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Olexandr Kolchenko

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Olexandr Kolchenko
Олександр Олександрович Кольченко
File:Olexandr Kolchenko, Ukrainian political prisoner in Russia, 2015.jpg
BornNovember 26,1989
Simferopol, Crimea, USSR → Ukraine
NationalityUkrainian
Alma materTaurida National V.I. Vernadsky University (TNU) Droped out due to unrecognized annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula by Russia
Known forAbduction, Arrest, Criminal Prosecution by Russian Authorities
Criminal chargeTerrorism

Olexandr Kolchenko (Ukrainian Олександр Кольченко, nickname “Tundra”, born November 26, 1989) is a Ukrainian social and trade union activist, antifascist, anarchist, ecologist, archaeologist, who has been abducted and detained by the Russian authorities. Olexandr Kolchenko and three more Crimean pro-Ukrainian activists: a historian Olexiy Chyrniy, a photographer Gennadiy Afanasyev and a renowned film director Oleg Sentsov are united by a common criminal case of so-called “Crimean terrorists”. All four have been kidnapped[1] by the Russian FSB (ex-KGB) and imprisoned in Russia following the 2014-2015 Russian Military Intervention in Ukraine[2] which ended in unrecognized annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula by Russia. Olexandr Kolchenko with Sentsov, Afanasyev and Chyrniy has been accused of plotting terrorism.

Persecution and arrest

Olexandr Kolchenko was detained on May 16, 2014 in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine. He was convicted of arson of the offices of Russian political organizations and planning the bombing of the Soviet Memorial monument in Crimea. On May 23, 2014 Olexandr was convoyed to Moscow and imprisoned in the Lefortovo prison. He has been accused of belonging to the Ukrainian ultranationalist organization “Right Sector” and of plotting terrorist attacks.
In June 2015 the investigation of the Kolchenko and Sentsov criminal case was finished and the case went to trial. On July 31, 2015 the Rostov-on-Don military court started hearings on this case.[3] Olexandr Kolchenko stood trial together with Oleg Sentsov. While Sentsov and Kolchenko have both insisted that they were tortured during the investigation period and threatened if they didn’t ″confess″, Gennadiy Afanasyev and Olexiy Cherniy did provide ″confessions″ and later chose to cooperate with the prosecution, for which they received 7 year sentences[4] compared with 17-20 years which Sentsov and Kolchenko face. The accusation against Kolchenko and Sentsov is primarily based on evidence given by these two others, known as “Crimean terrorists”, Chyrniy and Afanasyev. They had testified against Kolchenko and Sentsov but in court they made an unexpected confession. Afanasyev announced that he refused to testify. He explained that all he had said previously had been said under torture.[5] Chyrniy also refused to testify against Kolchenko and Sentsov but didn't recant his previous testimonies.

Defence

Olexandr Kolchenko rejects all charges of terrorism. Kolchenko fully admits to hurling a Molotov cocktail at a building housing pro-Russian organizations, but denies that this was terrorism.[6] The attack was committed at night when the participants understood the office to be empty and there was no intention to put anybody’s life in danger. No demands were made and there was no demonstration of an intention to frighten the population. Both Kolchenko and his lawyer, Svetlana Sidorkina, are adamant that the only real charge against Kolchenko can be classified as hooliganism or vandalism, but does not constitute ″terrorism″.[7] Kolchenko also refuted belonging to the political party “Right Sector” which is banned in Russia. Moreover, “Right Sector” itself has released a press statement in which it explicitly states that the four individuals considered by Russia as “Crimean terrorists” have nothing to do with the party.[3]

The only evidence supporting Kolchenko’s connection with terrorism was the testimonies of Gennadiy Afanasyev and Alexei Chirniy[8], broadcast on Russian television.[9]

Amnesty International stated on this case: “The absurdity of some of the prosecution's evidence and their reliance on testimonies by witnesses who have complained of torture suggest that the charges may have been fabricated. From the courtroom proceedings, it appears the case is collapsing for lack of reliable evidence”.[10] [11]

The ambiguity of Kolchenko’s citizenship knotted the case even more. “Attempting to deny Sentsov and Kolchenko consular assistance, FSB investigators claimed that they were Russian citizens despite the fact that they had not given up their Ukrainian citizenship.[12] Following the annexation of Crimea, Kolchenko and Sentsov had simply not signed the document (whose legal status is dubious) stating that they did not wish to change citizenship. In other words, these accused men have been ″united with Russia″ along with the Crimean peninsula”.[3] In turn, the State Migration Service of Ukraine confirmed Kolchenko’s Ukrainian citizenship in February, and on March 27, 2015. The Kyiv Prosecutor’s Office opened a case regarding the abduction of an Ukrainian citizen Olexandr Kolchenko. According to his lawyer, Svetlana Sidorkina, Kolchenko was illegally issued with a Russian passport, dated May 26, 2014, when he was already in detention.[13] Kolchenko has sent a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights against Russian citizenship forcibly having been conferred on him.[14] Despite positive circumstances for the defense, Kolchenko’s lawyer has seen no optimistic conclusion for the case due to its evident political background.

