Political prisoner Kostenko denied early release

Political prisoner Oleksandr Kostenko was denied early release on parole. The corresponding ruling was delivered by the Kirovo-Chepetsk District Court of Kirov region of Russia.

Kostenko’s lawyer Dmitry Sotnikov posted this on Facebook.

“There is a war between Russia and Ukraine All Ukrainian and Crimean political prisoners are prisoners of war. They will be either released all together following the political decision or nobody will be released,” the lawyer said.

According to Sotnikov, the management of the colony, where Kostenko is serving sentence now, failed not explain why he is registered as a person who “examines, propagandizes, professes or spreads the extremist ideology.” They also failed to confirm or deny the words of Kostenko that he mastered the profession in the colony. They did not specify grounds for penalties, again explaining the transfer of Kostenko to a punishment cell by a wrong greeting of a colony officer.

As reported, April 12, Kostenko was transferred to a punishment cell.

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.