Polish MEPs threaten Russia with new sanctions because of imprisoned Ukrainians
As reported by The Open Dialogue Foundation on May 5th, MEPs Jacek Saryusz Wolski and Kazimierz Michał Ujazdowski wrote letters to the heads of the Russian prison facilities where Ukrainian citizens Nikolai Karpyuk, Stakislav Klich, Gennady Afanasiev, Alexander Kostenko and Yurii Soloshenko are being detained.
The MEPs warned that if the rights of Ukrainians are further violated, the number of Russians in the EU sanction list may increase.
The MEPs are particularly concerned about the deterioration of Yurii Soloshenko’s health since he was diagnosed with cancer while in the penal colony. He was also diagnosed with other diseases including heart disease.
“The European Union will continue to closely monitor the case of Yurii Soloshenko and other Ukrainians who were illegally imprisoned in Russia in the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Any violation of international legislation will result in the imposition of personal sanctions against those persons involved in these shameful cases of persecution,” as stated in the letter by Jacek Saryusz Wolski.
On 6 May 2016, Yurii Soloshenko will be 74; he is the oldest Ukrainian political prisoner in Russia.
According to The Open Dialogue Foundation, Nikolai Karpyuk and Stanislav Klich continue to suffer from injuries as the result of torture methods used to obtain necessary statements at one stage of the investigation. In particular, Stanislav Klich’s signs of mental illnesses have become more apparent. But despite this, a medical examination has found him to be sane.
Alexander Kostenko, from Crimea, has problems with his hand which was broken at the time of detention. During his time in pre-trial detention his hand was operated on, but post-operational procedures were not completed and the hand has started to wither.
Another Crimean, Gennady Afanasiev, was diagnosed with streptodermia which in some cases can result in sepsis.
The MEPs from Poland asked the management of the Russian prisons to inform them as to the health status of the Ukrainian prisoners. They also urged them to ensure access for detainees’ relatives and Ukrainian diplomats according to Russian legislation.