Diplomatic missions of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Russia cannot secure permission for more than three months to visit Ukrainian citizens Oleh Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko, who were imprisoned in Russia, the ministry's consulate services department said.
“The embassy and consular offices of Ukraine in Russia have been waiting for over 20 permits from the Russian relevant authorities for a long period of time (more than two or three months) to meet with our counterparts. In particular, the Russian side has not issued a permit for visiting Ukrainian citizens Sentsov and Kolchenko who were unlawfully imprisoned on fabricated allegations,” the department wrote on Facebook.
“Despite numerous requests by the Ukrainian diplomatic consular offices of Ukraine, the Russian relevant authorities have not responded yet,” the department said.
The consulate services department says such action by the Russian side is considered as a gross violation of Article 13 of the Consular Treaty between Ukraine and Russia, which foresees the right of consular officers of Ukraine to visit Ukrainian citizens in detention in Russian territory.
The Ukrainian diplomats emphasize they will continue taking necessary measures to secure access to Sentsov, Kolchenko and other Ukrainian citizens who are unlawfully kept in custody and convicted in Russian territory.
It was reported earlier that in August 2015, Russia’s North Caucasus District Military Court found Sentsov and Kolchenko guilty of establishing a terrorist group in Crimea, committing two terrorist attacks and plotting another one, and an attempt to acquire explosive devices. The two were also convicted of illegal storage of weapons. Sentsov was given 20 years in prison and Kolchenko 10 years.
Early this May, Sentsov and Kolchenko filled out forms for their extradition to Ukraine.
