Political prisoner Kostenko transferred to punishment cell

Crimean activist Oleksandr Kostenko, who was convicted in Russia, has been transferred to a punishment cell.

This was announced by his lawyer Dmitry Sotnikov on Facebook.

As the lawyer explained, the reason for the transfer is unknown yet, but he believes that Russia is trying to disrupt Kostenko’s early release on parole in such a way.

As a reminder, March 21, the lawyer filed a motion for Kostenko’s early release on parole. According to him, the prisoner is now trying to work, but it is difficult for him because he has to work with one hand. Another hand remains undertreated after Kosten was tortured by the Russian security officers.

February 5, 2015, Oleksandr Kostenko was kidnapped at the door of his house in Crimea and was taken to an unknown destination. The kidnappers were members of the Russian Security Service. The next day, he was informed that it had been an arrest. Kostenko was tortured, and then charged with assaulting a Berkut special riot police force officer during the Maidan protests in Kyiv (Kostenko threw a stone at him). Since the article did not provide for imprisonment, Kostenko was also charged with illegal possession of weapons. He was sentenced to four years and 3 months of imprisonment. Later, the term was reduced by four months.