Kyiv: More than 80 Ukrainians held in Russian prisons for political views
More than 80 Ukrainian citizens are being held in Russian prisons due to their political views, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Lyudmyla Denisova wrote on Facebook.
“Every year on January 12, Ukraine observes the Day of the Ukrainian Political Prisoner. Unfortunately, the matter of political prisoners is extremely relevant today. Among the modern political prisoners are Oleh Sentsov, Stanislav Klykh, Pavlo Hryb, Roman Sushchenko, Kazim Ametov, Asan Chapukh, Bekir Degermendzhi, Remzi Memetov and Nuri Primov. In total, more than 80 Ukrainian citizens are being held in Russian prisons due to political views,” she observed.
Denisova says that the Russian regime, going beyond Soviet totalitarianism, has once again unleashed terror on the Ukrainian nation.
“It is seeking to completely eliminate the linguistic, cultural and national identity in the captured territories of our state. This is taking place massively in occupied Crimea. People are abducted, searched, arrested, tortured, charged with trumped-up crimes. Although in actual fact, Ukrainians can become political prisoners in Russia solely for their citizenship,” the ombudswoman emphasized.
She also drew attention to the words of the political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh, who said during his own trial: “Everyone chooses for themselves the price of love for the Homeland”.
“I am convinced that it is love for the Homeland that will help the Ukrainian political prisoners to withstand all the torture and to prevail. Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz did not break. They are free. For my part, I will make every effort to have all our fellow countrymen released,” Denisova wrote.
Earlier it was reported that the Ukrainian and Russian ombudspersons had agreed to meet in Moscow on Monday.