Ostap Demchuk

A resident of the Amur Region, a train driver at Russian Railways. In January 2023, he was detained on suspicion of setting fire to a military recruitment office in the village of Magdagachi. According to Demchuk, he was threatened and demanded to confess, and his 17-year-old daughter was interrogated for several hours, also with the use of threats. A search was carried out in Demchuk's home. Later, another man was detained, and the train driver was cleared of suspicion. In March, the equipment seized during the search was returned to him. On 14 June 2023, he was detained on charges of high treason, after which he was placed in custody. According to Demchuk, “they changed the charge four times”. According to the version of the investigation, he financed the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Demchuk claims that he transferred money to Ukraine because his mother lives there. He mentions that she spent the money on pyjamas for wounded Ukrainian military personnel. Demchuk also notes that he helped workers at the depot in Blagoveshchensk who are participating in the war and had commendations from the trade union for this. On July 16, 2024, the court sentenced him to 13 years' imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony.