You're reading: Ukrainian political prisoner Balukh transferred to Tver

Ukrainian political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh has been sent to the colony in the city of Tver (Russian Federation), the Crimean human rights group said.

“Ukrainian activist Volodymyr Balukh is being convoyed to Tver. Lawyer Olha Dinze confirmed this information to the Crimean human rights group. She, while in Simferopol, found out that the Crimean resident was being taken to one of the Tver detention facilities,” the Crimean human rights group said on Facebook on Feb. 26.

As earlier reported, Balukh was detained in December 2016. Crimea’s Rozdolne district court originally sentenced him to three years and seven months of imprisonment in a low-security penal colony and to a fine of 10,000 Russian rubles. Balukh’s defense team said then the case was fabricated, and his verdict would be appealed in courts of higher instances.

Then the Russia-controlled Rozdolne district court changed his sentence to five years in prison in a combination of two criminal cases. The Crimean farmer was accused of illegal possession of weapons and explosives (Part 1 of Article 222 and Part 1 of Article 222.1) and Part 2 of Article 321 (disorganization of the activities of institutions providing isolation from society) of Russia’s Criminal Code.

On Oct. 3, 2018, the Russia-controlled Supreme Court of Crimea commuted Balukh’s sentence by one month.

In October 2018, Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova said after the decision of the so-called Supreme Court to commute Balukh’s sentence he would be able to apply for parole.

However, on Jan. 25, the Russia-controlled Kerch city court refused to release Balukh on parole.