The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has formally announced its support for “Izolyatsia,” a documentary that documents the transformation of a cultural landmark into one of Europe’s most significant centers for repression and torture. The film is scheduled for its premiere screening on November 10, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. at Espace Saint-Michel in Paris. A panel discussion will follow the event, featuring director Igor Minaev, Madeleine Bressat from the FIDH Legal Action Group, and François Croquette representing Amnesty International France.
Paris, 9 November 2026. This previously unseen documentary presents testimonies from survivors of Izolyatsia, a facility controlled since 2014 by members of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” (DPR). Former detainees describe enduring torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions. These abuses constitute part of a systematic attack on the Ukrainian civilian population. According to Ukrainian and French judicial authorities, alongside numerous non-governmental organizations, these actions may amount to crimes against humanity.
The documentary aligns directly with ongoing judicial investigations in France against Yevhen Brazhnikov, a Ukrainian separatist under investigation for crimes against humanity and war crimes. He is suspected of committing acts of violence against Ukrainian detainees at Izolyatsia. The FIDH participates as a civil party in this legal proceeding.
Following the collapse of the USSR, Izolyatsia, originally an insulation materials factory, evolved into a leading center for contemporary art in Ukraine. Since 2014, coinciding with the illegal annexation of Crimea, the site has been occupied by armed fighters from the DPR, supported by Vladimir Putin’s Russia. They have converted it into a vast military complex utilized for illegal detention.
Madeleine Bressat, a lawyer with the FIDH’s Judicial Action Group, emphasized the importance of the project. She stated that Igor Minaev’s documentary is essential because it highlights the reality of crimes committed since 2014 at Izolyatsia. The FIDH and its member organization Truth Hounds have been documenting and denouncing these events for several years. Bressat added that the testimonies gathered in the film are invaluable for contributing to the investigation currently underway in France.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
