France, Alternative Libertaire AL #250 - Russia / Ukraine:
International Solidarity for Alexandr Koltchenko (fr, it, pt)
machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
On April 9, the Moscow judges decided to extend until May 16 the detention of Alexandr
Koltchenko, postman and known as anarchist, anti-fascist, environmentalist, but also
Ukrainian student union. ---- On 16 May it will be one year to the day qu'Alexandr is held
by the FSB (former KGB), ie the Russian secret services. He was arrested in Simferopol in
the Crimea because its action against the seizure of Russia in Crimea irritated the
Russian authorities. He is currently detained in Lefortovo Prison. ---- Charges delusional
---- At the hearing of 9 April, Russian judges maintained their delirious accusations of
involvement in terrorist actions against Crimean local United Russia, the party of Putin
and against government buildings and other like the statue of Lenin in Simferopol on
behalf of the organization of Ukrainian extreme right Pravy sektor (right sector). Not
lacking imagination, the Russian government which stages this travesty of justice accuses
the alleged terrorist group whose Alexandr be a major inspiration and activist, planning
attacks against various infrastructures (bridge railway lines electric).
The Russian authorities accuse Alexandr among others to have partnered with the Ukrainian
filmmaker Oleg Sentsov to realize his crimes allegedly intended to destabilize the new
Crimean authorities so that the Republic of Crimea leaves the Russian Federation.
These false accusations, defamatory and under the complotiste logorrhée Alexandr refutes
the course block like to be part of an anti-Russian underground party in the Crimea. "It
is not a terrorist and I am not the mother of a terrorist," said at that hearing
Koltchenko Larissa's mother Alexandr.
What is intended is in fact his political commitment as its opposition to the construction
of a new transport terminal on the Black Sea, its participation in anti-Nazi rallies,
struggles against the increasing cost of education denounced by his student or his support
for union workers' strikes.
Counsel and support of Alexandr reminded it is and claims Ukrainian citizen to highlight
the arbitrary nature of his arrest and detention.
So in February the National Migration Service of Ukraine confirmed its Ukrainian
citizenship and March 27 filed a complaint for kidnapping of Ukrainian citizen Koltchenko.
Complaint to the ECHR
It was the same for Oleg Sentsov. But this should not hide the fact that ukraniennes
authorities do nothing to secure his release. Finally the lawyer Alexandr Svetlana
Sidorkina, said his client has sent a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights
against the forced assignment that was made to him of Russian citizenship.
During the hearing, Alexandr has not complained. He remained laconic. He referred to his
readings in prison. He regretted that its relations with Russia have started with the
prison. In his letter, he talks about Leo Tolstoy and said that he, if he lived now, would
be detained under section 280.1 of the Criminal Code for "public calls to action to
violate the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation " .
Early April was held a week of international action for the release of Alexandr Koltchenko
with rallies in Kiev, Minsk, Berlin, Bremen, in Tunisia, in Biarritz, Paris, Strasbourg
and Marseille before the Russian representations but also ukrainennes for they demand his
release.
The judges will announce by May 16th (presumably early May) the trial date of Alexandr
which could be held during the summer ...
May 1st can and should be a highlight to publicize workers, workers and their
organizations the matter internationally.
We must therefore intensify the mobilization for Alexandr, but also expand the
progressives who are fighting against tyranny in Russia without forgetting those who are
victims of the arbitrariness of the new Ukrainian power in a context of war and cease -The
fire precarious in the Donbass.
Laurent Esquerre (AL Paris-Northeast)
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Russie-Ukraine-Solidarite
