Kyiv to appeal to ECHR over Ukrainians convicted in Russia - Ukrainian Justice Ministry
KYIV. Aug 6 (Interfax) - Ukraine will file an application with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) next week in connection with all Ukrainian prisoners Kyiv believes are being unlawfully held by Russia, Ukrainian Deputy Justice Minister Serhiy Petukhov said.
"We are going to file an inter-state application against the Russian Federation concerning all of our political prisoners next week. This is a category of individuals whom Russia is deliberately persecuting for their support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and for their pro-Ukrainian positions by abducting them in Crimea or in the territory of the Russian Federation," Petukhov said on Channel Five on Monday.
By filing this application, Ukraine hopes to draw the international community's attention to these people's problems, he said.
"The Strasbourg Court's attention will at least make sure that they are held in worthy conditions," Petukhov said.
An ECHR ruling could help free Ukrainian prisoners in Russia, he said.
It was reported earlier that Ukraine also plans to file an application with the ECHR against Russia over what Kyiv sees as massive deportation of citizens of Ukraine and other countries from Crimea.
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