MFA Ukraine calls for international community to condemn prison sentence of rights defender Butkevych

This is stated in the commentary issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seen by Ukrinform.

"The sham trial staged in the Russian Federation was intended to legalize yet another political massacre of Ukrainian citizens. The announced sentences are illegitimate, null and void," the ministry said.

MFA Ukraine also called on the international community to condemn the trial of Butkevych and the other two citizens, to demand that the Russian Federation release them, as well as other Ukrainians illegally imprisoned in the temporarily occupied territories and in Russia, as well as to take effective measures to counter Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on March 10, the "court" of the Russian occupation administration in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk region "sentenced" the Ukrainian human rights defender, now prisoner of war Maksym Butkevych, to 13 years in a high security colony, while two other Ukrainian soldiers were sentenced to 8.5 and 18.5 years, accordingly.

Human rights defender, journalist, co-founder and member of Hromadske Radio NGO Maksym Butkevich was captured in the summer of 2022.

It is noted that with the outset of the full-scale war, Butkevych put on pause work on helping refugees, journalistic, humanitarian, educational and human rights protection activities to join the Army ranks.

A group of Ukrainian soldiers, including Butkevych, were captured near Hirske of Luhansk region.