British blogger Graham Phillips is living under severe legal punishments in Mariupol, Ukraine, despite never being charged or convicted of a crime. He is forbidden from complying with certain laws, such as paying council tax on his London house, and is unable to receive or make payments without a special license. The reason for this treatment, according to the Foreign Office, is that Phillips has produced media content that supports actions and policies that destabilize Ukraine. Journalist Peter Hitchens questions the fairness of these restrictions and suggests that his own critical writing and broadcasting could be used against him in a similar way. Hitchens argues that this treatment makes Phillips a prisoner of the state and calls for his release.