Roman Ternovsky, convicted in Rostov-on-Don declared a political prisoner

The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has recognized Roman Ternovsky, a citizen of Ukraine, convicted for involvement in the "Right-Wing Sector" (an extremist organization, banned in Russia by the court) to be a political prisoner and demanded his release.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in August, a court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Roman Ternovsky to two years and three months of colony. The court found him guilty of taking part in the activities of the Kharkov branch of the "Right-Wing Sector"*, when he lived there.

His case was heard in a special order; and the defendant has fully admitted the guilt, says the message of the HRC "Memorial" received by the "Caucasian Knot" today.

Human rights defenders believe that Ternovsky was deprived of liberty for no real offense; and they treat the struggle against the "Right-Wing Sector" in modern Russia as a "part of a political campaign directly related to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict."

It is noted by the HRC "Memorial" that Russian investigators and the court have "actually imputed to Ternovsky his participation in peaceful demonstrations, which sometimes were on the brink of petty hooliganism, and other forms of legal social activities carried out in the territory of Ukraine."

"We demand to release Roman Ternovsky and stop persecution of people only for their participation in the 'Right-Wing Sector'*," says the statement of the HRC "Memorial".

* "Right-Wing Sector" has been recognized as extremist organization and banned in Russia by the court

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 25, 2018 at 09:20 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.