POW Treatment HQ: Ukrainian journalists are tortured in Russian custody

Bohdan Okhrimenko. Photo by the Coordination Headquarters for POW Treatment

Ukrainian journalists are tortured in Russian captivity, said Bohdan Okhrimenko, head secretary of the Coordination Headquarters for POW Treatment, in an interview with Detector Media.

Okhrimenko believes that the issue of media workers detained by Russia is most effectively raised at international events. At the same time, he advised against giving the story of any individual hostage too much media traction, because this greatly complicates negotiations about their release.

“As soon as a person becomes a media figure, the issue of their release is either taken off the negotiation table or they make demands that we cannot fulfill. For example, Russia has demanded that we return their already dead soldiers or officers alive in exchange for our citizens. See the absurdity of the situation? We explain that the soldier died, that there is a body. And they insist that we return him alive,” he said.

Okhrimenko added that the POW Treatment Headquarters is aware of the role the media play in covering the prisoner exchange process. For instance, thanks to a photo of a starved released POW, the conditions of our soldiers in custody changed, the Russians started feeding them. Which is why, after a certain verification procedure, the Headquarters allows reporters to be present during swaps at their final stage, when the released prisoners are brought to the hospital.

Okhrimenko also recommended that relatives of those unlawfully detained create a personal account on their website and enter all new information there.

“As for the media, they can, of course, talk about the general category of the Kremlin's prisoners (media workers. – Ed.). This can and should be done on all international platforms, involve well-known journalists to write statements, public addresses to Putin or to Russia, to their Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We support such publicity. We are ready to join events duscussing these issues. It is most effective to raise these issues at the international level,” says Bohdan Okhrimenko.

When asked whether he had noticed any special (negative) attitude towards imprisoned journalists from Russia, he replied: “Unfortunately, they, like everyone else, are being tortured.”

He also explained that the Russians are reluctant to release imprisoned Ukrainian journalists.

“If they wanted to, they would have already released them. Take Maksym Butkevych, for example. He was convicted of some 'crimes against civilians'. Since Maksym is both a journalist and a human rights advocate, his account of what happened to him in custody was quite interesting. They generally treat us as lesser people. This is fascism, ruscism,” said Bohdan Okhrimenko.

At least 30 civilian Ukrainian media workers are illegally held in Russian custody, according to the Institute of Mass Information.

Earleir, Bohdan Okhrimenko said that last fall, following long talks, Russia said they were ready to hand over journalist Victoria Roshchyna, but postponed the date of her release several times until her death in custody was reported.