Arrest: On November 27, 2019, Halyna Dovhopola, a resident of Sevastopol, was detained by officers of the FSB of the Russian Federation in occupied Crimea following a search of her home. She was accused of 'state treason' and alleged cooperation with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Immediately after her arrest, she was placed in a pre-trial detention centre, where she remained during the investigation. She was later transferred to Moscow (including Lefortovo pre-trial detention centre) and subsequently returned to Crimea for trial.

Sentence: On March 24, 2021, the Russia-controlled Sevastopol City Court found Halyna Dovhopola guilty of 'state treason' and sentenced her to 12 years in a general regime colony, followed by 1 year of restricted freedom. After sentencing, she was transferred to the Russian Federation to serve her sentence.

Halyna Dovhopola is a Ukrainian citizen and resident of Sevastopol who found herself under systematic political persecution after the Russian Federation occupied the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Her case exemplifies how the Russian occupation authorities use criminal law to control the civilian population and suppress any contacts with Ukraine.

Before her arrest, she lived an ordinary life in Sevastopol, being part of the local community, managing household affairs, and maintaining family ties. After 2014, when Crimea came under Russian occupation, the situation for many residents changed significantly: any contact with mainland Ukraine or suspicion of disloyalty to the occupation authorities began to be seen as a threat.

Halyna Dovhopola was detained in late November 2019 after a search of her home. Russian security forces immediately classified the case as closed. She was held in isolation during the investigation and moved between various pre-trial detention centres, including in Crimea and Moscow. The use of Lefortovo pre-trial detention centre in such cases is a typical practice in processes considered 'state' by the Russian authorities.

The charges were based on allegations of her cooperation with Ukrainian intelligence and the transfer of information about Russian Black Sea Fleet military facilities. Ukrainian human rights organizations have repeatedly noted that such cases often lack public evidence, and investigation materials are classified, making independent verification of charges impossible. This creates grounds to consider such processes politically motivated.

On March 24, 2021, the Sevastopol City Court, controlled by the Russian Federation, issued a guilty verdict — 12 years in a general regime colony with additional restricted freedom after release. She was then transferred to Russia to serve her sentence, a typical practice for Crimean prisoners.

After imprisonment, her health condition began to deteriorate. She developed serious joint problems causing severe pain and significantly limiting mobility. She requires a complex joint replacement surgery, but access to adequate medical care in the colony is limited. In letters, she described harsh detention conditions, physical exhaustion, and psychological pressure related to long-term imprisonment.

Despite imprisonment, Dovhopola maintains an active civic stance. She periodically sends letters describing detention conditions, climatic difficulties, and health status, and expresses disagreement with Russian jurisdiction. In her appeals, she emphasized not recognizing Russian citizenship and even filed a petition for its revocation. Her letters have been published by human rights activists and former political prisoners, including journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko, who maintains contact with Crimean prisoners.

A special place in Dovhopola's story is her mutual support with other political prisoners. Notably, there is correspondence with Vladyslav Yesypenko, who mentioned they supported each other while in detention. These contacts became an important element of moral support under imprisonment conditions, where access to the outside world is extremely limited.

Human rights defenders have repeatedly emphasized that Dovhopola's case is part of a broader practice of politically motivated persecution of residents of occupied Crimea. Her case is seen as a typical example of using 'state treason' charges to criminalize civic positions and contacts with Ukraine. In similar cases, according to human rights organizations, non-transparent procedures, closed trials, and maximum prison terms are applied, making fair consideration impossible.

Her case is part of a broader system of persecution in Crimea after 2014, when hundreds of Ukrainian citizens faced criminal charges under articles for 'state treason', 'espionage', or 'extremism'. Ukrainian state bodies and human rights organizations view such cases as violations of international law and an element of repressive policy in the occupied territory.

Today, Halyna Dovhopola remains among Ukrainian political prisoners held in Russian colonies. Her name is included in lists of Crimean political prisoners, and human rights activists continue to demand her release and proper medical care. As of 2025–2026, there are reports of a sharp deterioration in Halyna Dovhopola's health. She requires urgent medical intervention, including joint endoprosthesis, but obtaining necessary treatment in the colony is challenging. Despite this, she continues to be a symbol of resilience among Crimean political prisoners and an example of how civilians come under repressive pressure due to the political circumstances of occupation.

Information used from open sources: Suspilne Crimea; Ukrinform; ZMINA; CrimeaSOS; Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; Ukrainska Pravda; Crimean Tatar Resource Center; Radio Liberty; Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union; Human Rights House Crimea.

Photo: blackseatv.com.

Last updated: 01.07.2026.