Vladislav Esipenko
Vladislav Esipenko, born 1969, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea. Charges: Article 222.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment or bearing of explosive substances…); Article 223.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Illegal manufacture of explosives); “Vladislav Esipenko's case”. Sentence (August 17, 2022): 5 years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, a fine of 105,000 rubles. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, March 24, 2022.
In brief
Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea · Bakhchysarai · Journalists
Sentence
5 years
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, a fine of 105,000 rubles
First instance, February 15, 2022: 6 years
Charges
- Article 222.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment or bearing of explosive substances or explosive devices
- Article 223.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Illegal manufacture of explosives
Full wording of the charges
While preparing for a business trip to Crimea, Esipenko arranged to purchase an RGD-5 hand fragmentation grenade from an unknown person on the territory of mainland Ukraine to ensure his personal safety while gathering information for Krym.Realii. On February 26, he retrieved the grenade and a UZRGM-2 fuse from a cache and placed them in his car. In Simferopol, he replaced the safety pin ring and attached a fishing line to it.
Latest event
June 20, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, March 24, 2022
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 5 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol
· Persecution begins
Vladislav Esipenko's case
Criminal case
Vladislav Esipenko's case
Details and sources
Full summary
A correspondent for the publication Krym.Realii. On March 10, 2021, Esipenko’s car was stopped by FSB officers, and during an inspection involving a service dog, a grenade was found in his vehicle. According to the official account, he was questioned and then released under the obligation to report to the FSB the next morning, which he did. However, Esipenko later stated that he was held and tortured overnight on March 10–11 in a basement in Bakhchisarai. On March 12, the court ordered his detention as part of a case concerning the manufacture and possession of explosives. Initially, Esipenko pleaded guilty but later withdrew his confession. On February 16, 2022, he was sentenced to six years in a general regime penal colony and fined 110,000 rubles. On August 18, the appellate court reduced the sentence to five years and the fine to 105,000 rubles. In October 2024, Esipenko’s wife told Krym.Realii that the colony was obstructing her husband’s parole. In June 2025, he was released from the colony and left Crimea.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Ukraine
Other people prosecuted under Article 222.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.