Four Ukrainian nationals currently in Russian detention
are on hunger strike in protest against Russia’s treatment of
Ukrainian political prisoners.
The four men were detained by the Russian authorities for
expressing opposition to the illegal annexation of Crimea, and
given lengthy jail sentences following trials which appeared to
fall well short of international standards. These cases,
including over 70 others against Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars,
underline the Russian Federation’s systematic persecution of
those who voice their opposition to Russia’s illegal annexation
of Crimea.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said:
We are deeply concerned about the welfare of the four Ukrainian
nationals held by Russia, who are on hunger strike in protest
against Russia’s continued detention of Ukrainian political
prisoners. Their imprisonment, and that of many more Ukrainians
who have been jailed by Russia, appears politically motivated.
We call on the Russian authorities to release them immediately.
Russia’s control over Crimea remains illegal and illegitimate,
and is a flagrant violation of a number of Russia’s
international commitments.
Notes to Editors:
The four Ukrainian nationals who are on hunger strike while being
detained by the Russian authorities are:
- Oleg Sentsov
- Oleksandr Kolchenko
- Oleksandr Shumkov
- Volodymyr Balukh
