“Well, journalist, you’re caught.” Ukrainian reporters on working under occupation and in captivity
Source: Life in War
On March 12, 2022, journalist and civic activist Oleg Baturin was on his way to meet a colleague in his hometown of Kakhovka. On his way to the meeting place, he was brutally detained. As it turned out later, his colleague, Serhiy Tsygipa—a journalist and volunteer from Nova Kakhovka—was also detained. With a bag over his head, Baturin was taken to the Kherson Regional State Administration building and later to a pretrial detention center. He was held captive for 9 days—during which time four of his ribs were broken and he was forced to sign documents in which he incriminated himself.
Anzhela Slobodyan covered the occupation of Kherson for four months. The journalist went on live broadcasts without hiding her face, but tried to work in a way that would prevent her from being detained and went into hiding. In July 2022, Slobodian was detained and placed in the same torture chamber as Baturin.
Both are convinced that they were taken captive because of their journalistic work. Baturin is convinced that she helped secure his release by drawing public attention to the case. Angela was released after 31 days. Her colleague—the very one Baturin was unable to meet on the day of his abduction—was far less fortunate. Serhiy Tsygipa remains in captivity. He was unlawfully convicted of “espionage” and is being held in the Simferopol pretrial detention center.
For more on the persecution of journalists under Russian occupation, watch the video.
The editorial team dedicates this piece to colleagues who have suffered at the hands of the Russian Federation for their civic stance, professional activities, and freedom of speech.
If you prefer to watch the video with subtitles in another language, go to YouTube Settings → Subtitles → Automatic Translation and select the desired language.
On March 12, 2022, journalist and civic activist Oleg Baturin was on his way to meet a colleague in his hometown of Kakhovka. On his way to the meeting place, he was brutally detained. As it turned out later, his colleague, Serhiy Tsygipa—a journalist and volunteer from Nova Kakhovka—was also detained. With a bag over his head, Baturin was taken to the Kherson Regional State Administration building and later to a pretrial detention center. He was held captive for 9 days—during which time four of his ribs were broken and he was forced to sign documents in which he incriminated himself.
Anzhela Slobodyan covered the occupation of Kherson for four months. The journalist went on live broadcasts without hiding her face, but tried to work in a way that would prevent her from being detained and went into hiding. In July 2022, Slobodian was detained and placed in the same torture chamber as Baturin.
Both are convinced that they were taken captive because of their journalistic work. Baturin is convinced that she helped secure his release by drawing public attention to the case. Angela was released after 31 days. Her colleague—the very one Baturin was unable to meet on the day of his abduction—was far less fortunate. Serhiy Tsygipa remains in captivity. He was unlawfully convicted of “espionage” and is being held in the Simferopol pretrial detention center.
For more on the persecution of journalists under Russian occupation, watch the video.
The editorial team dedicates this piece to colleagues who have suffered at the hands of the Russian Federation for their civic stance, professional activities, and freedom of speech.
If you prefer to watch the video with subtitles in another language, go to YouTube Settings → Subtitles → Automatic Translation and select the desired language.
This is an automatic translation generated by DeepL.