Berlin, September 8, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the harsh 15-year prison sentence handed down by Russian occupation authorities to retired Ukrainian journalist Iryna Levchenko on charges of “espionage,” and calls for her immediate and unconditional release.
The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Regional Court said on September 4 it had sentenced Levchenko, who is 64 and has been detained since 2023, to 15 years in prison, according to
media
reports
. Levchenko was charged with passing information to Ukrainian intelligence services.
In a
post on its Telegram channel
, the court only referred to Levchenko as “L., born in 1961” but the former journalist could be identified in the
accompanying footage
.
“The 15-year prison sentence given to Iryna Levchenko represents an outrageous abuse of the criminal justice system,” said Fiona O’Brien, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia regional director on Tuesday. “Russian authorities must immediately release Iryna Levchenko and all other Ukrainian journalists and media workers detained in connection with their work or identity.”
Levchenko, a retired journalist from the southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, was detained by Russian forces in May 2023 along with her husband, Oleksandr. She had previously worked for several Ukrainian media outlets, including Noviy Den, Mltpl.City, and Fakty i Kommentarii, but had
left journalism
in February 2022 after Melitopol was occupied.
Her husband was released in August 2024, while Levchenko has remained in Russian custody.
It is not yet known whether the 3.5 years Levchenko has already spent in Russian pretrial detention will count toward her sentence.
Levchenko’s family, who have endured years of uncertainty over her whereabouts and condition,
said
the verdict left them in despair.
“On September 16, Iryna will turn 65. Fifteen years behind bars at that age in Russian prisons – what is this if not a hidden death sentence? In 15 years she will be 80. If
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