New sanctions possible if Russia keeps violating Ukrainian hostages’ rights #LetMyPeopleGo

European MPs Jacek Saryusz-Wolski and Kazimierz Michał Ujazdowski wrote letters to representatives of Russian penitentiary services, where Ukrainian hostages of the Kremlin Mykola Karpiuk, Stanislav Klykh, Gennadiy Afanasyev, Olekandr Kostenko, and Yuriy Soloshenko are imprisoned. These Ukrainians are part of a larger group of 28 Ukrainians from the #LetMyPeopleGo list, who have all been sentenced to Russian prison for crimes they did not commit. The MPs warned that if the rights of Ukrainians will continue to be violated, the number of Russians in the EU sanctions list may rise. They expressed their concern about the conditions in which the Ukrainians are being held, and by the troublesome news about them being denied qualified medical assistance that they need. One of the Ukrainians that needs the most help is Yuriy Soloshenko. The oldest of the Kremlin's hostages, who turns 74 on 6 May 2016, was diagnosed with cancer in the penal colony, on top of his already existing heart problems. The resident of Poltava was sentenced to 6 years in prison for alleged spying.

"The EU will continue to closely observe the case of Yuriy Soloshenko and other Ukrainians who have been illegally imprisoned in Russia in the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Any violation of international law will be a reason for introducing personal sanctions against persons who are involved in these disgraceful cases of persecution," mentions the letter of Jacek Saryusz-Wolski.

Other imprisoned Ukrainians were also denied receiving required medical attention. Mykola Karpiuk and Stanislav Klykh continue to suffer from being tortured to receive the necessary "testimonies" at the stage of the investigation. As a result, Stanislav Klykh shows signs of mental illness. Despite this, the forensic examination found him sane. Oleksandr Kostenko has trouble with his arm which was broken while he was detained. While he was held in the pretrial detention center, the arm was operated but he was not administered any post-operational therapy and it began to shrivel.  Gennadiy Afanasiev was diagnosed with streptoderma. In some cases, this illness can cause a life-threatening side-effect - sepsis. Jacek Saryusz-Wolski and Kazimierz Michał Ujazdowski asked the managers of the Russian penitentiary services to inform them about the health conditions of the Ukrainians. The MPs also called upon them to ensure visits of relatives and Ukrainian diplomats to the prisoners, as it is required by Russian law.