87 hunting traps in the center of Kyiv: human rights defenders recalled prisoners of the Kremlin
Today, in the center of Kyiv, on Sophia Square, as part of a social campaign, activists set 87 hunting traps. Thus, human rights activists, former political prisoners, relatives of political prisoners and public activists decided to recall the compatriots whom the Russian authorities are holding in prison for political reasons. ам.
The co-organizer of the action, the Chairperson of the ZMINA Human Rights Center, Tatyana Pechonchik, explained that is a symbol of traps that await the Ukrainians in the occupied territories.
The information stand, which the organizers installed, contains 87 names of people who are now in prisons in Russia and occupied Crimea. Until last week, there were 86 such names, but one more was added: on October 9, Ukrainian activist Oleh Prikhodko was arrested in occupied Crimea.
Human rights activists noted that there are several important conditions for the support of Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin. Firstly, constantly reminding of them in the information field of Ukraine and European countries. Secondly, international pressure on Russia from European states. Thirdly, the participation of ordinary citizens: support for families of political prisoners, attending trials. According to Olga Skrypnik, Chairperson of the Crimean Human Rights Group, it is important to write letters to the prisoners of the Kremlin, as this “gives the prisoners hope and strength.”
Former political prisoners, including Ilmi Umerov, Volodymyr Balukh, Ismail Ramazanov, Igor Movenko, spoke about the need for such events to make as many people as possible aware of fellow citizens who are in captivity.
“We must fight for our people. And do not give up,” said the former political prisoner Oleh Sentsov, who also took part in the action.
In an information tent working on the site, everyone could get topical newspapers, as well as sign postcards to political prisoners.
Similar actions took place in 10 other cities of Ukraine – Odessa, Kherson, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Mariupol, Vinnitsa, Chernihiv, Lviv and Chernivtsi.
Earlier, on October 11, Russian security forces held “operational-search measures” in a mosque in the village of Kurtsy, Simferopol district, in the illegally annexed Crimea. According to local residents, representatives of law enforcement agencies arrived at the mosque after completing a collective Friday prayer.
In a commentary to QHA media, the Head of the Central Election Commission of the Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people Zair Smedlya said that such searches have become a tradition in Crimea over the past five years and are an example of discrimination against the Crimean Tatars.
On October 10, the Kiev District Court in occupied Simferopol arrested Ukrainian activist Oleh Prikhodko for two months. He was accused of plotting a terrorist attack and the illegal manufacture of explosives.
The Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, said that Prikhodko’s detention for his pro-Ukrainian position recalls the case of the Kremlin’s former prisoner Volodymyr Balukh and testifies that Russia will continue to take Ukrainians hostage for further exchanges.
Source: QHA Media
