GUNKO v. RUSSIA AND UKRAINE and 10 other applications

Publicat la 23 februarie 2026 CUARTA SECȚIUNE Aplicația nr. 60774/14 Volodymyr Vasylyovych GUNKO împotriva Rusiei și Ucrainei și alte 10 cereri (a se vedea lista adăugată) comunicată la 4 februarie 2026 OBIECTUL PRIVIND CAUZA Circunstanțe ale cauzelor Solicitările decurg din conflictul armat internațional din estul Ucrainei care a început în primăvara anului 2014. Ele se referă la presupusa detenție ilegală, maltratare și muncă forțată a membrilor unui batalion voluntar “Donbas” (suportarea forțelor armate ucrainene), de către agenții ruși în 2014. Reclamanții au fost capturați de forțele armate ruse la 30 de ani. În noaptea de 30 august 2014 au dormit în aer liber într-o tabără a Forțelor Armate Ruse.

La 31 august 2014, împreună cu alți membri capturați ai batalionului voluntar “Donbas”, au fost transferați la unități compuse din militanti „Republica Populară din Donetsk” (“DPR”). De acolo, au fost transferate în clădirea fostului Departament al Serviciului de Securitate al Ucrainei din regiunea Donetsk („SSU”). Privinții au fost aliniate în rânduri în curtea interioară a clădirii și au fost înconjurate de jurnaliști și de telespectatori. Ei au fost abuzați verbal și umiliți în timp ce experiența lor a fost filmată de jurnaliști. După aceea, reclamanții au fost duși la subsolul fostului clădirii SSU. Ei au susținut că la intrarea ei au fost lovite și forțate să tremureze pe steagul ucrainean.

Locațiile erau umede și lipsite de lumină naturală; numărul locurilor de dormit era insuficient. Sistemele de ventilație și de canalizare au fost rupte și nutriția era extrem de insuficientă. La 16 octombrie 2014, reclamanții au fost transferați la Ilovaisk pentru a reconstrui orașul care a fost deteriorat în timpul ostilităților. militantii “DPR” au plasat în primul rând reclamanții într-un garaj fără toaletă, chiuvetă sau dormitoare. A doua zi, reclamanții au fost autorizați să se găzduiască într-o clădire jumatate distrusă. Reclamanții au instalat ochelari la ferestre, au construit o toaletă în aer liber și o cadă în sedii. Au aranjat locuri de dormit improvizate și au gătit pentru ei înșiși.

În timpul stagiunilor din Ilovask, reclamanții (cu excepția domnului) Guts, în aplicarea nr. 28813/15, a fost obligat de obicei să efectueze sarcini de muncă legate de reconstrucția orașului sub supravegherea militantilor armați. Guts (depunerea nr. 28813/15) a fost un ordin medical și a fost obligat să ofere asistență medicală celorlalți prizonieri; el nu a fost forțat să efectueze sarcini de muncă în Ilovaisk. Reclamanții au fost eliberați la 26 decembrie 2014. Detalii suplimentare privind cererile sunt prezentate în apendicele de mai jos. Denumiri Plainte împotriva guvernului rus care se bazează pe articolele 3 și 5 din Convenție, reclamanții se plâng, fie în mod expres, fie în substanță, că au fost ilicite de libertate, tratate nesuferite și deținute în condiții inumane și degradante.

În temeiul articolului 4 din Convenție, reclamanții (cu excepția cererii nr. 28813/15) se plâng că au fost supuse muncii forțate. 21359/15 și 32362/15) se plâng că autoritățile interne ale statelor interesate nu au efectuat o investigație eficace asupra presupuselor nedreptăți. Invocând art. 13 din Convenție, toate reclamanții se plâng de asemenea că nu aveau recours interne eficace în ceea ce privește plângerile lor privind Convenția. În ceea ce privește cererile nr. 60774/14 și 67769/14, membrii familiei reclamanților au stat să depună plângeri la Curte în numele victimelor (a se vedea K.J. și C.C. c. Rusia , nr. 27584/20 și 39768/20, § 62, 19 martie 2024)? Reclamanții au respectat cerințele prevăzute în art. 35 § 1 din Convenție, în conformitate cu datele de introducere a cererilor lor?

În acest sens, reclamanții în cererile nr. 60774/14, 67679/14 și 49618/17 au arătat gradul necesar de diligență în urmărirea remediilor interne în Federația Rusă și în prezentarea plângerilor lor la Curte fără întârziere nejustificată (a se vedea mutatis mutandis Stanimirović c. Serbia , nr. 26088/06, §§ 30-31, 18 octombrie 2011; Melnichuk și alții c. România , nr. 35279/10 și 34782/10, §§ 80-83, 5 mai 2015; și Samadov c. Armenia (dec.), nr. 36606/08, § 18, 26 ianuarie 2021? Reclamanții au fost supuși la maltrat, în încălcarea articolului 3 din Convenție (a se vedea Ucraina și Olanda c. Rusia [GC], nr. 8019/16 și altele 3, § 1083, 9 iulie 2025)? Având în vedere protecția procedurală împotriva tratamentelor inumane și degradante, autoritățile ruse au efectuat investigații eficace privind presupusele maltraturi ale tuturor reclamanților (cu excepția reclamanților în cererile nr. 21359/15 și 32362/15), conform articolului 3 din Convenție (a se vedea Mocanu și alții c. România [GC], nr. 10865/09 și altele 2, §§ 315-326, CEDH 2014 (extracte)?

Condițiile materiale ale detenției reclamanților s-au ridicat la tratamente inumane sau degradante contrar articolului 3 din Convenție (ibid., § 1080; a se vedea, de asemenea, Muršić v. Croația [GC], nr. 7334/13, §§ 136-41, 20 octombrie 2016)? Reclamanții au fost privați de libertate în încălcarea articolului 5 § 1 din Convenție (a se vedea Hassan v. Regatul Unit [GC], nr. 29750/09, §§ 104-7, CEDH 2014)? Faptele se plâng de către toate reclamantele (cu excepția reclamantului în cerere nr. 28813/15) constituie o încălcare a articolului 4 din Convenție (a se vedea Ucraina și Țările de Jos c. Rusia, citate mai sus, § 1093 și 1099)? Reclamanții au la dispoziția lor un remediu intern eficace pentru plângerile lor din Convenția, astfel cum se prevede la art. 13 din Convenția?

Întrebări privind aplicațiile și guvernul britanic în ceea ce privește cererile nr. 60774/14 și 67769/14, membrii familiei reclamanților au stat să depună plângeri la Curte în numele victimelor (a se vedea K.J. și C.C. c. Rusia c. Rusia , nr. 27584/20 și 39768/20, § 62, 19 martie 2024)? Reclamanții au respectat cerințele prevăzute la art. 35 § 1 din Convenție, ca în vigoare la data introducerii cererilor lor? În acest sens, reclamanții în cererile nr. 60774/14, 67679/14 și 49618/17 au arătat gradul necesar de diligență în urmărirea remediilor interne în Ucraina și în prezentarea plângerilor la Curte fără întârziere nejustificată (a se vedea, mutatis mutandis, Stanimirović c. Serbia , nr. 26088/06, §§ 30-31, 18 octombrie 2011; Melnichuk și alții c. România , nr. 35279/10 și 34782/10, §§ 80-83, 5 mai 2015, și Samadov v. Armenia (dec.), nr. 36606/08, § 18, 26 ianuarie 2021)? În ceea ce privește reclamanții în cererile nos.

67679/14, 12080/15, 20212/15 și 28813/15, reclamanții au formulat plângeri de tratament bolnav în fața autorităților ucrainene? Având în vedere protecția procedurală împotriva tratamentelor inumane și degradante, autoritățile ucrainene au efectuat investigații eficace în ceea ce privește presupusele maltraturi ale reclamanților (cu excepția reclamanților în cererile nr. 21359/15 și 32362/15), conform articolului 3 din Convenție (a se vedea Mocanu și alții c. România [GC], nr. 10865/09 și altele 2, §§ 315-326, CEDH 2014 (extracte)? A avut reclamanții la dispoziția lor un remediu intern eficient pentru plângerile lor din Convenția, conform articolului 13 din Convenția? Apendice Lista cazurilor: Nu.

