Ukrainian Justice Ministry begins negotiations on the transfer of Sentsov and three other political prisoners
Negotiations are also under way for the return of Olexandr Kolchenko, Gennady Afanasyev and Yuri Soloshenko
The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine has started negotiations on the return of four Ukrainian political prisoners from Russia: Oleg Sentsov, Olexandr Kolchenko, Gennady Afanasyev and Yuri Soloshenko, TSN reports.
The Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Sergiy Petukhov, said that the prisoners have agreed to undergo a legal procedure for the transfer of sentenced persons from Russia to Ukraine, which may take up to a year.
According to Petukhov, such a procedure is provided by the European Convention.
"We got the first response from the Russian Federation that they accepted our application for review. They are checking all the facts from the case and will give us an answer, as soon as they have some data. We have asked them to accelerate the reviewing of the application," Petukhov said.
According to the procedure, the illegally sentenced Ukrainians agreed with the verdict of the Russian judges. However, there is nothing about the recognition of the guilt.
"There is no question of recognition of the guilt by Kolchenko or Sentsov. No one will admit to it. They are not asked to do that. Why would they interfere in the process that has to happen in relation to them between the two countries? The two parties agree on an individual. An individual can only be asked if he agrees to it – to his transfer – that's all," the lawyer of Sentsov and Kolchenko, Dmitry Dinze, said.
On March 10th, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine appealed to Russia demanding the return of four Ukrainians convicted in Russia: Oleg Sentsov, Yuri Soloshenko, Olexandr Kolchenko and Gennady Afanasiev.