Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Liudmyla Denisova has prepared a letter to her Russian counterpart, Tatyana Moskalkova, asking to help her visit Volodymyr Balukh, Oleh Sentsov, Stanyslav Klykh, and Oleksandr Kolchenko, all Ukrainians being held in custody in Russia.
“In the context of our recent agreements with the Russian side, we have prepared our letter and have already delivered it to the Russian ombudsman’s office,” Denisova wrote on Facebook on June 19, posting a scan of the letter.
In it, she expressed concern about the health of the Ukrainian prisoners who have declared an indefinite hunger strike: Volodymyr Balukh (93 days on hunger strike), Oleh Sentsov (37 days), Stanyslav Klykh (12 days), and Oleksandr Kolchenko (who has ended his hunger strike after losing eight kilograms).
“According to my information, their health condition is getting worse. Right now, I have no thorough information on the health condition of these persons. I, therefore, ask you help me visit Balukh, Sentsov, Klykh, and Kolchenko to monitor the observance of their rights to appropriate medical aid,” Denisova wrote.
She pledged to help Moskalkova with a simultaneous visit to four Russian convicts in Ukraine “in accordance with the list that has been announced.”
Earlier on June 19, following a meeting with Denisova, Moskalkova said in a statement that the commissioners had approved a roadmap for mutual visits to convicts.
The two had their first meeting on June 18 and agreed on a framework for visiting prisoners. Agreements reached earlier are not being fulfilled, so new talks between the commissioners will be held, Denisova said on June 19.