Cerere nr. Denumire de caz Lodged on Solicitant An of Nasce Nationality Reprezentat de Injuri înainte de detenție / Tratament medical după eliberare Alte plângeri de maltratamente presupuse provocate de militantii “DPR” Investigarea de către autoritățile ucrainene și/sau ruse 60774/14 Gunko c. Rusia și Ucraina 05/09/2014 Volodymyr Vasylyovych GUNKO 1989 Ucrainean Alina Viktorivna PAVLYUK --- / ---

Published on 23 February 2026

FOURTH SECTION

Application no. 60774/14 Volodymyr Vasylyovych GUNKO against Russia and Ukraine and 10 other applications (see list appended) communicated on 4 February 2026

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASE

Circumstances of the cases The applications arise from the international armed conflict in the east of Ukraine that began in the spring of 2014. They concern the alleged unlawful detention, ill-treatment and forced labour of members of a volunteer battalion “Donbas” (supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces), by Russian agents in 2014. The applicants were captured by Russian Armed Forces on 30 August 2014. On the night of 30 August 2014 they slept in the open air in a Russian Armed Forces camp. On 31 August 2014, together with other captured members of the volunteer battalion “Donbas”, they were transferred to units composed of “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”) militants. From there, they were transferred to the former building of the Department of the Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk region (“SSU”).

The captives were lined up in rows in the building’s inner courtyard and were surrounded by journalists and bystanders. They were verbally abused and humiliated while their ordeal was filmed by the journalists. Afterwards, the applicants were taken to the former SSU building’s basement. They submitted that at the entrance they were kicked and forced to trample on the Ukrainian flag. The premises were damp and lacked natural light; the number of sleeping places was insufficient. The ventilation and sewage systems were broken and the nutrition was grossly insufficient. On 16 October 2014, the applicants were transferred to Ilovaisk to rebuild the town which had been damaged during the hostilities.

The “DPR” militants first placed the applicants in a garage with no toilet, sink or sleeping facilities. The next day the applicants were allowed to accommodate themselves in a half-destroyed building. The applicants fitted glasses to the windows, built an outdoor toilet and a bathtub in the premises. They arranged makeshift sleeping places and cooked for themselves. During their internment in Ilovaisk, the applicants (except for Mr Guts in application no. 28813/15) were routinely compelled to perform labour tasks related to the reconstruction of the town under the supervision of armed militants. Mr Guts (application no. 28813/15) was a medical orderly and was compelled to provide medical aid to other captives; he was not forced to perform labour tasks in Ilovaisk.

The applicants were released on 26 December 2014. Further details regarding the applications are set out in the appendix below. Complaints Complaints against the Russian Government Relying on Articles 3 and 5 of the Convention, the applicants complain either expressly or in substance that they were unlawfully deprived of their liberty, ill-treated and detained in inhuman and degrading conditions. Under Article 4 of the Convention, the applicants (except in application no. 28813/15) complain that they were subjected to forced labour. Complaints against both respondent States Referring to the procedural limb of Article 3 of the Convention the applicants (except those in applications nos. 21359/15 and 32362/15) complain that the domestic authorities of the respondent States failed to carry out an effective investigation into the alleged ill-treatment.

Invoking Article 13 of the Convention, all the applicants also complain that they did not have effective domestic remedies in respect of their Convention complaints.

QUESTIONS TO THE APPLICANTS AND THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT

1. As regards the applications nos. 60774/14 and 67769/14, did the applicants’ family members have standing to lodge complaints with the Court on behalf of the victims (see K.J. and C.C. v. Russia , nos. 27584/20 and 39768/20, § 62, 19 March 2024)?

