Marina Kovalenko, the principal of a Luhansk art school, who was abducted in Alushta, has been held in complete isolation in the detention centers of Simferopol for over six months. Initially, the woman was in SIZO-2, and two weeks ago she was transferred to SIZO-1 in the same city.
This is reported by Finway
Charges and Conditions of Detention
According to a source in the Russian Federation’s penal enforcement service, 57-year-old Marina Kovalenko is accused of treason. She was detained on June 10, 2025, in Alushta, allegedly on suspicion of financially supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Following the onset of Russia’s large-scale aggression, the number of cases of detaining residents of occupied territories on charges of treason and espionage has increased, especially for suspicion of aiding Ukrainian military forces or providing information beneficial to Ukraine.
“It is known that Kovalenko was abducted in Alushta on June 10, 2025, allegedly for donations to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After the start of the full-scale military aggression, Russian security forces significantly increased the number of detentions of residents of occupied territories on charges of treason for alleged espionage in favor of Ukraine or financial support for Ukrainian military forces,” reports a human rights Telegram channel.
Increase in Political Persecution in Crimea
There are currently no official comments from Russian security agencies regarding the situation with Marina Kovalenko. Human rights activists predict a further increase in the number of criminal cases under articles related to treason, cooperation with Ukraine, espionage, and sabotage, which Russian security forces are initiating in Crimea. Currently, such cases are being opened almost daily, whereas before 2014, their number did not exceed ten per year.