“I had a dream about my husband’s arrest the day before”. Journalist Yesipenko against the system

Сурган Олександра
·
11:55, 16 June
“I had a dream about my husband’s arrest the day before”. Journalist Yesipenko against the system
Image source: Особистий архів дружини Владислава Єсипенко, Катерини Єсипенко

A freelance correspondent of the Ukrainian edition of Radio Svoboda, the Crimea. Realities project was illegally detained on March 10 by members of the occupying FSB outside the village of Perevalne in Crimea. He is charged under two articles: “Illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of explosives or explosive devices,” (Article 222.1 of the Criminal Code) and “Illegal manufacture of explosives, as well as illegal manufacture, processing or repair of explosive devices,” (Article 223.1 of the Criminal Code).

Suspilne Crimea talked with Vladislav’s wife - Kateryna Yesipenko, and his sister Larysa Krupina for a broader understanding of who Vladislav Yesipenko is, how he decided to become a journalist and how it was explained to Vladislav’s daughter where her father was.

Detention

According to occupation investigator Vitaliy Vlasov, the reason for Yesipenko’s arrest was a grenade, which FSB officers allegedly found in a car during his detention. As the correspondent would later describe in his letters from behind bars, according to the FSB, this grenade was necessary “for self-defence against the Tatars” (probably referring to the Crimean Tatars, the indigenous people of Crimea - ed.)

Independent lawyers could not see Vladislav for 27 days. At the first trial, when he had the opportunity to talk to lawyers Emil Kurbedinov and Alexei Ladin, he alleged he had been subjected to torture.

Among the tortures, the journalist listed: “they put a bag on his head and deprived him of the opportunity to breathe, connected an electric current to various parts of his body, beat him severely, threatened to kill him by hanging him in a cell, to get a guilty plea.”

And this is only a small part of what the occupying security forces dared to break Yesipenko’s spirit.

A few days earlier, the pro-Russian TV channel Krym24 aired an interview with Vladislav, in which he “confirmed” his involvement in the Ukrainian secret services.

Vladislav’s wife, Kateryna Yesipenko, was the first to speak publicly about the torture after watching the interview.

“None of Vlad’s acquaintances recognized him in this story from Crimea24, and this is the most important indicator that physical force was used against him. I assumed psychotropic substances could also be used. His reactions and speech are completely uncharacteristic of him in that interview: inhibited, heavy eyelids, unfocused gaze. I couldn’t even imagine that it could be electric torture. I looked at him and realized that I was incredibly sorry that I could not help him”, - says Kateryna to Suspilne Crimea.

In all the pro-Russian media news, the arrest of journalist Yesipenko was covered as “the arrest of a Ukrainian spy in Crimea,” but no suspicions of “espionage” or “treason” were raised against him.

Captain Colombo

Vladislav met his 52nd year in the occupation pre-trial detention centre. He had met his wife 10 years ago, got married and moved to Crimea in early 2013. The man is a candidate for a master of sports in wrestling, worked in real estate, but the occupation of the peninsula has changed many things for him, including his profession.


Source: Personal archive of Vladislav Yesipenko’s wife, Kateryna Yesipenko

Vladislav and Kateryna saw the occupation of the peninsula with their own eyes when Vladyslav had recorded everything that was happening as a blogger, giving interviews to Ukrainian and international TV channels about everything that was happening on the peninsula. They returned to Kryvyi Rih in 2015.

“I slowed down this process. Just after the capture of the peninsula, we were expecting a child. It was very difficult for a mother-to-be to collect suitcases and go. But as soon as we got the opportunity to leave occupied Crimea - we did it right away", - Kateryna Yesypenko said.

A few years before moving to Kryvyi Rih, Vladyslav decided he should show everything that was happening on the peninsula and began cooperating with the editorial board of Crimea. Realities.

Vladislav’s sister is a colleague of her brother, Larysa Krupina works as a journalist for the Fakty newspaper. She believes that Vladislav’s interest in this profession began with her work trips.

“One day, he joined the conversation with the interlocutor. We turned out to be a wonderful duo: a journalist with direct questions and her companion, a kind of Captain Colombo - the one who inspires confidence and which you can not be afraid of. He seems simple, not dangerous. But in fact, he is observant, who notices the smallest details", -  the sister said.

The journalist’s sister summarised: during those business trips to the Dnipropetrovsk region Vladislav Yesypenko, a real estate worker, first became interested in the profession of a correspondent.


Source: Personal archive of Vladislav Yesipenko’s wife, Kateryna Yesipenko

Prophetic dream

Kateryna Yesipenko recalls that on the eve of his arrest she had a dream- she and Vladislav were standing by the sea in front of low-rise buildings.

“When I read the interpretation of the dream, the dream book explained to me that these similar buildings mean barracks and explained that such a dream means the imminent arrest. It turns out that I foresaw the arrest of my husband in a dream", - she explains.

Kateryna knew that on March 10, 2021, her husband would be busy all day filming, so she did not bother him.

When he didn’t get in touch in the evening, she started to worry. And in the morning, she already wrote to all authorities on the peninsula.

“Of course, no one answered me. Later, we learned from one interviewee of his story that Vlad was detained by FSB officers", - the woman added.

Vladislav’s sister says that she had been worried about her brother’s safety for several years while he was working on the peninsula.

“As a journalist, I think it was a worthy job as a reporter in a dangerous area where the level of lawlessness is off the charts. I have watched my brother’s stories many times on the resources of Radio Liberty, from ordinary polls on the streets to real investigations. I saw how hard Vlad was advancing in his new profession. It is worthy of respect. Not everyone can change their life so dramatically", - Krupina notes.

Source: Personal archive of Vladislav Yesipenko’s wife, Kateryna Yesipenko

Vladislav’s daughter Stephania is 6 years old. She still does not know that her father had been arrested. The girl thinks her father is on a long work trip. Kateryna believes this story cannot be a reason for her daughter for a long time, but she doesn't know how to tell her daughter the truth.

Suspilne Crimea continues to follow the “case” of our colleague, journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko.