On the 7th of March, the World Federation of Democratic Youth alerted the world of the arrest of the first secretary of the Ukrainian Komsomol – Mikhail Kononovich. His brother Aleksander Kononovich had also been arrested. Both brothers have been accused of spying for the Russian and Belarussian intelligence services, and we are concerned for their safety. Whilst in custody they have been subjected to physical and psychological torture such as beatings, lashing, sleep deprivation and threats of execution”

WFDY Kononovich update

YCL Kononovich statement

This outrage is only the latest in a history of brutal repressions manifested against opposition parties by the reactionary Ukrainian government. These attacks represent an affront to democratic norms and only distance the possibility of a true democratic resolution to the conflict.

We denounce the persecution of peaceful and progressive forces in Ukraine and Russia.

We demand:

1) THE IMMEDIATE & SAFE RELEASE OF MIKHAIL AND ALEKSANDER KONONOVICH

2) A PUBLIC APOLOGY TO THE KONONOVICH BROTHERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

3) AN END TO THE POLITICAL REPRESSION OF COMMUNISTS IN UKRAINE.

#FreeKononovich