Kherson — Lefortovo — Rostov: The Trial of Kherson Residents Held by Russia for ‘Terrorism’ Has Begun
Serhii Ofitserov, Yurii Kaiov, Serhii Kovalskyi, Kostiantyn Reznik, Serhii Kabakov, Denys Lialka, Serhii Heidt, Oleh Bohdanov, and Yurii Tavozhnianskyi are Kherson civilians abducted by the Russians in the summer of 2022. They are accused of ‘preparing and committing an act of international terrorism.’ Last year, the MIHR reported that they were initially held in Kherson, then in Crimea, and later transferred to the Lefortovo detention center in Moscow. However, since February 20, 2023, the nine Kherson residents have been held in Detention Center No. 1 in Rostov and are being illegally tried.
Henadii, Serhii Ofitserov’s father, recounts that almost everyone held in Detention Center No. 1 in Rostov is there for ‘crimes against Russia.’ Among the prisoners are Ukrainian soldiers and civilian residents of Mariupol and Melitopol. There are also Russians — they are held together with Ukrainians. Henadii Ofitserov describes the inhumane conditions in the Rostov detention center:
The food there is terrible. It’s cold, and medical care is almost absent.
Serhii Ofitserov was abducted while visiting his father
By his account, the prisoners receive food thanks to volunteers and are not taken for walks.
On February 20, 2024, the first so-called hearing in the case of Serhii Ofitserov, Yurii Kaiov, Serhii Kovalskyi, Kostiantyn Reznik, Serhii Kabakov, Denys Lialka, Serhii Heidt, Yurii Tavozhnianskyi and Oleh Bohdanov began at the Southern District Military Court in Rostov.
They are being tried by Kyrylo Mykolaiovych Kryvtsov. In October 2022, in the same court, he considered the ‘case’ of Denys Muryha, a fighter of the ‘Aidar’ battalion from the Luhansk region. Russian propagandists claim that Muryha joined the unit in 2015, and in March 2022, he was captured at the Ukraine-Russia border. He is currently ‘being tried’ for alleged terrorism and participation in illegal armed groups. Russians, in particular, claim that he is supposedly involved in the explosion of a bridge in the Luhansk region, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of ‘LNR People’s Militia guards.’ When the panel of judges failed to convene for the ‘hearing’ in October, Kryvtsov wanted to handle the ‘case’ alone. However, his proposal was rejected, and the so-called trial was postponed to November.
Detention Center No. 1 in Rostov. Photo: Catalog of prisons of the Russian Federation
When this judge took on the Kherson case in February 2024, the hearing was closed, and the defendants were held in a glass enclosure and could not communicate with their lawyers.
— There must have been no press, either. I’m currently monitoring Russian social media — there is no publicity in Russia, — Henadii Ofitserov highlights.
As witnesses recount, the ‘trial’ managed to read the indictment and took a break. The second ‘hearing’ occurred on March 21, the details of which Serhii Ofitserov’s father is unaware. The Russians plan to hold another ‘trial’ on April 4.
Currently, Henadii Ofitserov, along with the relatives of other Kherson residents illegally imprisoned in this ‘case,’ is seeking ways to help them. They are also urging the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide official confirmation that the men are being held in a Russian prison.
This material has been prepared with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
