The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is outraged with the fact that Russia does not allow consuls to illegally detained Ukrainian citizens

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Ukraine expressed its strong protest against refusals to admit the consul to Ukrainian citizens illegally detained in Russia.

As reported on the website of the MFA.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its strong protest over the systematical refusals of the Russian side to allow the consul of Ukraine permission to visit the citizens of Ukraine Oleg Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko, Rustem Vaitov, Ruslan Zeytullayev and Ferat Sayfullayev, who are illegally detained in the Russian Federation”, – said in the statement of the MFA.

It states that such actions by Russia are a gross violation of the assumed international obligations, the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 and the Consular Convention between Ukraine and Russia of 1993.

“Conscientious disregard of the consul’s right to visit compatriots in institutions of their detention testifies to the intention of the Russian side to hide facts of lawlessness and political orientation of cases against Ukrainian citizens”, – said in the statement.

Ukrainian diplomats demand from Russia to immediately grant consuls the access to illegally detained citizens.

As a reminder, on August 25, 2015, a court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Crimean residents Oleg Sentsov to 20 years in a strict regime colony on charges of preparing terrorist attacks in Crimea. Another Ukrainian, Oleksandr Kolchenko, was sentenced to 10 years in a correctional colony of strict regime.

On May 12, 2016, Russian security forces conducted a series of searches in the homes of Muslims, as well as at a local café in Bakhchysarai.

As a result, four Bahchisarai residents Zevri Abseitov, Remzi Memetov, Rustem Abeltarov and Enver Mamutov were detained and accused of terrorism and involvement in the organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir”, which is recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation.

In addition, on September 7, 2016, the North Caucasus District Military Court passed sentences upon Ruslan Zeytullayev, Ferat Sayfullayev, Rustem Vaitov and Nuri Primov. The court found them guilty for ties with the organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir” and established its center in occupied Crimea. These men were sentenced to imprisonment for a term of five years.

On April 26, 2017, the same court changed the sentence of Ruslan Zeytullayev, changing his term of arrest to 12 years in a strict regime colony.

According to the Let My People Go campaign, as of May 2017, 44 people are on the list of political prisoners.