{"id":62291,"date":"2026-01-30T17:05:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T14:05:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/memopzk.org\/news\/my-schitaem-politzaklyuchyonnymi-osuzhdyonnyh-po-delu-hersonskoj-devyatki\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T15:11:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T12:11:53","slug":"the-kherson-nine-are-political-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/memopzk.org\/en\/news\/the-kherson-nine-are-political-prisoners\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kherson Nine are political prisoners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nine Ukrainians were abducted during the Russian occupation of Kherson and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment on charges of terrorism<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018Political Prisoners. Memorial\u2019 human rights project, in accordance with <\/strong>international standards<\/strong><\/a>, considers Serhii Kabakov, Serhii Heidt, Oleh Bohdanov, Yurii Tavozhnianskyi, Yuryi Kaiov, Denis Lialka, Serhii Kovalskyi, Kostiantyn Reznik, and Sergei Ofitserov<\/strong> political prisoners. The nine Ukrainians were abducted, tortured and convicted on charges of \u2018participation in a terrorist group\u2019 and \u2018preparing acts of international terrorism\u2019 for allegedly preparing attacks on officials of the occupation administration in Kherson. Another defendant in the case, Vasyl Stetsenko, died as a result of torture. Their prosecution and conviction violated their rights to a fair trial and the norms of the Geneva Convention. We demand that their convictions be quashed and that they be released. We also demand that the circumstances of their abduction and illegal detention be established, that their allegations of torture and the circumstances of Vasyl Stetsenko’s death be investigated, and that all those responsible be held accountable.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What were the charges against the Kherson Nine?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukrainian citizens Serhii Kabakov, Serhii Heidt, Oleh Bohdanov, Yurii Tavozhnianskyi, Yurii Kaiov, Denis Lyalka, Serhii Kovalskyi, Kostiantyn Reznik, Vasyl Stetsenko, and Russian citizen Sergei Ofitserov who had permanent residence in Ukraine, were abducted in Kherson in the period from July to early August 2022 during the Russian occupation. For two months, they were brutally tortured in the basement of the Kherson Oblast Police Department to extract confessions. Many of the defendants did not know each other and only met for the first time after their arrest. Vasyl Stetsenko died as a result of torture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The individuals concerned were only charged on 6 October 2022. On 7 October the defendants were remanded in custody by a court in occupied Simferopol. Shortly before the liberation of Kherson, they were taken to Lefortovo remand prison in Moscow and subsequently transferred to Rostov. The Ukrainians were accused of preparing, on behalf of the Ukrainian Security Service, a series of attempts on the lives of officials of the occupying \u2018military-civilian administration\u2019 in Kherson Oblast and on the Russian military personnel guarding the officials (Article 30, Part 1, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in conjunction with Article 30, Part 3, CC RF and Article 361, Part 1, CC RF) and of participating in a terrorist group (Article 205.4, Part 2, CC RF). According to the investigative authorities, the defendants manufactured explosives, conducted surveillance of collaborating officials and attempted to blow them up. However, none of the allegedly planned terrorist attacks was carried out. In court, all the defendants maintained their innocence of the charges and described in detail the circumstances of their abduction and torture. The Russian Investigative Committee refused to open criminal investigations into the defendants\u2019 reports of torture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 30 January 2026, a military court sentenced Kostiantyn Reznik and Serhii Kabakov to 20 years’ imprisonment, Oleh Bohdanov and Yurii Tavozhnianskyi to 18 years\u2019 imprisonment, Serhii Heidt, Sergei Ofitserov and Serhii Kovalskyi to 17 years, and Yurii Kaiov and Denis Lyalka to 14 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do we consider the Kherson Nine political prisoners?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guilt of the defendants in the case was not proven. Their confessions were obtained under brutal torture and are inadmissible as evidence. The Ukrainians continued to be beaten even during the court proceedings. In addition, much of the evidence presented by the prosecution showed signs of fabrication and was obtained while the defendants were detained in Kherson without any procedural status. During this period, FSB officers conducted illegal investigative operations that included the staging of videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The charge of preparing acts of international terrorism \u2018with the aim of disrupting the peaceful coexistence of states and peoples or directed against the interests of the Russian Federation\u2019 is absurd. In reality \u2018peaceful coexistence\u2019 and \u2018national interests\u2019 were disrupted as a result of the war unleashed by the Russian authorities against Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the defendants were illegally abducted from Ukrainian territory and their criminal prosecution under Russian law is contrary to international law. The cumulative actions of the Russian state, taken in relation to the defendants in the case of the Kherson Nine, give grounds to consider them as war crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A detailed description of the case of the Kherson Nine and of our position is available on our website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you help?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can write to the Kherson Nine at the following addresses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RU:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