Political aspect

The Memorial Human Rights Center and Amnesty International have recognized Olexandr Kolchenko as a political prisoner. He was open about his opposition to the occupation of Crimea by Russia, prompting a fierce reaction from the Russian authorities.[15] The criminal case of “Crimean terrorists” is meant to intimidate inhabitants of Crimea and prevent any resistance on the peninsula. The most authoritarian of methods are now used in annexed Crimea to repress all opposition. Many people were obliged to leave Crimea because their life and freedom were threatened: lawyers, civil activists, students and trade union activists, anarchists, antifascists and Crimean Tatars who have fallen victims of discrimination.[16] Olexander Kolchenko addressed the court in his final speech at his trial, stating that his criminal case was fabricated and politically motivated:″That's a very interesting show: the people who tortured us do not hesitate to accuse us in terrorism".[17]

Support

The highly politicized trial of Sentsov and Kolchenko has resonated not only in Ukraine but also worldwide. There are many prominent world organizations advocating human rights and democratic movement such as OSCE[18], US Mission to the OSCE [19] , Amnesty International[20], International Federation of Human Rights, FIDH - Center for Civil Liberties Human Rights in Ukraine[21],Open Democracy, No Borders Network, European Trade Unions, the European Court of Human Rights[22], and the Group of Resistance to Political repressions in Russia have condemned political persecution of Kolchenko and called for his release.[23] Kolchenko’s name was mentioned in an OSCE PA resolution condemning Russia’s continuing actions in Ukraine. These organizations call on Russia to “immediately release and return to Ukraine detained pilot Nadiya Savchenko, filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, Olexandr Kolchenko and all other illegally detained Ukrainian citizens”.[24] The Active Generation: The web activists network, The Committee of Solidarity with the “Crimean hostages” and the International Solidarity Campaign For Olexandr Kolchenko run an ongoing multinational supporting campaign for the political prisoner.[25] The information about how to support Olexandr Kolchenko is available in German, Italian, French and Spanish.[16] The social media campaign uses the hashtag #freeKolchenko.

Conviction

On August 25, 2015 the board of military judges chaired by the judge Sergey Mikhailyuk sentenced Olexandr Kolchenko and Oleg Sentsov to 10 and 20 years respectively. When the verdict was pronounced, Kolchenko and Sentsov started to sing the Ukrainian National Anthem.[26] The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, called the sentence as "absolutely appalling" and noted that ″nobody expected a different verdict because the state-occupant and invader cannot have a fair trial".[27] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine urged the Russian Federation to immediately release Oleg Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko.[28] Sentencing of Kolchenko was condemned by the US Department of State [29] and the European Union [30]. Kolchenko′s laywer, Svetlana Sidorkina, compared the verdict to one from the times of Stalin′s Great Terror. She intends to appeal to the Supreme Court of Russia and to the European Court of Human Rights.[31]

External Links

  1. http://alexandrekoltchenko.wesign.it/en
  2. http://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/
  3. http://anarchistnews.org/content/join-international-solidarity-campaign-alexander-kolchenko

