The occupational “Supreme Court of Crimea” sentenced Mr.Serhiy Tsyhipa, a journalist and activist, to 13 years in the penal colony on charges of espionage (Article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
This was a camera hearing. The media outlets of the occupiers published only photos from the hearing.
Serhiy Tsyhipa is a civic activist from the city of Nova Kakhovka, Kherson Region, head of “Kakhovskyy Platsdarm” (Kakhovka Bridgehead) NGO, a citizen journalist. On March 12, 2022, he was on his way to Tavriysk to deliver medicines to his mother-in-law, when the communication with him ceased.
Journalist Oleh Baturin, abducted on March 13, told when released that he had heard the name of Serhiy Tsyhipa and the sound of his voice in one of the nearby investigation rooms during his detention in the building of Kherson Region State Administration.
It became known only in October 2022 that Mr.Tsyhipa was being held in SIZO No.1 of Simveropol.
In early December he was reported to have been moved to a new SIZO in Simferopol.
In December 2022, the information appeared that Mr. Serhiy Tsyhipa had been accused of espionage (Article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation; a 10 to 20-years’ sentence).