344064, \u0433. \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0432-\u043d\u0430-\u0414\u043e\u043d\u0443, \u0443\u043b. \u0422\u043e\u043d\u043d\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0430\u044f, \u0434. 4, \u0424\u041a\u0423 \u0421\u0418\u0417\u041e-5 \u0413\u0423\u0424\u0421\u0418\u041d \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0438 \u043f\u043e \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0432\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u043e\u0431\u043b\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438
\u041a\u0430\u0431\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0432 \u0421\u0435\u0440\u0433\u0435\u0439 \u0412\u043b\u0430\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0447, 1974 \u0433. \u0440.; \u041e\u0444\u0438\u0446\u0435\u0440\u043e\u0432 \u0421\u0435\u0440\u0433\u0435\u0439 \u0413\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0430\u0434\u044c\u0435\u0432\u0438\u0447, 1976 \u0433.\u0440.; \u0420\u0435\u0437\u043d\u0438\u043a \u041a\u043e\u043d\u0441\u0442\u0430\u043d\u0442\u0438\u043d \u0412\u0438\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0447, 1964 \u0433. \u0440.; \u0411\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430\u043d\u043e\u0432 \u041e\u043b\u0435\u0433 \u0412\u0430\u043b\u0435\u0440\u044c\u0435\u0432\u0438\u0447, 1972 \u0433. \u0440. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

EN:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serhii Volodymyrovych Kabakov (born 1974); Sergei Gennadyevich Ofitserov (born 1976); Kostiantyn Viktorovych Reznik (born 1964); Oleh Valeriovych Bohdanov (born 1972)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remand Prison No. 5, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Rostov Oblast, 4 Tonnelnaya Street, Rostov-on-Don, 344064, Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RU:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 344022, \u0433. \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0432-\u043d\u0430-\u0414\u043e\u043d\u0443, \u0443\u043b. \u041c\u0430\u043a\u0441\u0438\u043c\u0430 \u0413\u043e\u0440\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e, \u0434. 219, \u0424\u041a\u0423 \u0421\u0418\u0417\u041e-1 \u0413\u0423\u0424\u0421\u0418\u041d \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0438 \u043f\u043e \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0432\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u043e\u0431\u043b\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438
\u0413\u0435\u0439\u0434\u0442 \u0421\u0435\u0440\u0433\u0435\u0439 \u0410\u043d\u0430\u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0435\u0432\u0438\u0447, 1981 \u0433. \u0440.; \u0422\u0430\u0432\u043e\u0436\u043d\u044f\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u042e\u0440\u0438\u0439 \u0412\u0438\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0447, 1980 \u0433. \u0440.; \u041a\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0421\u0435\u0440\u0433\u0435\u0439 \u0410\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0447, 1990 \u0433. \u0440.; \u041b\u044f\u043b\u044c\u043a\u0430 \u0414\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0441 \u041d\u0438\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0430\u0435\u0432\u0438\u0447, 1988 \u0433. \u0440. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

EN:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serhii Anatoliovych Heidt (born 1981); Yurii Viktorovych Tavozhnianskyi (born 1980); Serhii Oleksandrovych Kovalskyi (born 1990); Denis Mykolaiovych Lialka (born 1988)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Rostov Oblast, 219 Maksima Gorkogo Street, Rostov-on-Don, 344022, Russia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

RU: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

347910, \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0432\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f \u043e\u0431\u043b\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044c, \u0433. \u0422\u0430\u0433\u0430\u043d\u0440\u043e\u0433, \u0443\u043b. \u041b\u0435\u043d\u0438\u043d\u0430, \u0434. 175, \u0424\u041a\u0423 \u0421\u0418\u0417\u041e-2 \u0413\u0423\u0424\u0421\u0418\u041d \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0438 \u043f\u043e \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0432\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u043e\u0431\u043b\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438, \u041a\u0430\u0451\u0432 \u042e\u0440\u0438\u0439 \u042e\u0440\u044c\u0435\u0432\u0438\u0447, 1983 \u0433. \u0440. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

EN:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yurii Yuriovych Kaiov (born 1983);<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remand Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Rostov Oblast, 175 Lenina Street, Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, 347910, Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also send emails via ZT<\/a> (for payment with all bank cards) and Memorial-France<\/a> (free of charge).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can donate<\/a> to help all political prisoners in Russia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-62291","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","regions-kherson-oblast","regions-rostov-oblast-en","news-type-press-releases"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Kherson Nine are political prisoners - Political prisoners support. 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