References

  1. ^ The Associated Press (21 July 2015). "Crimean Filmmaker Pleads Not Guilty in Terrorism Trial". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/07/21/world/europe/ap-eu-crimea-trial.html?_r=0. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |location= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ "Russian Military Trial of Ukrainian Director Sentsov Resumes". RFE/RL. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Litoy, Alexandr. "The Crimean Terrorists". Open Democracy. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Russia Sentences Crimean Historian To Seven Years In Jail". RFE/RL. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Key Prosecution Witness Against Ukrainian Filmmaker Sentsov Withdrew His Testimony". Cenzor.net. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  6. ^ Coynash, Halya. "Sentsov-Kolchenko Trial<Crimea And What Russia Has To Hide". Human Rights In Ukraine. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  7. ^ Coynash, Halya. "Sentsov & Kolchenko Face 20-year Sentences For Non-Existent Terrorism". Ukraine Solidarity Compaign. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  8. ^ FIDH.″Ukraine:The Forgotten Victims″.https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/20140818_ukraine_fidh_ccl.pdf.FIDH. Center for Civil Liberties.
  9. ^ "В Крыму обезврежены диверсанты "Правого Сектора", которые собирались устроить теракты на День Победы". Первый Канал (in Russian). Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  10. ^ ″Crimean activists Hauled Before a Russian Military Court″. Amnesty International. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/08/crimean-activists-hauled-before-a-russian-military-court/authorities.http://www.newsweek.com/opponents-putins-occupation-crimea-go-trial-russia-360894.Amnesty International
  11. ^ Bogdan Ovcharuk.″Opponents of Putin's Occupation of Crimea Go on Trial in Russia″. Newsweek.
  12. ^ ″Ukrainians Illegally Detained in Russia″.http://mfa.gov.ua/en/page/open/id/4177.Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
  13. ^ Coynash, Halya.″Imprisoned Crimean Activist takes Russia to Strasbourg Over Forced Citizetship″.http://khpg.org/index.php?id=1428583933. Human Rights In Ukraine. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  14. ^ The Russian Reader. ″Tag:Svetlana Sidorkina".https://therussianreader.wordpress.com/tag/svetlana-sidorkina/The Russian Reader. Wordpress.
  15. ^ Halya Coynash.″Sentsov and Kolchenko declared Crimean Prisoners as Rot Exposed in Russia′s Crimean ″Terrorist″ Trial″.http://khpg.org/index.php?id=1438647288. Human Rights in Ukraine.
  16. ^ a b ″Join international solidarity campaign for Alexander Kolchenko″.http://anarchistnews.org/content/join-international-solidarity-campaign-alexander-kolchenko Anarchistnews
  17. ^ ″Справа Сенцова-Кольченко:останне слово″.http://www.hromadske.tv/politics/sprava-sentsovakolchenka-ostannye-slovo/ Hromadske.TV (in Ukrainian)
  18. ^ ″OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopts resolution condemning Russia’s continuing actions in Ukraine″.http://www.oscepa.org/news-a-media/press-releases/2273-osce-parliamentary-assembly-adopts-resolution-condemning-russia-s-actions-in-ukraine. OSCE PA.
  19. ^ Ambassador Daniel B. Baer. ″On the Detention of Nadiya Savchenko, Oleg Sentsov, and Oleksandr Kolchenko″.http://osce.usmission.gov/jul_23_15_detention_savchenko_sentsov_kolchenko.html. US Mission to the OSCE.
  20. ^ "Russian Federation: Overturn the Convictions of Oleg Sentsov and Aleksandr Kolchenko (UA 170/15) Urgent Action". Amnesty International. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  21. ^ "Liberté pour Alexandr Koltchenko, antifasciste de Crimée, kidnappé et emprisonné par l'Etat russe". FIDH (in français). Retrieved 26 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  22. ^ "PRESS RELEASE EU-Ukraine hold Human Rights Dialogue". EU External Action. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  23. ^ "Repressions against Crimean activists: political context". Автономное действие (in Russian/English). Retrieved 26 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  24. ^ ″OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopts resolution condemning Russia’s continuing actions in Ukraine″.http://www.oscepa.org/news-a-media/press-releases/2273-osce-parliamentary-assembly-adopts-resolution-condemning-russia-s-actions-in-ukraine. OSCE PA.
  25. ^ ″The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign seeks to organise solidarity and provide information in support of Ukrainian socialists and trade unionists″. http://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/. Ukraine solidarity campaign солідарність України кампанія .
  26. ^ Открытая Россия. "«Ще не вмерла» вместо ответа судье. Сенцов и Кольченко спели Гимн Украины". Youtube (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  27. ^ "President about the sentence for Oleh Sentsov: There is no fair trial for Ukrainians in Russia". President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko Official website. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  28. ^ "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine urges the Russian Federation to immediately release Oleg Sentsov and Olexandr Kolchenko". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  29. ^ "Sentencing of Oleg Sentsov and Olexandr Kolchenko Press Statement". US Department of State. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  30. ^ "STATEMENT Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini on the sentencing by a Russian court of Ukrainian citizens O. Sentsov and O. Kolchenko". European Union External Action. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  31. ^ "Адвокаты хотят вернуть Сенцова и Кольченко на Украину". Радио Свобода (in Russian). Retrieved 27 August 2015.
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