The number of Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia has increased to 17 people over the year, despite the fact that six Ukrainians have been released, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
“Though six prisoners have returned to Ukraine, their total number has not decreased but increased: now we have information on at least 17 Ukrainians are being kept under politically motivated reasons in the territory of the occupier. Even more of our compatriots are arbitrarily arrested and detained in the occupied Crimean peninsula. More than a hundred Ukrainians are being kept in appalling conditions by the Russian-terrorist forces in the occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine,” the statement says.
At the same time, the Foreign Ministry stressed that Russia continues the practice of systematic unmotivated rejections of appeals of Ukrainian consuls on granting them permits to visit the Ukrainian political prisoners.
”There is unequivocal evidence of the systematic implementation of unlawful interrogation practices, torture and the methods of psychological pressure towards the citizens of Ukraine, held in Russia and the occupied territories,” the department said.
See also: Russia provides political kidnappings against Crimean Tatars
In addition, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has called on UN member states to take further consolidated steps to increase pressure on the Russian Federation.
”The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands from the Russian Federation to release immediately all illegally detained citizens of Ukraine without any additional preconditions and to stop the practice of political persecution and repressions towards our citizens,” the statement reads.
The report also notes that in breach of the norms of the international law Moscow continues to hold in captivity Oleh Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko, Akhtem Chiygoz, Roman Sushchenko, Mykola Karpiuk, Ferat Sayfullaev, Serhiy Lytvinov, Oleksiy Chyrniy, Ruslan Zeytullaev, Stanislav Klykh, Valentyn Vyhivskiy, Yuriy Primov, Viktor Shur, Oleksandr Kostenko, Yevhen Panov, Rustem Vaitov, Enver Bekirov, Emir-Huseyn Kuku, Vadym Siruk, Muslim Aliyev, Refat Alimov, Enver Mamutov, Arsen Dzhepparov, Remzi Memetov, Mustafa Degermendzhi, Zevri Abseitov, Rustem Abiltarov, Ali Asanov, Andriy Kolomiiets, Volodymyr Balukh, Teymur Abdullayev, Uzeir Abdullayev, Aider Saledinov, Volodymyr Prysych, Oleksiy Shtyblikov, Oleksiy Besarab, Volodymyr Dudko, Oleksiy Stohniy, Hlib Shabliy, Leonid Parkhomenko, Redvan Suleymanov, Emil Dzhemadenov, Rustem Ismailov, Mykola Sheptur and many other Ukrainians. Another two citizens of Ukraine – Ilmi Umerov and Mykola Semena, though not in prison now, continue to be targets of harassment by the Russian occupation authorities.
See also: Ukrainian citizen Panov illegally captured and tortured in Crimea into confessing – lawyer
