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June 23, 2023 – Ukraine /Russia –
Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko, detained for over four years in Russian-occupied Crimea, was released on June 23, 2025, in what press freedom advocates have hailed as a rare but powerful victory for free expression. A contributor to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Krym. Realii, Yesypenko had been arrested by Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agents in March 2021 while reporting in Simferopol. He was later convicted in a closed military court on charges of espionage and possession of explosives, accusations widely condemned as politically motivated.
Yesypenko’s case drew international attention for the severity of his treatment. After his arrest, he was reportedly subjected to electric shocks and psychological torture to coerce a confession. He was denied access to independent legal counsel for extended periods and tried behind closed doors in a process that violated numerous fair trial standards. His sentence, initially six years, was later reduced to five, though he still spent more than four years in detention under harsh conditions.
Throughout his imprisonment, global advocacy networks campaigned relentlessly for his release. PEN America, which awarded him the 2022 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, described his release as a “triumph of persistence and solidarity.” The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the U.S. State Department had repeatedly called for his freedom, as had the European Union and the Ukrainian government.
Upon release, Yesypenko was reunited with his wife and daughter in Prague, where he vowed to continue fighting for press freedom and to speak out for the dozens of Ukrainian journalists still detained by Russian forces. At least 30 Ukrainian media workers remain imprisoned in Crimea and Russia, most held without fair trials or proper legal representation.
His release is a welcome development amid an escalating trend of media repression in Russian-controlled areas. It serves as both a reminder of the perils faced by journalists working in occupied territories and a testament to the power of international solidarity in confronting authoritarian abuses. While Yesypenko is free, the fight for press freedom across conflict zones continues.
Reference –
Release of Ukrainian Journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko a Victory for Free Expression
