– The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Truth Hounds welcome the arrest of pro-Russian separatist Yevhen Brazhnikov, four years after they alerted the authorities to his presence on French territory ;
– Yevhen Brazhnikov has been indicted on charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and complicity in these crimes. He is accused of crimes committed against Ukrainian detainees in the Izolyatsia prison of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic ;
– This case marks the first official referral of a case by Ukrainian authorities to a third State.
Paris, 9 May 2026 – On 7 April 2026, four years after FIDH, Truth Hounds and the LDH alerted the authorities of his presence on French soil, Yevhen Brazhnikov, a Ukrainian citizen and pro-Russian separatist, was arrested by the investigators of the French War Crimes Unit. He has since been placed in pre-trial detention and has been indicted on charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and complicity in these crimes, relating to alleged acts of torture and ill-treatment committed against Ukrainian detainees.
Yevhen Brazhnikov is suspected of crimes committed during his detention at Izolyatsia, a prison that was controlled since 2014 by members of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). He was held there from April 2017 to December 2019. During this period, Brazhnikov reportedly benefited from a privileged status within the prison, having been recruited by members of the administration. The judicial investigation will aim to clarify his exact role and responsibilities.
“This major development was made possible in part by additional information provided by Truth Hounds, which contributed to substantiate the case," Said Zera Kozlyieva, Legal Director of Truth Hounds. “The use of universal jurisdiction demonstrates the vital role states can play in ensuring accountability for international crimes and sends a clear message that borders will not protect perpetrators from justice,” declared Oksana Pokalchuk, Co-Executive Director of Truth Hounds .
In December 2019, Yevhen Brazhnikov was released from Izolyatsia as part of a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and the so-called DPR. Fellow detainees released at the same time immediately reported his alleged crimes to Ukrainian authorities, prompting the opening of a domestic investigation.
In February 2022, Brazhnikov left Ukraine and relocated to France, where he applied for asylum. FIDH and its member organizations Truth Hounds and the LDH formally alerted the French authorities to his presence, leading to the opening of a preliminary investigation in France. Since then, the organizations have contributed to the investigation and have identified victims and witnesses.
“This arrest demonstrates that effective cooperation between Ukrainian civil society organisations and European judicial authorities can play a decisive role in advancing accountability,” said Ilya Nuzov, head of FIDH Eastern Europe and Central Asia Desk.
Following exchanges between the French and Ukrainian authorities, the Ukrainian Prosecutor’s Office formally referred the case to France.
“This first official referral by Ukraine to a third State illustrates that victims of international crimes may seek justice outside their own jurisdiction when alleged perpetrators try to avoid domestic prosecution,” declared Clémence Bectarte and Marc Bailly, lawyers for the civil parties “It also underscores the essential role of universal jurisdiction in combating impunity for crimes committed in Ukraine”.
