Valerii Lyzun and Dmytro Pastashchuk are political prisoners
Two Yalta residents have been sentenced to terms of five and six years in a penal colony for ‘collusion with a foreign state’
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Valerii Lyzun and Dmytro Pastashchuk political prisoners. Lyzun and Pastashchuk were convicted of ‘collusion with a foreign state’ for allegedly passing information about ‘the situation on the peninsula’ to a representative of the Ukrainian Security Service. Their criminal prosecution and conviction violated their right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Lyzun and Pastashchuk and that all criminal charges against them be dropped.
Who are Valerii Lyzun and Dmytro Pastashchuk and what were the charges against them?
Yalta residents Valerii Lyzun and Dmytro Pastashchuk are Ukrainian citizens who obtained Russian citizenship after the annexation of the peninsula. FSB officers detained the two men on 26 June 2023.
The prosecution alleged that, after the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Lyzun and Pastashchuk established contact with a representative of the Ukrainian Security Service and passed on information ‘about the social, political, economic and military situation on the peninsula.’ It was also alleged that they offered assistance in photographing and filming Russian military facilities and ‘expressed their willingness’ to carry out sabotage. However, there was no evidence of such information being passed on or of sabotage being prepared, and no such charges were brought against them.
In June 2024, an occupation court in Crimea found Lyzun and Pastashchuk guilty of ‘collusion with a foreign state’ (Article 275.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Lyzun was sentenced to five years in a general regime penal colony and Pastashchuk to a term of six years. In addition, Pastashchuk was ordered to pay a fine of 500,000 roubles.
Both Lyzun and Pastashchuk lodged appeals, but the appeal and cassation courts upheld the sentences. In violation of the law, all court hearings, including the pronouncement of sentences, were held in camera.
Why do we consider Valerii Lyzun and Dmytro Pastashchuk political prisoners?
The offence of ‘collusion’ was added to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in July 2022. It has since become yet another tool used by the regime against so-called ‘internal enemies.’ The law’s provisions fail to comply with the principle of legal certainty. In essence, the law criminalises any communication with foreigners, penalising not specific actions, but merely an alleged intention to ‘facilitate’ an undefined ‘activity.’
The criminal offence of ‘collusion’ should be rescinded, all related convictions quashed and ongoing prosecutions dropped.
According to the FSB, the convicts passed on to Ukraine ‘information about the social, political, economic and military situation on the peninsula.’ Such vague wording could include virtually anything, for example information ranging from the prices in shops to the shooting down of drones over the peninsula. If the two Ukrainians had in fact transmitted photographs or videos of military facilities, or were preparing acts of sabotage, they would have been charged with other offences.
By using the offence of ‘collusion,’ the security forces intimidate the public and avoid the need to actually prove the guilt of the accused. The closed trial was clearly intended to hide all the shortcomings of the prosecution.
Moreover, the prosecution of Ukrainian citizens for corresponding with Ukrainian official bodies in the occupied territory of their country seems particularly absurd.
A detailed description of the cases of Valerii Lyzun and Dmytro Pastashchuk and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Dmytro Pastashchuk at the following address:
RU:
446394, Самарская область, Красноярский р-н, пгт. Волжский, ул. Заводская, д. 46, ФКУ ИК-10 УФСИН России по Самарской области, Пастащук Дмитрий Ярославович, 1983 г. р.
EN:
Dmytro Yaroslavovych Pastashchuk (born 1983), Penal Colony No. 10, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Samara Oblast, 46 Zavodskaya Street, Volzhsky, Krasnoyarsky district, Samara Oblast, 446394, Russia.
You can also send emails via ZT (for payment with all bank cards) and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
If you have information about where Valerii Lyzun is serving his sentence, please email us at [email protected].
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
