demands, committed sexual violence, namely rape, i.e. anal penetration of the victim's body using a foreign object, namely a wooden mop handle, which violated his sexual freedom and autonomy, as well as caused physical pain and mental suffering, i.e. committed cruel treatment of civilians.

The head of the SIZO personally organized, coordinated and supported the implementation of repressive measures against the victim.

Кирило Бойко