Bogdan Ziza – an artist-activist, who split blue and yellow paint on the doors of the occupation administration in Yevpatoriya (Autonomous Republic of Crimea) as a sign of protest against Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Because of this, he was convicted by Russia as terrorist. He is waiting for 15-year of strict regime prison term. Bogdan appealed to the President of Ukraine with a request to exchange all Crimean political prisoners that being forcibly kept in prisons.

The Autonomous Republic of Crimea was occupied by Russia in 2014 during a military invasion, with the overthrow of the legitimate government and the holding of a pseudo-referendum with multiple falsifications, which was declared by the OSCE PA to be "an illegitimate and illegal act, the results of which have no legal force."

During the occupation, more than 267 political activists were imprisoned: Ukrainians and representatives of indigenous peoples. All these people opposed the Russian occupation of Crimea, therefore the occupying authorities committed an act of genocide: convicted and deported them to prisons on Russian territory.

“We are being judged for being Ukrainians where, according to the occupation authorities, Ukrainians should not be. It is impossible to win such court cases.” – The fragment of Bogdan’s appeal.

It is impossible to win such cases because it’s a legal procedure of repression, not a legal process. Therefore, international political and diplomatic instruments, attention of the international community to the problem of Crimean political prisoners and pressure on Russia are needed to free these brave people from the prison.

Inspired by Bogdan Ziza’s appeal, we call on international organizations and governments of free and democratic countries to help Crimean political prisoners to get free.