QUESTIONS TO THE APPLICANTS AND THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT

1. As regards the applications nos. 60774/14 and 67769/14, did the applicants’ family members have standing to lodge complaints with the Court on behalf of the victims (see K.J. and C.C. v. Russia , nos. 27584/20 and 39768/20, § 62, 19 March 2024)? 2. Have the applicants complied with the requirements set forth in Article 35 § 1 of the Convention, as in force on the dates of introduction of their applications? In this connection, have the applicants in applications nos. 60774/14, 67679/14 and 49618/17 shown the required degree of diligence in pursuing domestic remedies in Ukraine and in lodging their complaints with the Court without undue delay (see, mutatis mutandis , Stanimirović v. Serbia , no. 26088/06, §§ 30-31, 18 October 2011; Melnichuk and Others v. Romania , nos.

35279/10 and 34782/10, §§ 80-83, 5 May 2015; and Samadov v. Armenia (dec.), no. 36606/08, § 18, 26 January 2021)? As regards the applicants in applications nos. 67679/14, 12080/15, 20212/15 and 28813/15, have the applicants raised their complaints of ill ‑ treatment before the Ukrainian authorities? 3. Having regard to the procedural protection from inhuman and degrading treatment, have effective investigations been conducted by the Ukrainian authorities into the alleged ill-treatment of the applicants (except the applicants in applications nos. 21359/15 and 32362/15), as required by Article 3 of the Convention (see Mocanu and Others v. Romania [GC], nos. 10865/09 and 2 others, §§ 315-326, ECHR 2014 (extracts)?

4. Did the applicants have at their disposal an effective domestic remedy for their Convention complaints, as required by Article 13 of the Convention? APPENDIX List of cases: No. Application no. Case name Lodged on Applicant Year of Birth Nationality Represented by Injuries before the detention / Medical treatment after release Further complaints of ill-treatment allegedly inflicted by “DPR” militants Investigation by Ukrainian and/or Russian authorities 1. 60774/14 Gunko v. Russia and Ukraine 05/09/2014 Volodymyr Vasylyovych GUNKO 1989 Ukrainian Alina Viktorivna PAVLYUK --- / --- 1. On 31 August 2014 in the SSU courtyard while the cameras were not filming him the applicant was punched and kicked and beaten with rubber batons.

2. While detained in the SSU basement the applicant was beaten with police batons. 3. On one occasion the militants hit the applicant on the head for having made direct eye contact and knocked his tooth out. 4. The applicant was forced to perform 200 squats. 5. The applicant was threatened that his loved ones would be raped and killed. 6. While interned in Ilovaisk, on one occasion the applicant was hit several times by a guard. 1. Criminal proceedings into the applicant’s abduction were instituted by the Ukrainian authorities on 8 September 2014. The proceedings are ongoing. 2. On 29 June 2017 the applicant lodged with the Ukrainian police and the General Prosecutor’s Office in Ukraine criminal complaints reporting the ill-treatment to which he was subjected.

There has been no response. 3. The applicant lodged a crime report dated 29 June 2017 with the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (“IC RF”) about his internment, ill-treatment and forced labour. There has been no response. 2. 67679/14 Tomilin v. Russia and Ukraine 15/10/2014 Volodymyr Petrovych TOMILIN 1977 Ukrainian Alina Viktorivna PAVLYUK --- / --- 1. The applicant was threatened with execution by a military squad. 2. The applicant was beaten punched and kicked and beaten with rifle butts on different parts of the body. 1. Criminal proceedings into the applicant’s abduction were instituted on 6 October 2014 by the Ukrainian authorities. The proceedings are ongoing. 2. The applicant lodged a crime report dated 7 July 2017 with the IC RF about his detention, ill-treatment and forced labour.

There has been no response. 3. 11538/15 Pokumeyko v. Russia and Ukraine 02/06/2015 Ruslan Ivanovych POKUMEYKO 1976 Ukrainian Alina Viktorivna PAVLYUK On 29 August 2014 the applicant suffered a mine blast injury. / After his release the applicant was examined in a hospital. He was diagnosed with various post-traumatic conditions caused by the blast injury sustained on 29 August 2014, and with repeated spine injuries sustained in September–October 2014, as well as with contusion of the soft tissues of both lower limbs and contusion of both knee joints. 1. While interned in the SSU basement the applicant was kicked, punched and beaten with batons on multiple occasions and with a book on one occasion.

