freedom of speech
Jammed, then struck: how Bakhmut’s Free Radio reinvented itself as a watchdog
Anastasiia Shybiko, co-founder and director of Free Radio, told ZMINA how the outlet continues to operate without its radio broadcasts, how it prompts officials and government representatives to correct their mistakes, and how it pushes local authorities in Donetsk Oblast to become more transparent and responsive to residents
Human rights advocates call for increased pressure to free imprisoned Ukrainian journalists
Human rights advocates and civil society organisations are calling for increased international pressure to secure the release of Ukrainian journalists held in Russian captivity, some of whom are in critical condition. Advocates and journalists’ organisations are working with international partners, including the European Union and Türkiye, to facilitate their release, a ZMINA journalist reported from […]
Italian political scientist Antonio Stang calls for release of jailed Crimean Tatar journalist Amet Suleimanov
Suleimanov was a video reporter for the Crimean Solidarity civic initiative in Bakhchysarai. Health problems meant he mostly documented court hearings, particularly trials of Crimean Tatars
Former Sakhalin investigator Aleksandr Tsarakaev leads Russian Investigative Committee in occupied Melitopol
According to data from the Evocation platform, Tsarakaev was born in 1966 in Dolinsk on Sakhalin, Russia. He worked in investigative bodies in the Sakhalin and Amur regions, and after the start of the full-scale invasion, he was sent to temporarily occupied territory in Ukraine
FSB detains Sevastopol resident over Telegram comments
Russian security forces in occupied Sevastopol have reported the detention of a resident for alleged "public calls for extremist activity" in Telegram comments, a charge that could carry a sentence of up to five years in prison
Media worker from Melitopol Heorhii Levchenko may be held in a detention facility in Russia’s Altai Krai
ZMINA is currently unable to confirm which facility Levchenko may be held in
Ukrainian journalists in Russian captivity received RAW in WAR award
RAW in WAR also made special mention of Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist who died in Russian captivity
Russian occupying authorities reuse old footage of Yevhen Shved, twice convicted for pro-Ukrainian views, in ‘SBU agent’ detention video
The date of birth given for the detainee in the security forces’ video dated 2 October also matches Shved’s
Vladyslav Hershon, Telegram chat administrator, held in solitary confinement at Vladimir Central Prison
Hershon has health problems: during his most recent meeting with his lawyer, he said he was itching all over. Preliminary arrangements have been made for him to receive treatment
Journalist Iryna Danylovych faces repeated death threats in Russian penal colony
Their names are known to the ZMINA editorial office. Novytska said they believe they can act with impunity and regularly threaten Iryna, including telling her they would face no consequences for killing her
Russian-controlled court upholds 15-year prison sentence for Iryna Levchenko
In September, the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Regional Court in Melitopol sentenced Levchenko to 15 years in prison for "espionage" under Russian law. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged that she had passed information to Ukraine about the locations of Russian administrative bodies and security agencies, their personnel, and the routes used to move troops, military equipment and weapons
Russian authorities opened at least four criminal cases over online posts in occupied Crimea over a two-week period
Over the past two weeks, Russian security forces have announced at least four new criminal cases against residents of temporarily occupied Crimea over posts, comments and other online content
Ukrainian journalist and former political prisoner Vladyslav Yesypenko calls for coordinated support for Ukrainians in Russian captivity
The journalist met with Michal Geisler, a representative of the Czech president, and Karel Dvořák, a Czech parliamentarian. Their discussions covered, among other issues, the Czech Republic’s potential role in mediating the return of Ukrainian civilian hostages and access for the International Committee of the Red Cross to Russian detention facilities
NGO Crimean Process prepared recommendations on imprisoned journalists for new UN Special Rapporteur
The human rights organisation Crimean Process has prepared recommendations for the new UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, urging greater attention to journalists held in Russian custodial settings. The organisation compared its own data with information from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Fellow prisoner enlisted to torture Iryna Danylovych in Russian penal colony – human rights defenders
Another prisoner is taking part in the psychological abuse of Iryna Danylovych, a Crimean citizen journalist and activist, at Penal Colony No. 7 in Zelenokumsk, in Russia’s Stavropol Krai
‘The most frightening moment is when you are left on your own’: How Crimean Solidarity supported people for 10 years
ZMINA article examines the movement’s importance both in resisting political repression in Crimea and in providing vital support to affected families, as well as the consequences of its closure that are already being felt
Journalist Iryna Levchenko tortured with electric shocks in secret prison in Melitopol
The media outlet RIA Pivden published Levchenko’s testimony
FSB has detained a resident of occupied Kerch for alledgely “justifying terrorism”
Russian security forces have detained a 53-year-old man in Kerch, in temporarily occupied Crimea, accusing him of allegedly "justifying terrorism" online
Columns
Fighting a ‘holy war’: Why a sacralised war resists Western strategy
“Reaching an agreement with the US on what we disagree on”: What the campaign against ICC means for Ukraine
ICC must remain free from political pressure to bring justice to victims of world’s gravest crimes
Only 5% of those responsible for deporting Ukrainian children face global sanctions
