Radio Svoboda journalist claimed FSB tortured him

RFE/RL

Vladyslav Yesipenko, a Crimean freelancer for Radio Svoboda, said that FSB investigators had tortured him. He said this on April 6 during a session of the Supreme Court of Crimea, which considered the journalist's appeal against his detention as preventive measure, the Crimean Human Rights Group reported.

The journalist reported that security officers put a plastic bag on his head, not allowing him to  breathe, they tried to obtain a guilty plea. The court remanded the journalist in custody until May 11. 

Also Yesipenko recused his appointed lawyer  Violetta Sineglazova.

According to the Crimean Human Rights Group, Violetta Sineglazova did not appeal against Yesypenko's detention and did not appear at the court hearing on March 23. "Such behavior has once again confirmed that Violetta Sineglazova represents the interests of the FSB, not the client," the statement said.

As IMI reported, on March 10, n March 10, Russian FSB officers detained Vladislav Yesipenko, a freelancer of Radio Svoboda (Crimea.Realities project), in the occupied Crimea. Yesipenko took part in the action dedicated to Taras Shevchenko's anniversary, which took place in Simferopol on March 9. The arrest term is until May 11.

Yesipenko is accused of gathering information "in the interests of Ukraine's special services," including for the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Russian FSB's Public Relations Center reported on March 16. According to the FSB, Yesipenko "carried out photo and video recording of the area, livelihoods and places of mass stay of people in the Crimea."

Human rights activists said Yesipenko was denied access to an independent lawyer and called for his release .

On March 12, it became known that Yesipenko was being held in a temporary detention facility in Simferopol.

On March 19, it became known that Vladyslav Yesipenko was accused of espionage in favor of the secret services of Ukraine. Human rights activists do not exclude that the FSB would use physical pressure on him.

The same day, his wife claimed she feared for his lige and health. "I want to say once again that I fear for the life and health of my husband, especially after yesterday's video. This video is another proof of beatings, torture and abuse of a person. This is confirmed by the non-admission of two independent lawyers to her husband,” as Kateryna said.

According to her, there were traces of beatings on his face and neck. In addition, despite the fact that she sent him a parcel with clothes, he was given someone else's clothes, under which they tried to hide something.

"The shape of the body was visually disproportionate, that is, I assume that he had something disguised under his clothes: either a device or a corset," the woman suggested.