13 March 2025

Vice President of the Bundestag Katrin Göring-Eckardt Wrote a Letter to Crimean Political Prisoner Vladyslav Yesypenko

Vladyslav Yesypenko, a Ukrainian journalist, has been unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation for 1,464 days. On his birthday, Vice President of the Bundestag Katrin Göring-Eckardt wrote a letter of support.

“I wrote to him on his birthday because he must know: he is not forgotten. His fate is being closely watched in Europe and around the world,” stated the Vice President of the Bundestag.

This act of support demonstrates that even under unlawful detention when the voice of truth is being silenced, human solidarity remains a powerful weapon.

“I wish him strength and perseverance. I will do everything to secure his release, amplify his voice, and raise awareness about the situation in Crimea, the actions of the occupiers, the fate of political prisoners, and especially his case,” emphasized Katrin Göring-Eckardt.

Such letters are not only acts of support but also crucial elements of the informational struggle. They serve as a reminder to the international community about the unlawful detention of Ukrainian citizens, human rights violations, and the urgent need to increase pressure on the Russian Federation.

The Letters to a Free Crimea initiative is an essential tool for supporting political prisoners. It allows anyone to join the fight for their release by sending words of encouragement and hope.

We call on international human rights organizations, governments of democratic countries, and international institutions to intensify pressure on the Russian Federation for the immediate release of Vladyslav Yesypenko and other Ukrainian political prisoners. It is crucial to actively employ all available mechanisms to protect the rights of Ukrainian citizens unlawfully detained by Russia and to support initiatives aimed at informing the international community about human rights violations in temporarily occupied Crimea.