Over a year after the tragic death of Gonzalo Lira in a Ukrainian prison as a political and freedom of speech prisoner, the proxy war in Ukraine is encroaching towards an end and questions about justice, accountability, and the suppression of dissent remain unresolved.
The Chilean-American commentator, died on 12 January 2024 in Ukrainian custody. His case has drawn attention to the treatment of dissenting voices under martial law in Ukraine.
Lira was held for over eight months in pre-trial detention. He was charged under Article 436-2 of Ukraine’s criminal code, which targets the justification of Russian aggression. Lira had publicly criticised the Ukrainian government and questioned official narratives about the war. His death, following reported medical neglect, has led to growing international concern.
Born in the United States in 1968, Lira was a novelist and filmmaker. He moved to Kharkiv, Ukraine, in 2010. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, he gained a following online for his commentary, which supported Russian perspectives and challenged Kyiv’s wartime policies.
Ukrainian authorities arrested Lira twice in 2023. He was accused of spreading Russian propaganda and denying war crimes, including the Bucha massacre. Ukrainian security services stated that Lira had “systematically disseminated materials justifying Russian armed aggression” through online platforms.
In a message before his second arrest in July 2023, Lira claimed he faced torture and likely death if detained again. His father later confirmed that he had suffered serious medical conditions, including pneumonia and severe oedema, without receiving proper medical treatment. He also described conditions of incommunicado detention and extortion.
Lira’s father, who resides in the United States, released a statement after his death. “I cannot accept the way my son has died,” he said. “He was tortured, extorted, incommunicado for 8 months and 11 days.” The statement accused both Ukrainian authorities and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv of negligence. He said U.S. officials failed to offer assistance despite repeated requests.
The U.S. State Department confirmed Lira’s death but gave no details on the circumstances. Officials offered condolences but did not comment on possible mistreatment in custody.
The Ukrainian government has not issued a detailed statement on Lira’s death. Ukrainian officials have previously said that wartime restrictions on speech are necessary to counter Russian disinformation. Human rights groups have raised concerns about the scope and application of Article 436-2.
Free speech advocates argue that Ukraine is using security laws to suppress political dissent. Lira’s case is not isolated. Since 2022, Ukrainian authorities have shut down opposition media, banned political parties, and detained several journalists. Critics say this pattern undermines claims of democratic governance.
Lira’s supporters include public figures such as Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk. Both questioned the legality of his detention and the response from U.S. authorities. Their involvement was met with criticism from Ukrainian and Western media, which framed their actions as sympathetic to Russian interests.
The European Centre for Strategic Communication, affiliated with NATO, labelled Lira a pro-Kremlin propagandist. In a public report, it dismissed his supporters’ concerns, citing his history of spreading misinformation and denying war crimes. The report defended Ukraine’s legal actions as responses to national security threats.
Despite such claims, Lira’s death in state custody remains unresolved. No independent investigation has taken place. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have not released reports on his case.
Observers have compared Lira’s treatment to that of Julian Assange, who faced extradition to the United States and spent years in high security prisons in the UK. Both cases involve Western nationals prosecuted for publishing dissenting views. In both, critics argue, the U.S. government failed to defend basic rights when politically inconvenient or even was the main prosecutor in the case of Assange.
The silence from Western governments contrasts with their vocal support for press freedom in adversarial states. Lira held U.S. citizenship. Yet no public pressure was placed on Ukraine to ensure his safety or due process. A U.S. Embassy spokesperson said consular assistance was “limited by host country restrictions.”
Lira’s death has raised questions about Ukraine’s democratic credentials during wartime. The country continues to receive Western aid, including from the United States and the European Union. No conditions have been imposed regarding human rights or political freedoms.
Ukraine’s use of laws such as Article 436-2 has led to several prosecutions. Some were based on social media posts critical of the war or sympathetic to Russian narratives. The threshold for what constitutes “justifying aggression” remains unclear, raising fears of arbitrary enforcement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the country must remain united against internal and external threats. In a speech to parliament in December 2023, he warned of the dangers of Russian psychological operations and pledged to defend the country from all forms of subversion.
Lira’s case shows the difficulty of maintaining civil liberties during armed conflict. While Ukraine faces a real security threat, critics argue that repression of dissent undermines claims of democratic legitimacy. The lack of judicial review or transparency in cases like Lira’s fuels concerns of abuse.
Medical neglect was a key factor in Lira’s death. A letter released by his family stated that he had been diagnosed with pneumonia and pleural effusion but was denied hospitalisation. He also reportedly suffered from untreated heart and lung conditions.
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s penitentiary system declined to comment, citing ongoing legal procedures. No autopsy report has been published. Lira’s remains were returned to his family in the United States in February 2024.
Lira had warned in multiple public statements that his imprisonment would lead to death. In a video posted in July 2023, he said, “If arrested, I will die in a Ukrainian prison.” That statement was widely circulated after his death.
International organisations have not announced any investigations. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights stated it was monitoring the situation but offered no further comment.
Questions remain about accountability. Whether Ukrainian authorities will release details of Lira’s detention and medical care is uncertain. The U.S. government has not called for an investigation. No Ukrainian officials have been held responsible.
Supporters of Lira continue to push for inquiries. Online petitions have called for U.S. congressional hearings and independent investigations into his detention. As of April 2025, no such action has been taken.
Lira’s death has become a symbol of wartime censorship. His family and supporters say his only crime was expressing an unpopular opinion. Whether this will lead to policy changes or formal inquiries remains unknown.
HT
Read also: The tragic end of Gonzalo Lira: A voice silenced in Ukraine