Ukrainians Volodymyr Udovyka, Volodymyr Linnyk, Viktoriia Tkachenko, and Nataliia Prydatchenko are political prisoners
The former soldiers of the Aidar battalion have been sentenced to terms of up to six years in a strict regime penal colony for ‘participation in a terrorist group’
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Ukrainian citizens Volodymyr Udovyka, Volodymyr Linnyk, Viktoriia Tkachenko, and Nataliia Prydatchenko political prisoners. The four were convicted of ‘participation in a terrorist group’ for serving in the Aidar battalion of the Ukrainian armed forces. Their prosecution violates the right to fair trial, as well as the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war and civilians in times of war.
We demand the immediate release of Volodymyr Udovyka, Volodymyr Linnyk, Viktoriia Tkachenko and Nataliia Prydatchenko from custody and an end to their criminal prosecution.
What is the background to the prosecutions of Udovyka, Linnyk, Tkachenko and Prydatchenko?
Ukrainian citizens Volodymyr Udovyka, Volodymyr Linnyk, Viktoriia Tkachenko, and Nataliia Prydatchenko served in various years in the 24th Separate Assault Battalion of the Ukrainian armed forces that was created in 2015 on the basis of the Aidar battalion.
Volodymyr Udovyka served in 2017-2018 as a gunner, Volodymyr Linnyk served in 2016 as a turner, Nataliia Prydatchenko served in 2020-2021 as a cook, and Viktoriia Tkachenko worked in 2017-2020 in various positions.
All of them were detained by Russian security forces after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Linnyk has been in custody since July 2022; the others were also placed in custody in 2022 in circumstances unknown to us.
Russian law enforcement officers stated that all four arrested Ukrainians had been involved in the Aidar battalion and charged them with ‘participation in a terrorist group’ (Article 205.4, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code).
On 4 December 2023, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Nataliia Prydatchenko to five years in a low-security penal colony. On 12 December 2023, the same court handed down the same sentence to Viktoriia Tkachenko. On 20 December 2023, Volodymyr Linnyk was sentenced to six years in a general regime penal colony. Finally, on 21 December 2023, the court sentenced Volodymyr Udovyka to five years in a strict regime penal colony, with the first two years to be served in a cell-type prison.
Why do we consider them political prisoners?
Ukrainians Volodymyr Udovyka, Volodymyr Linnyk, Viktoriia Tkachenko, and Nataliia Prydatchenko were not tried for specific violent offences, but for their involvement with the Aidar battalion of the Ukrainian armed forces.
This is in gross violation of the provisions of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the prosecution of combatants for participation in an armed conflict and the use of collective punishment. We consider that the Russian authorities have designated individual units of the Ukrainian armed forces as terrorist groups in an attempt to justify collective punishment.
We note that decisions to designate the Aidar battalion as a terrorist organisation were adopted in the self-proclaimed DNR and LNR in 2016. These decisions are legally null and void due to the illegality of these entities themselves. In the Russian Federation, the decision to designate the Aidar battalion as a terrorist entity was adopted in September 2023.
Moreover, all these decisions concern the Aidar battalion, not the 24th Separate Assault Battalion of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Furthermore, all the persons convicted had resigned from the Ukrainian armed forces before the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A detailed description of the case and the position of the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project are set out on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write a letter at the following address:
In Russian:
344022, г. Ростов-на-Дону, ул. М. Горького, д. 219, ФКУ СИЗО-1 ГУФСИН России по Ростовской области,
Удовике Владимиру Ильичу 1968 г. р.,
Линнику Владимиру Васильевичу 1974 г. р.,
Ткаченко Виктории Владимировне 1994 г. р.,
Придатченко Наталье Ивановне 1980 г. р.
In English:
Volodymyr Illich Udovyka (born 1968),
Volodymyr Vasylyovych Linnyk (born 1974),
Viktoriia Volodymyrivna Tkachenko (born 1994),
Nataliia Ivanivna Prydatchenko (born 1980),
Remand Prison No. 1, Russian Federal Penitentiary Service for Rostov region, 219 Gorkogo Street, Rostov-on-Don 344022.
You can also send an electronic letter via Zonatelecom if you use Russian bank services and via PrisonMail if you use other banks.
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to support all political prisoners on our website.
