Ukrainian political prisoner Balukh transferred to correctional facility in Russia

"I understand the anxiety and unrest that Balukh’s relatives feel. However, according to the Russian legislation, the location of a correctional facility where a sentence will be served, is not disclosed to relatives and lawyers until the moment of a prisoner's actual arrival," high commissioner for human rights in the Russian Federation Tatiana Moskalkova announced on Tuesday, TASS reports.

According to Moskalkova, a lawyer of Balukh has been already informed about his client’s transfer to a correctional facility.

She also noted that, according to the information of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation, Balukh felt well and did not complain about his health.

"As soon as Volodymyr Balukh gets to a correction facility, his lawyer and relatives will be immediately informed about this," the Russian commissioner for human rights said.

Earlier, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Akhtem Chiygoz said that Balukh had been transferred to Krasnodar.

On January 25, the Russian-controlled Kerch city court refused to grant parole to Ukrainian activist Volodymyr Balukh.

The Kremlin-controlled Supreme Court of Crimea sentenced Balukh to 4 years and 11 months in prison and a fine of RUR 10,000.

The Federal Security Service of Russia detained Volodymyr Balukh on December 8, 2016. The FSB officers claimed that they had found 90 cartridges and several TNT blocks in the attic of his house. Balukh's defense team and human rights defenders say that he is a victim of repression for his pro-Ukrainian position – Ukraine's flag in the courtyard of his house.