Crimean citizen journalist Iryna Danylovych has called on the international community to put more effort into raising awareness of the plight of Russia’s political prisoners in 2026, reports the human rights initiative Tribunal. Crimean Episode, citing her relatives who remain in contact with her.
Iryna believes that the clause on the release of civilians should be “divorced” from other clauses of the peace plan.
“The world has already shown what it can do to bring back Ukrainian children. But this is not the time to stop. It is time to show what it can do to bring back Ukrainian women and elderly people who are being taken to Russian prisons,” said Iryna Danylovych.
She stressed that for countries valuing humanism and human rights, the issue of freeing Ukrainians from Russian prisons should be a “precondition” to any peace talks.
Iryna Danylovych expressed her gratitude to all the individuals and organisations who are supporting her and fighting for her to be released from Russian prison soon.
“I live with a headache that doesn’t go away. There is buzzing, whistling, and ringing in my ears. All this prevents me from focusing and responding to the few letters that are sent to me. But I do appreciate every kind word and the feeling of a friendly shoulder from dozens of strangers from various countries,” Iryna Danylovych said.
The case of Iryna Danylovych
Iryna Danylovych was detained on 29 April 2022, in the occupied Crimea. She was detained on her way from work on the road from Koktebel to Feodosia. Her house in Vladislavivka village was searched, her phone and laptop were seized.
Iryna Danylovych worked as a nurse, and was also a citizen journalist, covering the healt care workers’ rights and problems of the health care system in Crimea.
On 29 June 2023, it was reported that the Russian-backed Supreme Court of Crimea changed the ruling in the case of Iryna Danylovych, who had been previously sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of storing an explosive device.
On 2 November 2023, it was reported that Iryna Danylovych had suffered a stroke while still in the Simferopol PTDC.
In August 2023 Iryna Danylovych’s father, Bronyslav Danylovych, said that she had lost all hearing in her left ear and is receiving no medical assistance.
In November 2024 Iryna reported heart pain and headaches and said that the left side of her body was numb after a microstroke.
It was reported in March 2025 that Iryna Danylovych was in a prison in Russia’s Stavropol Kray, sharing a barrack with 120 inmates.
In July 2025, the unlawfully imprisoned citizen journalist Iryna Danylovych addressed Pina Picierno, Vice President of the European Parliament, asking her to address the mass abuse of inmates in women’s colony No. 7 in Zelenokumsk (Russia), where she is imprisoned.
Pina Picierno supported Iryna Danylovych and said that those responsible for the unjust imprisonment of her and other persons must answer for their actions.