Ukrainian human rights activist Elena Berezhnaya released on bail after three years in custody

Olena Berezhnaya, sentenced by a Ukrainian court in December 2023 to 14 years in prison on charges of treason, has been released from pretrial detention pending the consideration of her appeal. Her release was made possible after she posted bail in the amount of 302 thousand hryvnias and due to her deteriorating health - during one of the court hearings, Berezhnaya suffered a stroke that required hospitalization.

This is Berezhnaya's second legal victory in recent times. In April 2024, the European Court of Human Rights found her initial detention in 2021 unlawful and also pointed out violations in the detention procedure.

"I am leaving after three and a half years of torture, humiliation and attempts to erase my human dignity," Berezhnaya said after her release. "But the authorities did not succeed. I continued to fight even in the detention center and will continue this fight."

The charges against the human rights activist are based on a letter that Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya cited in March 2022. According to investigators, the letter contained information about Ukrainian support for a "special military operation" and information about crimes on Ukrainian territory. Berezhnaya herself denies any involvement in drafting the document, claiming that she was solely involved in protecting the rights of the Russian-speaking population and persecuted activists.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly stated that Berezhnaya's case is politically motivated, noting that it has become part of a campaign to persecute dissidents in Ukraine. The release on bail, albeit temporary, is seen as an important precedent in the context of tightening legislation on treason in the country.

Berezhnaya's case continues to be considered by the appellate court, and its outcome may become indicative of similar trials against human rights defenders and civil activists in Ukraine. International observers are calling for an objective review of the appeal and a full reconsideration of the charges, taking into account the position of the ECHR.