13 March 2025
(Photo: Suspilne)
Kherson activist Iryna Gorobtsova, who was taken to Crimea by Russia and sentenced to 10 years for "espionage," has been taken out of the pre-trial detention center in annexed Simferopol.
According to Graty, this was reported by Irina's sister Olena Korniy. She said that the activist was taken from the detention center to Crimea around March 3.
"She was taken to the appeal. There is no communication with her. There is no correspondence yet. There is no communication with the lawyer. She received some simple medicines from volunteers while she was in Simferopol," says Olena.
Iryna Gorobtsova is a human rights defender and civic activist from Kherson. After the occupation of Kherson by Russian troops began in March 2022, she began helping medical workers as a volunteer driver. She supported local residents who had been subjected to violence by the Russian military in realizing their right to health care. On social media, Gorobtsova spoke about peaceful actions against the occupation and her experience of living in the city.
This was also confirmed to the publication by Iryna's father, Volodymyr Gorobtsov. According to him, she was transferred to Krasnodar, and then should be taken to Moscow via Rostov-on-Don. The man notes that the appeal hearing was scheduled for March 12, but it is likely to be postponed.
"We don't know the specific date yet, but I assume that by the end of March [the appeal hearing] will take place. That's what we know at the moment," says Vladimir Gorobtsov.
Her relatives continue to express concern about Gorobtsova's health in detention: on the eve of her detention, before the full-scale Russian invasion, she was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, a condition that requires medical support and monitoring. Last year in December, Iryna received a letter from her, in which she spoke about the deterioration of her condition and the lack of medical care in the detention center where she was being held.
On May 13, 2022, Irina Gorobtsova 's relatives reported that in the morning, two cars with a Z sign, a symbol of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drove up to the house where she lived with her parents. Several people in Russian military uniforms broke into the apartment and forced the woman into the car.
According to Front Line Defenders, the activist was taken to Crimea and held in an undisclosed location in Simferopol. According to her lawyer Emil Kurbedinov, Irina is being held in Simferopol's pre-trial detention center No. 1. The authorities have repeatedly denied Emil Kurbedinov access to Gorobtsova, and the administration of the detention center denied that the human rights activist was there.
Earlier, the human rights organization Crimea SOS stated that the deprivation of liberty of Kherson activist Iryna Gorobtsova has signs of enforced disappearance, and her forced transfer to the Simferopol SIZO is illegal. In November 2023, Ukrainian human rights activists reported that in Crimea, Russian security forces interrogated Irina Gorobtsova with a polygraph.
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