22 January 2025
The Colony Administration Denies Journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko the Right to Submit an Application for Early Release
Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko, who is unlawfully held in Correctional Colony No. 2 in Kerch, is being prevented by the penitentiary administration from applying for early release. According to his wife, Kateryna Yesypenko, the administration has arbitrarily created barriers by using disciplinary penalties to block his attempts to apply for conditional release.
Those convicted of medium-gravity offenses become eligible for early release after serving one-third of their sentence. Vladyslav Yesypenko, who was sentenced to five years of imprisonment, has already spent more than four years behind bars. However, the colony administration has repeatedly imposed disciplinary penalties on him. According to Kateryna Yesypenko, these accusations are fabricated—for instance; the journalist was punished for allegedly being late for roll call or failing to greet an inspector appropriately. Such penalties delay his eligibility for conditional release and prevent him from obtaining the positive character references required for the process.
Correctional Colony No. 2 in Kerch is notorious for its harsh conditions. Inmates often face a shortage of medications, and even essential treatments, such as aspirin, may require waiting for hours. Additionally, excessive forced labor is reportedly widespread in the colony.
Vladyslav Yesypenko was transferred to this facility in September 2022, and since then, human rights organizations have documented numerous violations against him. In November 2024, the international human rights organization Freedom Now submitted a petition detailing multiple breaches of Yesypenko’s rights to the United Nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also raised the issue of his release during a meeting with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President Jamie Fly.
It is worth noting that Vladyslav Yesypenko was unlawfully detained by FSB agents in March 2021 while filming a report in Crimea. He was falsely accused of preparing a terrorist act, possessing explosives, and collaborating with Ukrainian intelligence. In February 2022, a so-called “court” in Simferopol sentenced him to six years in prison and imposed a fine. This sentence was later reduced to five years.
The case of Vladyslav Yesypenko exemplifies how the occupational administration weaponizes the judiciary to persecute Ukrainian citizens based on ethnic and political grounds. Russia has systematically targeted journalists and independent media representatives to suppress dissent and maintain a propaganda-driven narrative. We urge the international community to intensify pressure on the Russian Federation to secure the release of all unlawfully detained Ukrainian citizens, halt the ongoing repressions, and restore Ukraine’s sovereignty over its occupied territory.