Yevhen Ilchenko is a political prisoner
In July 2022, a lawyer from occupied Melitopol was abducted by Russian security forces. He has remained behind bars ever since without any known formal charges
In May 2022, Melitopol lawyer Yevhen Ilchenko created the Telegram channel Milyi Topol (‘Dear Poplar’), where he actively wrote about events in the city under Russian occupation. Ilchenko continued to publicly support Ukraine.
In July 2022, Russian security forces abducted Ilchenko. During the first weeks of his captivity, he was held in Melitopol and subjected to regular torture. At that time, a video was recorded in which he ‘confessed’ to a wide range of alleged crimes, including drug trafficking, money laundering, incitement of ethnic hatred, and assisting missile strikes on the city. He was then effectively turned into a slave: for several months he dug trenches for Russian troops and cleaned their weapons.
At present, Yevhen Ilchenko appears to be held in a pre-trial detention centre in Taganrog. We still do not know whether any official charges have been brought against him.
Like many other Ukrainians in occupied territories, Ilchenko was abducted, deprived of his liberty, and tortured in complete disregard of both Russian and international law.
A detailed description of Yevhen Ilchenko’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Vsevolod Kulikov at the following address:
Ru:347910, Ростовская область, Таганрог, ул. Ленина, д. 175, ФКУ СИЗО-2 ГУФСИН России по Ростовской области, Ильченко Евгений Геннадиевич, 1975 г. р. (адрес предположительный).
En:
Remand Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Rostov Oblast,175 Lenina Street, Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, 347910, Russia, Yevhen Hennadiiovych Ilchenko, born 1975 (address presumed).
If you have any additional information about the persecution of Yevhen Ilchenko, please contact us through our Telegram bot or by email at: [email protected].
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Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
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