The Russian Embassy was picketed in Kyiv in support of a Ukrainian arrested in Crimea (PHOTO, VIDEO)
Kyiv, April 06 (PolitNavigator, Vladimir Mikhailov) – An action of solidarity was held near the Russian Embassy in Kyiv with Ukrainian activist Alexander Kolchenko, who was arrested in Crimea on charges of preparing a terrorist attack. Alexander faces 10 to 20 years in prison. The hearing in the Lefortovo District Court in his case, which was supposed to take place today, was postponed to Thursday.
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“The only crime of Kolchenko that Russia could not tolerate was that he did not recognize the occupation,” said Crimean activist Alexandra Dvoretskaya.
“We came out to once again remind you that our citizens are political prisoners in the Russian Federation. Nadezhda Savchenko is there. Director and activist Oleg Sentsov is involved in the Kolchenko case, we also know that other Crimeans are there – Alexey Cherniy and Gennady Afanasyev,” she added.
In a show of support for Kolchenko, activists played “rhythms of resistance” on drums and other instruments and chanted “Down with Putin! Kolchenko - go home! and “Freedom for Sasha Kolchenko!”
"Ukraine has finally opened a case into the disappearance of Oleksandr Kolchenko, and it's being handled by the Pechersk Prosecutor's Office. The Prosecutor General's Office saw no reason to open a case, so we had to appeal to our registered office," said Alexandra Romantsova , project coordinator at the Center for Civil Liberties and a member of the Committee of Solidarity with Crimean Political Prisoners. " Life has become more difficult for Ukrainians in Russia. Around 20 Ukrainians are imprisoned in various prisons simply because they are Ukrainian citizens. Both Kolchenko and Sentsov have not renounced their Ukrainian citizenship. If we let them escape, it will set a precedent of impunity for Russia."
Activists also called on those present to take part in financing the work of lawyer Alexander Kolchenko. According to them, according to new changes to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the article that Sentsov and Kolchenko are charged with falls within the jurisdiction of a military tribunal, so they will be tried in Rostov-on-Don, where military tribunals are held in Russia. In this case, these processes may be closed, and the lawyer may need additional funds to work in Rostov-on-Don.
Russian Embassy in Kyiv pickets in support of Ukrainian arrested in Crimea (PHOTOS, VIDEO)