PACE calls on Russia to free Savchenko and other political prisoners

The resolution was drawn up on the basis of the report dubbed “The humanitarian concerns with regard to people captured during the war in Ukraine.” According to the document, PACE called on 47 member states of the Council of Europe to impose sanctions against the persons involved in the illegal detention and conviction of Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko. According to the resolution, since the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the beginning of military operations in Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine two years ago, hundreds of Ukrainian servicemen and civilians have reportedly been captured or abducted. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), since April 2014, 3,015 of them have been released, but 693 people are still being held captive by separatists, and 693 are reported missing. PACE expressed deep concern about numerous reports on inhumane conditions, humiliation, forced labour and other forms of violence that have been applied to the captured persons. At the same time, the Assembly called on the Ukrainian authorities to investigate cases of rights violations during the detention by the Ukrainian Special Forces or other military battalions, and punish those guilty of violations in line with the national legislation.