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Russian Prison Chief Charged in Torture and Killing of Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna
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![Photo of Maryna Kulakova]( "Photo of Maryna Kulakova")
The head of Detention Center No. 2 in Taganrog, located in Russia’s Rostov region, has been charged in absentia over the torture and death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office reported on August 7.
Though unnamed publicly, the official is accused of orchestrating a systematic campaign of abuse against Ukrainian detainees, including civilians. Prosecutors say 27-year-old Roshchyna was among the victims.
He has been charged with the inhumane treatment of civilians by a group acting in collusion. Despite knowing that Roshchyna was a civilian protected under international law, the suspect allegedly violated the Geneva Conventions and other legal norms. If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison.
Roshchyna disappeared on August 3, 2023, while reporting from Russian-occupied territory. Russia officially confirmed her detention in May 2024. She had previously been detained by Russian forces in March 2022 while covering the war in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk but was released after 10 days.
Undeterred, Roshchyna continued reporting on the occupied territories for outlets such as Hromadske Radio, Ukrainska Pravda, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. In 2022, she received the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Courage in Journalism Award.
An international investigation later revealed that Roshchyna’s body, returned to Ukraine after her death in Russian captivity, was missing several internal organs—potentially to obscure the cause of death.
Ukrainian forensic experts confirmed the body was female, and DNA testing by the Prosecutor General’s Office established a 99% match with Roshchyna. The remains bore signs of torture, including abrasions, bruises, a broken rib, and suspected electric shock injuries. A postmortem dissection was also performed in Russia.
Previously, The European Commission condemned the killing of Viktoria Roshchyna, whose body was recently returned to Ukraine. At a press briefing in Brussels on April 30, European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper called the incident a stark reminder of the dangers Ukrainians face under occupation, Ukrinform reports.
