Occupants detain Ukrainian marine biologist in Crimea

In the temporarily occupied Crimea in September, Russian security forces detained a well-known Ukrainian marine biologist Leonid Pshenychnov, who is Ukraine's representative to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

This was reported by the National Antarctic Science Center.

Pshenychnov is charged with 'high treason' and causing economic damage to the Russian Federation.

The NAS explained that the scientist, who was unable to leave the peninsula after the annexation in 2014 due to family reasons, actively worked in CCAMLR, officially representing Ukraine. He was the technical coordinator of scientific monitoring of marine resources.

The main reason for the charges, according to the National Academy of Sciences, was his work on the justification of the Ukrainian initiative to create a new marine protected area (MPA) near the Antarctic Peninsula.

''The proposal to create an MPA is seen as leading to restrictions on Russian commercial fishing and a reduction in its control over a strategically important sector of the world's oceans,'' the NASC said in a statement. This initiative, like other MPAs, has been blocked by Russia and China for years.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko has handed over a document to the Australian ABC media outlet accusing Pshenychnov of siding with the enemy and using his research to undermine Russia's krill fishery.

On October 20, Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko spoke at the CCAMLR's annual international meeting in Hobart, calling on Australia and other member states to facilitate the speedy release of the Ukrainian scientist.

''Given the political nature of this prosecution and the Russian Federation's attempt to undermine Ukraine's scientific contribution to the CCAMLR, ... I ask Australia and other member states to support Ukraine with a statement calling for the immediate release of Dr. Pshenychnov,'' Myroshnychenko said in his speech.

So far, the Russian authorities and security forces have not officially reported Pshenichnov's detention and have not commented on these reports.

Катерина Глушко