10/04/2022 17:39

The Russian Federation violates the rights of Ukrainian political prisoners

Viktor Shur, a citizen of Ukraine, has been in prison for eight years on a politically fabricated case, accused of espionage in the Bryansk penal colony in the 1st district - in unsanitary conditions, without medical assistance.

From the personal money account of Victor began to deduct unreasonably payment for the so-called "utilities" in the colony in the amount of 1,500 Russian rubles.  He has to pay for dampness, mold and cockroaches in the cell.  The administration of the colony deprived him of the right to own and dispose of funds freely.

Volodymyr Yakymenko, who was unjustifiably detained on June 13, 2017 in Crimea and sentenced to 15 years in prison on a fabricated case due to a pro-Ukrainian position, is under psychological pressure from the Pugachev penal colony in Saratov, where he is currently being held, and the regional prosecutor's office.  from their pro-Ukrainian views, accept Russian citizenship and work in a colony for the Russian state.

Both men are not provided with any medical care, despite having chronic illnesses.  They were restricted in their right to communicate with their relatives, blocking the opportunity to call Ukraine.

Such actions of the occupying state are a gross violation of paragraph 22 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, approved by the UN Economic and Social Council and Article 17 of Federal Law № 103-FZ "On Detention of Suspects and Accused of Crimes".

Failure to provide medical care is contrary to the guaranteed norms of Article 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.  I regard such actions of representatives of penitentiary institutions of the Russian Federation as torture and a way of depriving Ukrainian citizens of the right to life, which is a violation of Articles 6, 7, 9, 14, 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

I appeal to the UN Commission for Investigation Human Rights Violations during the Russian Military Invasion of Ukraine and the expert mission set up by the OSCE participating States in accordance with the Moscow Mechanism to take into account these violations of the rights of Russian citizens.