The case of the Ukrainian journalist Victoria roshchynadisappeared in August 2023, has shocked Ukraine after the Kremlin authorities have returned their body under conditions that point to a death under torture, although circumstances are still to clarify.
According to an investigation published by the CNN chain, the 27 -year – lack of organs such as the brain, eyes and part of the trachea.
The remains of the journalist were returned in February in the framework of an exchange of corpses between kyiv and Moscow. However, the body arrived tagged like “An unidentified man“. An international expert believes that the absence of organs may be due to an attempt to hide tests and affirms that the rupture of a neck bone could indicate that Roshchina died from strangulation or suffocation.
Professional duty
Roshchina was a journalist who entered Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia for Inform about the living conditions of citizens Under Kremlin control. It was known for the courage he showed in the development of his profession, which aimed to investigate the treatment received by the Ukrainian population in these territories.
The young woman was not informed of her arrest until Seven months later. during his captivity in numerous Russian prisons, his only contact with the outside world was a four -minute call to his parents, a year after being arrested. The Russian authorities never granted access to a lawyer, nor was she formally accused of any crime.
The young woman died in September 2024, when she was about to be returned to Ukraine In an exchange of prisoners. His fourth and last trip in July 2023 went to Energodar, where the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, Zaporiyia, is located to inform about the arrests suffered by employees and other inhabitants of the area.
Signs of torture
According to several witnesses who shared a cell with her in various detention centers, Roshchina suffered torture that led her health to deteriorate rapidly. During his stay at an improvised detention center in Melitopol, it was Beef and electrocutedaccording to the witnesses who said they had seen scars of cuts and bruises in the body of the journalist.
At the end of 2023, she was transferred to a prison in Taganrog, in Russiawhere both Ukrainian soldiers and civilians were subjected to simulated, beaten and electrocuted drowning in an electric chair. The food was strictly rationed and, according to an old detainee, the prisoners received rotten potatoes to eat, according to an investigation published by the CNN.
Roshchina stopped eating, lost weight quickly and her mental state also deteriorated. “She was lost inside her own head, with terrified eyes,” said a witness, who recalled that the journalist could no longer lift the head of the pillow without help.
When their health worsened, the Russian guards tried to feed her by force to preserve it as currency. However, Roshchina died in unknown circumstances -which Ukraine now investigates -shortly after they took her to be exchanged.
Victoria Roshchina’s companions are confident that her death will contribute to focus on the disappearances of Ukrainian civilians. The Ombudsman of Ukraine, on the other hand, figure in more than 16,000 civilians who are arrested in 180 centers disseminated by occupied territories and Russia. Many of them are localist, local politicians, former soldiers, religious leaders and citizens suspected of being resistant to Russian occupation.
A “despicable brutality”
The European Commission (CE) has taken little to react. This Wednesday said that Russia “does not miss any opportunity to show his despicable brutality Towards the Ukrainians when killing and torturing, as was the case of Viktoria Roshchyna, “said the spokeswoman for CE Anitta Hipper during the daily press conference of the community institution.
He affirmed that the victim was “a brave Ukrainian journalist who was Brutally not only murderedbut also previously tortured. “
“This clearly shows that life under Russian occupation is not a safe option for Ukrainians,” he said.
He added that, for journalists, the value of Roshchyna will be “always remembered” and that the European Union will do “everything in its possession” to ensure that Russia yields accounts “for all these crimes of war and atrocities committed. “
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