Ukraine's Foreign Ministry insists on releasing Sentsov and Kolchenko imprisoned by Russia

"Ukraine once again points out lawlessness and political bias of the North Caucasian District Military Court judgment dated August 25, 2015 concerning the illegal imprisonment of Oleh Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko for 20 years and 10 years imprisonment in a high-security penal colony, respectively... We consider such decision of the supreme judicial body of Russia not only as a deprivation of illegally convicted Ukrainians of their right to an impartial conduct of the proceeding in the supreme court, but as further evidence of the political agenda in this case. The decision discredits the Russian judiciary as an independent branch of power," the Foreign Ministry commented on Thursday. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also demands Russia "immediately stop the cynical violation of the rights of our fellow citizens. Set them free and let them return to Ukraine." As reported, the North Caucasian District Military Court in August 2015 found Sentsov and Kolchenko guilty of establishing a Crimean terrorist group, committing two acts of terror, the preparation of another act, and an attempt to purchase explosive devices and illegal weapons keeping. Sentsov was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment, Kolchenko to ten years imprisonment. In early May of the current year Sentsov and Kolchenko filled in documents for their extradition to Ukraine. On June 1 the Russian Supreme Court refused to consider the appeal against the verdict of Sentsov and Kolchenko.