It is not just 400 Ukrainian political prisoners, hostages and prisoners of war who are held in captivity in Russia, occupied Crimea or Donbas, but also, effectively, the members of their families. This was the message to Ukrainian legislators on Oct. 19 from Petro Vyhivsky, whose son, Valentin Vyhivsky, has been imprisoned in Russia since his abduction from occupied Crimea in September 2014. For the relatives of men and women held prisoner, trying to resolve their problems becomes a major part of their everyday life, and one that is hugely expensive. At present, he explained, the Ukrainian authorities do take some part in this, but the assistance is not systematic and often depends on public officials on a personal basis.
Crimean Platform
Russia's War Against Ukraine
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Halya Coynash: 400 Ukrainians imprisoned without a crime in Russia, Crimea and Donbas
Photo of Crimean Tatar political prisoner Rayif Fevziyev’s 5-year-old daughter, after her father was arrested on August 17, 2021. Around 200 children are growing up without their imprisoned fathers just in occupied Crimea, activists say.
