Statement of the CivilM + platform regarding the release of some of illegally detained people in Russia, Crimea and the non government controlled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions
On September 7, 2019, 35 people who had been in custody in Russia returned to Ukraine.
All of them were deprived of their liberty in connection with the annexation of Crimea and the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. Among them are Ukrainian sailors, whose release was to take place in accordance with the decision of the UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, as well as unjustly convicted Ukrainian citizens Roman Sushchenko, Oleg Sentsov, Olexandr Kolchenko, Volodymyr Balukh, Stanislav Klykh, Mykola Karpiuk, Oleksii Syzonovych, Pavlo Gryb, Eden Bekirov, Yevhen Panov, Artur Panov. The list of persons who were in retaliation extradited to Russia suggests the idea that the release of Ukrainian citizens did not occur as an act of goodwill, reconciliation, recognition of the rule of law, or the implementation of the decision of the International Tribunal, but as an act of bargaining, since the Russian leadership was interested in returning to its territory of specific individuals, such as Volodymyr Tsemakh.
Moreover, the release of 35 people does not resolve the problem of persons illegally detained in Russia, Crimea and the uncontrolled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
According to human rights defenders, at least 86 citizens of Ukraine are detained only in the territory controlled by Russia (see the list compiled by the Center for Civil Liberties below). Also, according to Ukrainian human rights defenders, at least 227 people are held in custody in the territory of the non-government controlled districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In the circumstances concerned we urge:
- to abandon the concept of exchange, which is contrary to humanitarian principles, and immediately release all detainees who are not involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity;
- The EU and the Governments of the Member States - not to stop efforts aimed at the immediate release of all illegally detained in custody in Russia, Crimea and the non-government controlled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and to strengthen monitoring of the cases of detainees and the provision of necessary humanitarian assistance to them;
- Parliament of Ukraine - to regulate at the legislative level the issue of the legal status of persons illegally detained in Russia and in the territory of the non-government controlled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and harmonise domestic criminal law with international humanitarian law by adopting the Draft Law #0892
Name list of people illegally detained in Russia and Crimea:
- Abiltarov Rustem
- Abdulgaziev Tofik
- Abdulganiev Eskender
- Abdulkadirov Vladlen
- Abdullaiev Izet
- Abdullaiev Teimur
- Abdullaiev Uzeir
- Abdurakhmanov Medzhit
- Abiliev Rustem
- Abseitov Zevri
- Abkhairov Arsen
- Adilov Bilial
- Aivazov Raim
- Aliev Muslim
- Alimov Refat
- Ametov Enver
- Ametov Ernes
- Arifmemetov Osman
- Asanov Marlen
- Bazarov Farkhod
- Bakirov Akim
- Bekirov Enver
- Bekirov Remzi
- Bielialov Memet
- Bessarabov Oleksii
- Vaitov Rustem
- Vygovskyi Valentyn
- Gaziiev Server
- Gafarov Dzhemil
- Gafarov Diliaver
- Davydenko Kostiantyn
- Dzhemadenov Emil
- Dzhepparov Aider
- Dzhepparov Arsen
- Dudka Volodymyr
- Emiruseinov Rustem
- Zakhtei Andrii
- Zeitullaiev Ruslan
- Zekiriaiev Server
- Ibrahimov Tymur
- Izetov Riza
- Ismailov Rustem
- Kadyrov Edem
- Kantemyrov Eldar
- Karakashev Yevhen
- Karimov Alim
- Kiyashko Ihor
- Kolomyiets Andrii
- Kuku Emir Usein
- Limeshko Hennadii
- Mamutov Enver
- Masharipov Iunus
- Memedeminov Nariman
- Memetov Remzi
- Mesutov Ruslan
- Muedinov Iashar
- Murtaza Seiran
- Mustafaiev Server
- Nagaiev Ruslan
- Omerov Enver
- Omerov Riza
- Osmanov Erfan
- Primov Iurii
- Sagandzhy Fevzi
- Saifullaiev Ferat
- Saledinov Aider
- Saliev Seiran
- Siruk Vadym
- Seitabdiev Seitveli
- Seitosmanov Enver
- Seitkhalilov Rustem
- Smailov Edem
- Stohnii Oleksii
- Suleimanov Eskender
- Suleimanov Renat
- Suleimanov Ruslan
- Umerov Shaban
- Khalilov Lenur
- Chirnii Oleksii
- Shablii Glib
- Sheikhaliiev Rustem
- Shyptur Mykola
- Shtiblikov Dmytro
- Shumkov Oleksandr
- Shur Viktor
- Ianikov Asan
Signatories of the statement:
Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)
Kharkiv Human Rights Group (Ukraine)
Luhansk oblast human rights center “Alternativa”
NGO Kraina Vilnykh Liudei (Ukraine)
Truth Hounds (Ukraine)
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (Ukraine)
Human Rights Center “Memorial” (Russia)
NGO “Citizen and Army” (Russia)
DRA (Germany)
Memorial Deutschland (Germany)
Helsinki Citizens Assembly (France)
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland)