17 July 2025
Former political prisoner Vladyslav Yesypenko writes a letter to illegally imprisoned Crimean Halyna Dovhopola
After spending more than four years unlawfully imprisoned in a Russian penal colony, Crimea.Realities journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko, who was recently released, wrote a letter of support to Crimean resident Halyna Dovhopola. The occupying administration had illegally sentenced her to 12 years in prison on charges of “state treason” and “espionage.”
Vladyslav Yesypenko was detained on 10 March 2021 in occupied Crimea after publishing independent reports on the peninsula’s social and environmental issues. Russia’s FSB accused him of “espionage” for Ukraine and allegedly “possessing explosives.”
Despite being eligible for early conditional release, the Russian side held Yesypenko until the end of his full sentence. He was released on 20 June 2025.
In his letter to Halyna Dovhopola, he wrote:
“I remember how, in a short time, you put the criminal bosses in their place with just your words — after that, both the male and female wings of the pre-trial detention center began addressing you only by your first name and patronymic.
And when I gave you a T-shirt and cap with our Ukrainian symbols, you tried them on and joked, “Now I wouldn’t even be ashamed to die in this.”
“As we walked through the prison corridors, I hugged you (a violation of the inmate escort procedure), you sang Ukrainian songs, and the officer accompanying us, probably stunned by such boldness, couldn’t even muster a reprimand…”
This spring, you turned 70.
“You are serving your fifth year of a sentence for a crime you never committed. Under such charges, the Russians don’t grant early release, meaning you are to be freed only at the age of 76… By prison standards, that means never.”
“It is known that your health has significantly deteriorated in prison, but not your faith in Ukraine. Sister, know that I — and many other concerned people — are fighting for you and your early release! I believe I will meet you alive on Ukrainian soil!”
I want to end this letter with your own words, written from the Simferopol pre-trial detention center: “I ask just one thing from everyone: no fundraising for me! The only help I need is wide publicity and a reminder to the Ukrainian Government not to keep political prisoners ‘under the rug.’ We are waiting here, and each of us is fighting to stay alive, so as not to ‘die in Russia’ behind barbed wire. Please do not forget about us!”
Halyna Dovhopola is one of many Ukrainian citizens imprisoned in Crimea or deported to the territory of the Russian Federation. She remained an active member of civil society on the peninsula and maintained ties with mainland Ukraine — which became the basis for her politically motivated prosecution on fabricated charges. Her case, like that of Vladyslav Yesypenko, is politically driven.
These persecutions are part of a broader strategy by Russia aimed at repression, isolation, and intimidation of people with pro-Ukrainian views in occupied Crimea. The Russian Federation systematically violates human rights and demonstrates complete disregard for international law.
We remind you that as part of the Letters to a Free Crimea initiative, you can write a letter of support to Ukrainians unlawfully imprisoned by the Russians. Learn more via the following link: https://cutt.ly/irOus8tB .