EU imposes sanctions on Russian prison officials responsible for death of Ukrainian journalist

"Roshchyna was reporting on Russia's systematic policy of extrajudicial detention and torture in occupied parts of Ukraine, before falling victim to it herself. She died at the age of 27 last year after more than a year in Russian captivity. Her body was returned earlier this year with some of the internal organs missing. Roshchyna's death in captivity was investigated earlier this year by the Viktoriia Project, a consortium including the Guardian, Ukrainska Pravda and other reporting partners."

"Sources close to the official Ukrainian investigation disclosed to the Viktoriia Project that examination of Roshchyna's body after its repatriation earlier this year showed the hyoid bone in her neck was broken, damage which can occur during strangulation. The body was also returned with the brain, eyes and larynx removed. Roshchyna was posthumously awarded the Order of Freedom by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky."

"The sanctions list includes senior officials from the Rostov region's penitentiary service where Roshchyna was held, including its head, Andrei Polyakov, the chief of Taganrog's remand prison No 2, Aleksandr Shtoda, and his deputies Andrei Mikhailichenko and Andrei Sapitsky. European officials say the men bear responsibility for the torture and deaths of 15 detainees at the remand prison. Those placed on the list face an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are barred from making funds available to them."

European Union authorities imposed sanctions against senior officials of the Rostov region penitentiary service for roles in torture and deaths at Taganrog remand prison No 2. Viktoriia Roshchyna, a 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist who reported on extrajudicial detention and torture, died after more than a year in Russian captivity; her body was returned missing internal organs and with a broken hyoid bone, a sign that can indicate strangulation. The Viktoriia Project investigated the death and reported the findings. Sanctioned individuals include Andrei Polyakov, Aleksandr Shtoda, Andrei Mikhailichenko and Andrei Sapitsky; measures include asset freezes and prohibitions on EU funds.

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