Kyiv court sentences former head of torture chamber in temporarily occupied Donetsk Kulikovskyi

The Shevchenkivskyi Court of Kyiv convicted and sentenced Denys Kulykovskyi (Palych), who ran the Izolyatsia torture chamber in temporarily occupied Donetsk, to 15 years in prison and confiscation of property.

Suspilne's correspondent reports from the courtroom. 

The beginning of the sentence will be counted from November 9, 2021, when the Security Service of Ukraine detained Kulikovskyi. At that time, the man lived in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. 

The perpetrator was convicted under the article on cruel treatment of prisoners of war and civilians. During the interrogation, the convict confirmed his participation in the torture and interrogation of people. The investigation of the case was completed in June 2022. 

Former prisoners of Izolyatsia testified against Denys Kulikovskyi. 22 people were recognised as victims in the case. Among them are writer and journalist Stanislav Asieiev, Stanislav Pechonkin, activist Valentyna Buchok and others. 

Former prisoners describe Palych as "the main executioner of Izolyatsia."

Kulikovskyi and his accomplices beat, stabbed, strangled, drowned, tortured with electric shocks and raped prisoners. Under his leadership, they also practised burial alive and staged executions as a method of influence.

The Izolyatsia torture chamber was established in the temporarily occupied Donetsk in 2014. The prison has a secret status. It is known for its illegal verdicts by the so-called "courts" in the temporarily occupied Donetsk region and numerous cases of torture of "prisoners".