2. The applicant was forced to perform physical exercise to the point of loss of consciousness. 3. In Ilovaisk, the applicant was threatened with execution and a burst of automatic gunfire was fired over his head. 1. Criminal proceedings into the applicant’s suspected death were instituted by the Ukrainian authorities on 20 October 2014. The proceedings are ongoing. 2. The applicant reported ill-treatment to the Security Service of Ukraine on 6 April 2015. There has been no response. 3. The applicant lodged a crime report dated 9 April 2015 about his detention, ill-treatment and forced labour with the IC RF. He received a response dated 19 June 2015 with a recommendation to submit his complaint to the Ukrainian authorities.

4. 12080/15 Marynets v. Russia and Ukraine 23/06/2015 Valeriy Ivanovych MARYNETS 1977 Ukrainian Mykhaylo Oleksandrovych TARAKHKALO On 29 August 2014 the applicant was wounded in the head and suffered a concussion. / After his release the applicant was examined in a hospital. He was diagnosed with various post-traumatic conditions caused by the injury sustained on 29 August 2014, as well as with pneumonia, acute bronchitis, chronical gastritis, duodenitis and cholecystitis, urinary salt diathesis, chronic salpingo-otitis, retinal angiopathy of both eyes, maculopathy of both eyes and eyelid dermatitis. 1. Whilst held in the former SSU basement the applicant was beaten with batons and rifle butts and shot at with a rubber-bullet pistol.

2. The applicant was subjected to a mock execution. 3. The applicant was forced to perform physical exercises, such as 200 squats, 100 push-ups and some ab exercises, irrespective of his health problems. 4. In Ilovaisk, the applicant was threatened with execution by a military squad. 1. Criminal proceedings into the applicant’s abduction were instituted by the Ukrainian authorities on 13 September 2014. 2. The applicant lodged a crime report dated 11 June 2015 with the IC RF, detailing his detention, ill-treatment and forced labour sustained in captivity. He received a response dated 26 March 2015 (sic) addressed to another person with a recommendation to submit his complaint to the Ukrainian authorities.

5. 20212/15 Fomenko v. Russia and Ukraine 14/04/2015 Vitaliy Sergiyovich FOMENKO 1979 Ukrainian Alina Viktorivna PAVLYUK --- / After his release the applicant was examined in a hospital. He was diagnosed with acute bronchitis, acute pharyngitis, right-sided sciatica, osteochondrosis, cholecystitis and asthenoneurotic syndrome. 1. While interned in the SSU basement the applicant was forced to perform physical exercises, such as squats and more than 300 push-ups in one set. When the applicant refused to continue, he was beaten with a rubber baton. 2. The applicant was threatened with execution by a military squad. 1. The applicant lodged a crime report dated 22 June 2015 with the IC RF, detailing his detention, ill-treatment and forced labour sustained in captivity.

There has been no response. 6. 21359/15 Stolbyeryev v. Russia and Ukraine 24/04/2015 Oleg Fedorovych STOLBYERYEV 1974 Ukrainian Alina Viktorivna PAVLYUK --- / After his release the applicant was diagnosed with acute reaction to stress. 1. During one of the interrogations the applicant was severely beaten with a baton. 2. While interned in the SSU basement the applicant was compelled to perform physical exercises, such as 200-300 squats and push-ups. 1. The applicant reported ill-treatment to the Security Service of Ukraine on 9 April 2015. There has been no response. 2. The applicant lodged a crime report dated 12 March 2015 with the IC RF, detailing his detention, ill-treatment and forced labour sustained in captivity.

He received a response dated 28 April 2015 with the recommendation to submit his complaint to the Ukrainian authorities. 7. 28312/15 Zherzhevskyy v. Russia and Ukraine 29/05/2015 Sergiy Oleksandrovych ZHERZHEVSKYY 1987 Ukrainian Alina Viktorivna PAVLYUK --- / --- 1. While interned in the SSU basement the applicant was threatened with execution by a military squad. 2. The applicant was compelled to perform hundreds of squats and push-ups. 3. While interned in the SSU basement, the applicant was beaten by guards. 4. In Ilovaisk, the applicant was threatened with execution by a military squad. 1. The applicant’s lawyer lodged several criminal complaints, dated 12 March 2015, with the Ukrainian authorities reporting the ill-treatment sustained by the applicant in captivity.

