Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the staff of Kerch Penal Colony No.2 have been closely monitoring the behavior and words of Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko. The Russian Federation sentenced him to 5 years for illegal storage and transportation of an explosive device. Vladyslav’s wife, Kateryna Yesypenko, told the Association about the changes in communication with her husband after the new phase of the war.‍

‍“Now we have only one-way communication with Vladyslav. He calls once a month. His conversations with the attorney take place in the presence of the colony inspector, which violates attorney-client privilege. In connection with the russian law on fakes dd. March 4, 2022, during conversations with Vladyslav, my lawyer and I try not to call this war a war and practically avoid this topic. After all, we understand that one inappropriately spoken phrase can lead to the transfer of my husband to more strict conditions of detention or the initiation of an administrative case,” Kateryna told the Association.

Kateryna adds that the rare conversations with her husband take place via prison communications and are listened to by the colony administration. Vladyslav also notices that other prisoners seem to be watching him and trying to catch him at his word.

‍“My husband said that almost every week the colony administration summons him and warns him not to say anything superfluous to me and the lawyer. The colony administration is afraid that we will appeal to the Ombudsman, to human rights activists, which will lead to an inspection,” adds Kateryna.As a reminder, Vladyslav Yesypenko, freelance journalist of Radio Liberty (project “Krym.Realii”), covered social and environmental issues. He was detained by the russian FSB in Crimea on March 10, 2021, on charges of gathering information “in the interests of special services of Ukraine” and of storage “improvised explosive device” in the car. On February 16, 2022, a russian judge in Crimea sentenced Yesypenko to 6 years of imprisonment in a general regime colony and a fine of 110 000 rubles. Later, the court reduced Yesypenko's sentence to 5 years in a penal colony.