Siezure of IZOLYATSIA territory in Donetsk by armed forces of Russian Federation

On June 9th, 2014, the IZOLYATSIA complex was seized by the Russian Federation and converted into an illegal prison and military base. Buildings used for cultural events and art projects are now a place of illegal imprisonment, torture, and execution by firing squads. They are used for storing ammunition, weapons and military equipment. According to the testimony of former prisoners, the hostages are kept in inhumane conditions, made to do forced labour and undergo moral and physical abuse.

May 2014
Russian Federation has exercised effective control over eastern Ukraine since May 2014 (Ukraine and the Netherlands v Russia, European Court of Human Rights)

Representatives of the Russian Federation invaded and seized the territory of the former insulation materials factory, where the IZOLYATSIA Foundation had been based since 2010. They claimed to need the territory for storing "humanitarian aid" that was arriving from the Russian Federation and as a bomb shelter. Occupiers immediately installed a sniper on top of IZOLYATSIA's slag heap (terrikon).

Russian military personnel looted the foundation's premises, vandalized property, and removed equipment and the contents of the foundation's safety vault. The Foundation has filed petitions to the General Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine, Ukraine Security Service and Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs. Still, no consequent action was taken by the remains of local Ukrainian or central government authorities to deal with these crimes.

IZOLYATSIA appealed with an open letter to one of the leaders of the Russian occupant administration with a demand to stop blocking the evacuation of artworks and valuable equipment from the territory. Refusing to respond, occupants reasserted that the territory would remain sealed off to the IZOLYATSIA team and that no property would be returned.

Access to the territory remained blocked while the invaders claimed the territory was being mined (later refuting that statement).

Metal structures were being cut up and taken out for scrap, most probably with other property belonging to IZOLYATSIA and the former factory.

It has become known that the local occupant authorities have established a "special committee" on the territory of the former factory with Leonid Baranov as chief. In an interview with Russian media Baranov said that the special committee carries out investigative and punitive functions. Furthermore, it is reported that Battalion "Vostok," consisting of Kadyrov and Ossetian mercenaries, has a base on the territory.

The media has repeatedly reported that hostages and illegally detained persons are being held on the factory territory. The hostages' relatives and those, who managed to be released or exchanged, have confirmed this information.

A criminal investigation is launched into the armed seizure of the factory territory by unknown persons associating themselves with local occupant authorities, illegal detainment of persons and abduction of the foundation's property.

To this day, IZOLYATSIA has been unable to salvage from the seized territory its institutional archive, library, a 3-D printer and a laser-cutter that were part of IZOLab, computers, and many artworks (not to mention the loss of site-specific installations scattered around the territory and other property).

Since that time, the territory of the celebrated cultural foundation has been used to provide a base for training combatants affiliated to the Russian forces whilst also functioning as a detention centre. IZOLYATSIA’s offices, galleries and art spaces have been looted and cannibalised for materials and equipment. The foundation has evacuated its team, and since then, it has continued its mission in Kyiv and Soledar.