The Razdolnensky District Court in Crimea, is considering on merits a third criminal case, fabricated against Ukrainian activist Vladimir Balukh.
Today, on 11 April, 2018, the head of the temporary detention facility Valery Tkachenko, who acts as a victim, was questioned. In his testimony, Tkachenko denied that he regularly insulted Balukh on national or political grounds, and also denied insulting his parents.
Tkachenko, referring to Article 51 of the Russian Constitution, refused to answer the question of Balukh, whether he swore allegiance to the Ukrainian people.
Before Tkachenko’s interrogation, the “court” was shown a video of the temporary detention facility surveillance camera, which showed the conflict between the Ukrainian and the head of the temporary detention facility.
Earlier, the “prosecutor” read out the indictment, according to which, on 11 August, 2017, Balukh, being in the temporary detention facility, “struck the head of this institution with an elbow and then hit his left arm with a bottle of washing liquid.” By such actions the Ukrainian, in the opinion of the investigation, caused “physical pain, which did not result in bodily injuries and health disorders” to the head of the temporary detention facility. According to the protection of the activist, Tkachenko himself attacked Vladimir, namely, struck, insulted with obscene language, and humiliated him on a national basis. All this was recorded on video in the temporary detention facility. However, according to the statement of Balukh, an investigation into Tkachenko did not begin.
The activist refused to stop the hunger strike, which he started on 19 March in protest against the unfair and illegal sentence of the Crimean “court” for possession of ammunition. Advocates of the activist presented evidence of falsification of the case to the “court”, but the judge ignored this. Balukh’s health deteriorates, he lost a lot of weight. At the court session, Vladimir looked sick, he had to hold for the bars.
The next hearing is scheduled for 15 May, 2018.
Members of Parliament of Ukraine signed an appeal to Baluch with a request to stop the hunger strike. The corresponding document was published on 10 April on the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The appeal requests to stop the hunger strike “due to the rapid deterioration of his health and the risk of losing his life.” Deputies expressed their respect for Vladimir Balukh and his struggle, “which serves as an example for the whole country.”
“Ukraine needs alive heroes. Your health and life will be the best part of Ukraine’s victory,” – the message says.
The appeal was signed by 22 Members of Parliament, including Refat Chubarov, Svetlana Zalishchuk, Mustafa Nayem, Egor Sobolev, Vladislav Golub, Sergei Leshchenko, Oleg Musii, Andrei Beletsky, Borislav Bereza.
Earlier, the Crimean human rights group reported that the “court” in the occupied Crimea had found Balukh guilty of possession of ammunition and sentenced him for 3 years and 5 months in a colony-settlement, as well as a fine of 10,000 rubles.
Photo by: Krym.Realii
