On 21st October 2025, the Odessa Court of Appeals determined to release German journalist Sergej Engelmann on bail following a year's imprisonment. His arrest occurred amidst a prominent international scandal concerning the criminal prosecution of Ukrainian scientist Oleg Maltsev.

Sergej Engelmann serves as a researcher and editor for the German publication World of Martial Arts. Prior to the commencement of hostilities, he had collaborated closely with Ukraine for several years, visiting the country in pursuance of his professional endeavours. In 2021, together with Ukrainian scientist Oleg Maltsev, he established the Research Institute for the Study of Human Behaviour in Extreme Situations, which became a distinctive platform for international scientific exchange.

On 10th October 2024, Sergej published a journalistic investigation entitled "Who ordered the smear campaign against Oleg Maltsev?", wherein he disclosed possible connections between information attacks and investigative proceedings against the Ukrainian scientist. On 14th October 2024, merely four days following the publication of his investigation, Sergej Engelmann was detained by Ukrainian border guards whilst travelling homeward to Cologne from Ukraine. He was charged under the same article as scientist Oleg Maltsev. According to the indictment, Sergej purportedly committed criminal acts between 20th April and 5th May 2022. Nevertheless, according to the State Border Service of Ukraine, the journalist was not present in Ukraine during this period. Furthermore, the indictment fails to specify what actions the journalist committed, nor does it describe the particular damage, victims, or material or other consequences of the alleged acts.

His arrest was accompanied by grave procedural violations. All charges were brought against him exclusively in Ukrainian, which rendered it impossible for him to comprehend the nature of the accusations and defend his rights. Only after seven months did his solicitors succeed in obtaining translations of the documents into German and forwarding them to the German embassy in Kyiv, whereupon Berlin's diplomatic response took the form of an official note of protest to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

Notwithstanding these violations in the case, the German journalist was held in custody for a full year. He has now been released.

What does this signify for the Dr. Oleg Maltsev Case?

Sergej Engelmann's release is of paramount importance in the context of the pursuit of a fair trial in Oleg Maltsev's case. It demonstrates the judicial system's capacity to withstand external pressure and render decisions in accordance with the principles of procedural law, notwithstanding vigorous opposition from the prosecution.

The judges of the Odessa Court of Appeals, who released Sergej on bail, exhibited fortitude and did not contravene the law, which indicates that there exists a prospect for impartial justice.

Most significantly, this establishes a precedent for reviewing the detention measures of all participants in this scandalous case. The reasoning behind this precedent is straightforward and manifest: if a journalist charged under the same article has been released, wherefore do the other participants in the case remain in custody?

Furthermore, the appeal court's determination reflects the court's acknowledgement of substantial deficiencies in the prosecution's case, which were identified during extensive and meticulous work by solicitors and international human rights defenders. The recognition of these violations considerably weakens the prosecution's case against Oleg Maltsev and creates a legal foundation for further review of all charges in this inherently prejudiced case.

Thus, the release of Sergej Engelmann constitutes a precedent that could alter the course of the case for all its participants and demonstrate to the international community that the Ukrainian legal system is prepared to uphold justice.

International Human Rights Instruments in Action

In parallel with the steadfast work of solicitors in Ukraine, international human rights structures became involved. Human Rights Without Frontiers prepared a report for the OSCE documenting violations by Ukrainian judges. The case was brought to the attention of the UN Human Rights Committee, and representatives from eleven countries appealed to the President of Ukraine to observe international standards of fair trial.

The international scientific and academic community provided considerable support. Scientists from various countries furnished character references for Oleg Maltsev, confirming that his activities were exclusively scientific in nature. Human rights activist Anna Sassu, a former employee of Human Rights Watch, publicly declared that the persecution was politically motivated and warned the judges of international accountability, observing that "Strasbourg will not forget this."

Support from the Academic Community

Since the scientist's arrest in September 2024, the European Academy of Sciences of Ukraine has consistently maintained that the criminal prosecution of its academician is politically motivated and contrary to the principles of academic freedom. EUASU President Professor Jerome Krase played a particular role in defending academic freedom. The professor personally addressed an open letter to the President of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Oleksiy Onipko, calling upon him to adopt an active stance in defending academic freedom and the rights of Ukrainian scientists. In this letter, he appealed for solidarity amongst the scientific community.

In August 2025, on the initiative of the EUASU, an international coalition of scientists and experts from eleven countries was formed, who expressed their concern in writing regarding the unprecedented persecution of Dr. Maltsev. The Academy launched a global initiative under the slogan "Justice for Beliefs," emphasizing the inadmissibility of criminal prosecution for expressing views and convictions. The coalition brought together solicitors, scientists, experts, and journalists from various countries who share the conviction in the inviolability of freedom of thought.

Prospects for Further Struggle and Appeal for International Cooperation

Sergej Engelmann's release on bail opens new prospects for reviewing the preventive measures imposed upon other participants in the case. This decision has demonstrated that with the proper legal strategy and international attention, it is possible to achieve a modification in the measure of detention. The defence intends to employ this precedent to file new motions for the release of Oleg Maltsev and other detainees, particularly given the scientist's state of health and the absence of substantive evidence of his guilt.

The European Academy of Sciences of Ukraine calls upon the international community to pay closer attention to this case and to support endeavours to protect academic freedom in Ukraine. The Academy appeals to fellow scientists, human rights organisations, diplomatic missions, and the press to join a global coalition in defence of freedom of belief. We are persuaded that only united international pressure can guarantee respect for human rights and a fair trial.

EUASU will continue to collaborate with Human Rights Without Frontiers, the OSCE, the UN Human Rights Committee, and other international bodies to document all violations and present case materials on the widest possible platforms. The Academy calls upon all interested parties to demonstrate solidarity and actively participate in defending the rights of scientists who have suffered persecution.