Urgent international fundraising campaign in support of Dr. Oleg Maltsev

Ahead of Christmas, members of the international journalism and human rights community are focusing attention on the critical humanitarian situation faced by Ukrainian scholar, EUASU academician, and practicing lawyer Oleg Maltsev, who has been detained in the Odesa pretrial detention center for over 15 months. Due to his declining health and worsening conditions of detention, an open fundraising campaign has been launched to support his medical, humanitarian, and legal needs.

“Let us make a small but meaningful miracle this Christmas,” said German journalist Sergey Engelman, a German citizen who initiated the fundraising campaign. His stance is grounded not only in professional solidarity but also in personal experience: he himself spent a full year in pretrial detention without clear or well-founded charges and is well aware of the harsh conditions people face while being held in detention centers.

According to available reports, Dr. Oleg Maltsev is in critical condition and suffers from multiple serious medical conditions requiring ongoing medical supervision and treatment. The situation worsened after December 11, when the Odesa pretrial detention center was left without a stable electricity supply. In the cold, darkness, and with limited access to medical care, each additional day of detention represents a direct threat to his life and health.

The organizers of the fundraising campaign emphasize that this is not a political initiative, but an urgent humanitarian effort to assist a person who has found himself in an extremely vulnerable situation. Funds raised through the campaign are intended to be allocated to three key areas: medical care, basic humanitarian support, and legal defense.

The campaign is hosted on the international platform Donorbox, ensuring transparency and traceability of donations. The fundraiser is open to individuals, journalists, members of the academic community, and all those who believe it is important to uphold the basic principles of humanism and human rights.

Donation link:
https://donorbox.org/support_dr_oleg_maltsev

The organizers stress that even a modest contribution can make a meaningful difference. Under conditions of isolation and limited resources, any form of support represents not only financial assistance but also a sign of solidarity and concern from the international community.

For anyone who wants a detailed look at the case timeline, documents, and sources, a dedicated resource has been set up. It gathers publicly available materials, legal analyses, and firsthand accounts, giving readers the chance to explore the circumstances of the case on their own.

Background & documentation:
https://maltsev.wiki

Journalist Sergey Engelman emphasizes that his appeal is grounded in firsthand experience, not abstract ideas. He has firsthand knowledge of Odesa’s pretrial detention center, which Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Olena Vysotska, calls the worst-maintained facility in the country. Engelman warns that, without electricity and with serious health problems, conditions quickly go from harsh to life-threatening. He says it’s both his professional and personal duty to bring attention to Dr. Maltsev’s situation.

As the holiday season approaches, the campaign organizers are calling on media, human rights groups, and the academic community to help spread the word about the fundraiser. They stress that, even in times of political and social turmoil, humanitarian values and the protection of human life must never take a back seat.

Media contacts, additional comments, and materials can be provided upon request.