Vladyslav Yesipenko, a journalist for the Ukrainian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Crimea.Realities project, was released from prison in Crimea on June 20 and left the Russian-occupied peninsula.

This is reported by Radio Liberty, Censor.NET reports .

Radio Liberty President and Director General Steven Kapus reported in his commentary that Yesipenko was tortured in Russian custody:

“For over four years, Vlad was arbitrarily punished for a crime he did not commit. He paid too high a price for exposing the truth about what was happening in Russian-occupied Crimea. For this, he was tortured, both physically and psychologically. As we celebrate his joyful reunion with his wife Kateryna and their young daughter Stefania, we cannot ignore the pain that the Russian authorities have inflicted on this family.

“Radio Liberty expresses its deep gratitude to the governments of the United States and Ukraine for working with us to prevent the continued unjust imprisonment of Vlad. We also thank the global community of press freedom defenders for their tireless advocacy on behalf of Radio Liberty’s dedicated journalists,” he noted.

As a reminder, Yesypenko was detained on March 12, 2021. He and another participant in the action in honor of Shevchenko’s birthday – Elizaveta Pavlenko – were detained at the Angarsk Pass in Crimea.

On March 16, 2021, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) stated that Yesipenko allegedly collected information on behalf of Ukrainian intelligence and also made an improvised explosive device. The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine called Yesipenko’s detention a propaganda action on the eve of the anniversary of the occupation .

On May 5, 2021, another article of indictment was added to the journalist.

On July 6, 2021, the Russian-controlled so-called “district court” in temporarily occupied Simferopol extended the term of arrest of illegally detained Ukrainian citizen, journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko, for six months.

On February 16, 2022, the Russian-controlled Simferopol District Court of occupied Crimea announced a verdict in the case of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Crimea.Realii freelancer Vladislav Yesypenko – he was sentenced to six years in a general regime colony and a fine of 110,000 rubles in the case of illegal storage and transportation of an explosive device. Russian prosecutors had requested 11 years behind bars for Yesypenko.

On August 18, 2022, the so-called Supreme Court in occupied Crimea commuted Yesipenko’s sentence to 5 years in a general regime colony and a fine of 110,000 rubles.

Author:  Natalia Dzhuma Джерело: https://censor.net/ua/n3559316

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