He received a response from the Security Service of Ukraine informing that his complaints were added to the existing set of criminal proceedings. 2. The applicant lodged a crime report dated 12 March 2015 with the IC RF, detailing his detention, ill-treatment and forced labour. The applicant received a response dated 19 June 2015, with a recommendation to submit his complaint to the Ukrainian authorities. 8. 28813/15 Guts v. Russia and Ukraine 04/06/2015 Sergiy Tymofiyovych GUTS 1962 Ukrainian Alina Viktorivna PAVLYUK On 28 August 2014 the applicant sustained a concussion. / After his release the applicant was examined in a hospital. He was diagnosed with сerebral atherosclerosis, circulatory encephalopathy, osteochondrosis, neuritis, chronic cholecystitis, chronic pancreatitis, chronic pyelonephritis, thyroid cyst, head injury and foreign object (metal) in the right parietal area of the head.

While interrogated in the SSU basement, the applicant was compelled to perform more than 200 squats and push-ups. 1. Criminal proceedings into the applicant’s abduction were instituted on 18 September 2014 by the Ukrainian authorities. The proceedings are ongoing. 2. The applicant lodged a crime report dated 16 April 2014 with the IC RF, detailing his detention, ill-treatment and forced labour in Ilovaisk. He received a response dated 19 June 2015, with a recommendation to submit his complaint to the Ukrainian authorities. 9. 32340/15 Morozov v. Russia and Ukraine 26/06/2015 Pavlo Yevgeniyovych MOROZOV 1972 Ukrainian Mykhaylo Oleksandrovych TARAKHKALO --- / --- While detained in the SSU basement the applicant received blows on various parts of his body on several occasions.

1. The applicant’s lawyer lodged several criminal complaints dated 25 June 2015 with the Ukrainian authorities reporting the ill-treatment sustained in captivity. There has been no response. 2. The applicant’s lawyer lodged a crime report dated 25 June 2015 with the IC RF, detailing his detention, ill-treatment and forced labour in Ilovaisk. He received a response dated 26 March 2015 (sic) addressed to another person, with a recommendation to submit his complaint to the Ukrainian authorities. 10. 32362/15 Oliynyk v. Russia and Ukraine 26/06/2015 Andriy Vitaliyovych OLIYNYK 1976 Ukrainian --- On 29 August 2014 the applicant sustained a mine blast injury. / After his release the applicant was examined in a hospital.

He was diagnosed with various post-traumatic conditions caused by the injury sustained on 29 August 2014, as well as with rhinitis, retinal angiopathy and osteochondrosis. 1. While interned in the SSU basement the applicant was systematically beaten, including on several occasions with a rifle butt and a rubber baton. 2. The applicant was threatened with execution by a military squad. 3. The applicant was compelled to perform push-ups and squats to the point of physical collapse. Afterwards he was beaten on the legs with a rubber baton. 4. While detained in Ilovaisk, the applicant was threatened with execution by a military squad and warned that he would be shot in the legs if he does not work hard enough.

--- 11. 49618/17 Sergiyenko v. Russia and Ukraine 29/06/2017 Oleksiy Oleksandrovych SERGIYENKO 1983 Ukrainian Alina Viktorivna PAVLYUK --- / --- The applicant was kicked, punched and beaten with sticks. 1. Criminal proceedings into the applicant’s abduction were instituted by the Ukrainian authorities on 16 October 2014. 2. The applicant reported ill-treatment to the General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine on 12 April 2017. There has been no response. 3. The applicant lodged a crime report dated 12 April 2017 with the IC RF. Detailing his detention, ill-treatment and forced labour in Ilovaisk. He received a response dated 18 May 2017 informing him that the IC RF prepared a request for legal assistance to the Ukrainian authorities under the Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Matters.