On September 6, Metropolitan Klyment of the Simferopol and Crimean OCU was allowed to act as a public defender of the arrested Radio Liberty freelancer, Vladyslav Yesypenko
This is reported by Krym.Realii.
According to him, now the court session in the case of Yesypenko is suspended.
A small number of people gathered outside the Simferopol District Court building, controlled by the Russian authorities, on Monday, waiting for the results of Yesypenko's case hearing. This is the third court session in Crimea, where the case against Yesypenko is being considered on its merits.
On July 6, the Russian court in Crimea extended the detention period of Vladyslav Yesypenko until December 18. On the same day, a rally in support of the journalist was held on Independence Square in Kyiv.
Lawyer Dmitry Dinze said that the trial of Vladyslav Yesypenko "will pass quickly."
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President Jamie Fly called the announcement of the indictment of Vladyslav Yesypenko a "mockery of justice".
According to human rights activists, Vladyslav Yesypenko was previously charged in Crimea only under Article 223-1 of the Criminal Code of Russia (illegal manufacture of explosives, illegal manufacture, processing or repair of explosive devices). The penalty under this article is from 8 to 12 years in prison.
Kateryna Yesypenko has reported that Vladyslav is charged under another article – Article 222 of the Criminal Code of Russia (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of weapons, their main parts, ammunition). The sanction of this article provides for a penalty of 5 to 12 years in prison.
On Press Freedom Day, Kateryna Yesypenko said that her husband was forced to give evidence under torture