Afanasyev and Soloshenko released

 Illegaly imprisoned in Russia, Ukrainian citizens Hennadiy Afanasyev and Yuriy Soloshenko, have been returned to Ukrainian soil yesterday.  Afanasyev was accused of participation in a “terrorist group”, kidnapped in 2014, beaten up, tortured and forced to testify against  Oleksandr Kolchenko and Oleg Sentsov (currently imprisoned in Russia). Ukrainian pensioner, Soloshenko captured in Moscow in 2015, being accused of “espionage”.  According the President Poroshenko, the release of prisoners has happened due to efficient work of Minsk agreements. He reminded that the goal of Ukrainian state was to return all Ukrainian hostages held in Russia.

Georgia: EU visa free movement dispute

Georgian state has fulfilled all requirements to obtain a visa-free movement for its citizens in the European Union. Delay in EU visa liberation for Georgia is a result of foreseeing approach to the process by Germany and France. Politicians of these countries would prefer to have a back up plan: fast return of visa regime if there is a rise of illegal actions caused by Georgians (or other nations granted visa-free movement) in EU. In media Georgian situation is presented along with Turkish, however, these cases are very different. Georgians just need a little bit of patience, meanwhile there is a long process of negotiations regarding requirements fulfilment with Turkey.

Boris Nemtsov Foundation Prize 2016

On Sunday, June 12 2016, the Boris Nemtsov Foundation Prize will be awarded in Bonn, Germany to Lev Schlosberg, Russian journalist and human rights activist. Lev Schlosberg was the first who published the material about death of two Russian paratroopers from Pskov on Ukrainian soil in 2014. The prize for “outstanding courage in fighting for democratic values, human rights and freedom in Russia” will be awarded for the first time. Top 5 candidates for the award was Ildar Dadin, Lev Schlossberg, Victor Shenderovich, Aleksiej Nawalny and Nadiya Savchenko. Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom was established by Zhanna Namtsova, a daughter of murdered in 2015 Russian politician, Boris Nemtsov.