03 February 2026
(Oleksandr Babych. PHOTO: Ukrinform)
It has become known that the head of Hola Prystan, Oleksandr Babych, who was abducted almost four years ago, is being held by the occupiers in the Russian detention center-2 in Taganrog.
This was announced on social media by ZaremaBarieva, manager of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center.
Barieva said that over the years of captivity, the health of the mayor of Hola Prystan has deteriorated significantly: he has lost half his weight and suffers from critical blood pressure. Despite the absence of official charges or a verdict, the occupiers continue to keep him in the detention center because of his fundamental refusal to cooperate and organize pro-Ukrainian actions.
In captivity, Ukrainians are subjected to psychological pressure. FSB officers convince the prisoners that Ukraine is almost completely occupied, and their relatives have forgotten about them. Oleksandr Babych was abducted in March 2022. Before that, he stayed in the city, supported the residents through social media and openly resisted the invaders. One of the probable reasons for the mayor's prolonged detention is his long-standing conflict with collaborator Oleksiy Kovalev.
Earlier, Intent wrote that they failed to organize legal aid for the illegally imprisoned mayor of Hola Prystan Oleksandr Babych, who is being held in SIZO #2 in Simferopol (Crimea). According to her, Babych's wife said that currently they only know about his whereabouts. This was reported by people who were released from the detention center.
"We tried to organize legal aid through the Association of Ukrainian Cities, but without any results," Olenkovska added. Oleksandr Babych has been in Russian captivity for over 2 years. There is currently no official information on the status of the mayor of Hola Prystan. The Hola Prystan community has been actively protesting against the occupation. Together with the community residents, its head went to rallies. Babych was abducted by the Russian military on March 28, 2022.
Катерина Глушко