Incredible news — Vladyslav Yesypenko is free!

Vladyslav Yesypenko, Crimea. Realities project journalist of Radio Liberty has been released after being unlawfully imprisoned in Russian-occupied Crimea since 2021.

In 2022, an occupation court sentenced Vladyslav to five years in prison and a fine of 110,000 rubles on fabricated charges. In reality, his arrest was motivated by his independent journalism, particularly his coverage of human rights violations in occupied Crimea, reporting that the Russian Federation, with its policy of media censorship, sought to suppress.

For his commitment to freedom of speech, Yesypenko was awarded the Levko Lukyanenko State Scholarship (2021) and the PEN America/ Barbey Freedom to Write Award (2022).

Vladyslav was released on 20 June, but for security reasons, no information about his route out of occupied Crimea was made public. He will now undergo medical examination and treatment in one of the EU countries. During his unlawful detention, he was subjected to repeated physical and psychological torture.

We wholeheartedly support Vladyslav Yesypenko’s family and celebrate their long-awaited reunion. After years of struggle and pain caused by the Russian occupation, this moment is one of relief and hope.

Photo: Radio Liberty