A Russian cassation court has refused to reduce Hennadiy Osmak’s prison term, upholding the previous ruling by an occupation court, which sentenced the Ukrainian journalist to high security prison, reports the Crimean Tatar Resource Center.
Earlier, Osmak was moved to high security colony No. 6 in Melekhovo village (Vladimir region, Russia); the journey took two months. During the move, he was subjected to physical and psychological torture and was not allowed any contact with his family. Only after arriving at the colony was he able to briefly notify his relatives of his whereabouts.
It was also reported that Hennadiy Osmak is given no access to vital diabetes medication. His family is unable to send the medication into the prison, which has led to a considerable deterioration of his health to the point of putting his life at a risk.
Osmak’s lawyer has repeatedly insisted on reducing the prison term, stressing that the journalist had nothing to do with the charges pressed against him by the occupation authorities. However, the court declined the cassation appeal.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center reports that Hennadiy Osmak has been tortured in prison, which had a severe impact on his health, including the diabetes and serious problems with his spine.
Who is Hennadiy Osmak
Hennadiy Osmak used to be the chief editor for the news outlet Novyi Vizit for many years.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, the news oultet’s website went down, and on 12 March 2022, Hennadiy reported that the publication had ceased operations. There had been no contact with Osmak since then.
The website was inactive for some time, but started posting news about the work of local occupation authorities in late March 2022 and announced the appointment of the Russian-installed “acting Mayor” of Henichesk, Andrei Klochko. The website was shut down two weeks later and has not been operational since then.
Russian pro-state media reported in March 2024 that Hennadiy Osmak had been detained.
According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, the Russian forces sentenced Hennadiy Osmak to 3 years and 2 months in prison under Article 208 Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for alleged involvement in the “Noman Çelebicihan Battalion” as a member and the battalion’s “PR manager.” The Russian forces stalked Osmak before detaining him. Hennadiy Osmak had been working as a taxi driver since the start of the full-scale invasion, trying to lay low.
Hennadiy Osmak is on the Institute of Mass Information’s list of journalists imprisoned by Russia.
