Exhibition “Stories from the Occupied Crimea” consists of 22 photos by Ukrainian reporters Alina Smutko, Taras Ibrahimov and Alona Savchuk. These photos are a unique chronicle of life of the illegally annexed by Russia peninsula and documentary evidence of repressions against Ukrainian citizens, in particular the Crimean Tatars. The photos were taken from 2014 to 2019, until the russian occupation administration banned reporters from visiting Crimea.

The photo exhibition is currently traveling across Ukraine. On March 17, Head of the Association, Ihor Kotelianets, and a member of the Board of our organization, Petro Vyhivskyi visited its opening in Dnipro. The latter is also the father of political prisoner Valentyn Vyhivskyi. Later, on March 28, Petro visited the opening of the exhibition in Lutsk.

Ihor Kotelianets is the brother of Yevhen Panov, who was illegally imprisoned by the occupation authorities in 2016. Yevhen returned home as a result of the last exchange of political prisoners in 2019. Ihor is sure that proper pressure of the international community on the Kremlin could help to free our citizens.

“Ukraine should promote among its partner countries mechanisms to force Russia to unconditionally release Ukrainian political prisoners and civilian hostages. The Cabinet of Ministers must finally adopt all the necessary procedures to implement legislation on social and legal support for hostages and their families. Currently, these categories of citizens remain unprotected, and the state does not properly fulfill its fundamental functions in these matters”, said Ihor.

Petro Vyhivskyi has been fighting for his son's release since 2014. Their family was one of the first in Crimea to face such a challenge. Mr. Vyhivskyi's son was sentenced to 11 years for espionage, and his case still remains classified.

“I wouldn't wish to enemy what I felt when Valentyn disappeared. The only thing that kept and is keeping our family alive is the understanding that he needs help, and therefore we must keep fighting. By the way, the publicity, when the story of a political prisoner is known to society, is a guarantee of his safety. So this exhibition is not only about art”, says Petro.