French law enforcement has arrested a citizen of Ukraine suspected of involvement in torture at the ‘Isolation’ prison in occupied Donetsk. This was reported by the Attorney General of Ukraine, Ruslan Kravchenko.
This is reported by Finway
Details of the Case and Nature of the Charges
The detainee, according to the investigation, voluntarily collaborated with the so-called ‘Ministry of State Security’ of the ‘DPR’ group from 2017 to 2019. Testimonies from former prisoners of ‘Isolation’ indicate that the man was an assistant to the head of the illegal prison: he participated in the torture of inmates, treated them cruelly, exerted psychological pressure, forced confessions, and humiliated people. Investigators have currently identified at least nine victims.
“Thanks to the cooperation between the Office of the Attorney General of Ukraine and the law enforcement agencies of the French Republic, a participant in a terrorist organization involved in the torture of people in the illegal Donetsk prison ‘Isolation’ has been arrested in France.
In 2021, when the investigation in Ukraine was completed and the case was sent to court, the suspect fled to France and attempted to obtain refugee status. Following appeals from Ukrainian prosecutors, civil organizations, and efforts from French law enforcement, France initiated its own criminal proceedings. Victims were interrogated jointly by Ukrainian and French investigators, and Ukraine provided additional materials to strengthen the evidence base. Based on a request from the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office, the court placed the man in custody, charging him with war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Identity of the Suspect and Progress of the Investigation
According to French media, the detainee is Yevhen B., born in 1979 in Donetsk. He was arrested back in April, and the official charges were brought shortly thereafter. According to the French prosecutor’s office, former inmates of ‘Isolation’ accused Yevhen B. of involvement in torture, humiliation, and sexual violence against prisoners. The investigation in France is being conducted by a specialized unit of the Paris court under the direction of an investigating judge.
This is the second case of the arrest abroad of individuals involved in war crimes in Ukraine. Previously, a Russian national, Yan Petrovsky, was sentenced to life imprisonment in Finland, and this verdict is currently under review by the appellate court.
The building of the former ‘Isolation’ factory in Donetsk was seized by Russia-controlled groups back in 2014. According to testimonies from those returned from captivity, people were illegally held and tortured in this place. The Ukrainian Office of the Prosecutor General continues to investigate these crimes.
Among the former prisoners of ‘Isolation’ are journalist Stanislav Aseev and doctor and activist Yuriy Shapovalov, who have repeatedly spoken about the torture and inhumane treatment in this prison.