THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
The russian authorities threw Ukrainian journalist Serhii Tsyhipa behind bars for 13 years, accusing him of espionage. In a strict regime colony, they constantly come up with punishments for him – now for a candy on a bedside table, now for an unfastened button. Thus, the pressure turns into a methodical attempt to break a person who refuses to accept russian citizenship and does not recognize the verdict of an occupation court.
This is reported by the Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR).
In October 2023, a so-called court in the occupied Crimea sentenced Ukrainian journalist and public activist Serhii Tsyhipa – he was accused of espionage and sentenced to 13 years in prison in a strict regime colony. In March 2024, the Supreme Court of the russian federation upheld the sentence, after which Serhii was transferred to Correctional Colony 3 in the city of Skopin, Ryazan Oblast, to serve his sentence.
In the colony, the man is systematically placed in a disciplinary cell.
“Now, he was sent to a disciplinary cell because his hands were not behind his back. I don’t know the details and under what circumstances this happened. But this is not the first time. Before that, for an unfastened button, a candy on the bedside table, being on the sports field in his free time. These are trifles that are used as an excuse for punishment,” says his wife, Olena.
The last time Serhii spent a week in a disciplinary cell. According to Olena, the colony administration is exerting systematic psychological pressure on him and trying to force him to work. He refuses, emphasizing that, even under russian law, he has the status of a pensioner and is not obliged to work. In addition, he is a citizen of another state.
“Slave labor of foreigners has historical parallels only with the times of World War II in Nazi Germany. That is why he is resisting. He is being forced to accept russian citizenship, but he categorically refuses. Because of this, the colony is constantly looking for formal pretexts to throw him into a disciplinary cell. This indicates systemic psychological pressure and attempts to break his will,” adds Olena.
According to her, it became known from unofficial sources that the colony administration can deliberately create pretexts for punishment: for example, throw a crust of bread or a bottle of water on the bedside table, after which it records a “violation.”
In his last letter, Serhii asked his wife to agree with the lawyer on an appeal against another placement in a disciplinary cell.
“We decided that we needed to fight for our rights even in the colony. The administration feels impunity and is increasingly allowing itself to do more. We plan to file a complaint with the court so that the administration officially explains on what grounds he is being punished. We have to find out if these actions are legal,” says Olena.
Despite the pressure and repression, Serhii is holding on. In letters to his wife, he even tries to joke, although sometimes his words are filled with despair. He complains about his health but notes that he was allowed to receive a package with medicine.
As earlier reported, Serhii Tsyhipa is a Ukrainian journalist and public activist. After the occupation of Nova Kakhovka by russian troops, he remained in the city, helped as a volunteer, openly spoke out against the occupation and collaborators, distributed pro-Ukrainian content on his Telegram channel, and publicly spoke out about russian aggression.
On March 8, 2022, he wrote on social media: “Friends! Don’t look for me online anymore.” Four days later, on March 12, he was abducted by russian soldiers at one of the checkpoints, which he had previously passed through without any problems. Since then, his family has not seen him.
Initially, the man was taken to a remand prison in Simferopol, where he was accused of espionage. After the verdict, Serhii was transferred to a maximum-security colony in the city of Skopin, Ryazan Oblast. During the cassation hearing of the case, he was held in Moscow’s remand prison 4 (Medvedkove). Diplomats from four European countries who monitored compliance with human rights and fair trial standards were present at the closed session. However, they were only allowed to attend the announcement of the verdict. After the verdict was left unchanged, Serhii was returned to the colony in Skopin to serve his illegal sentence.
Yana Ilkiv
journalist for MIHR
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