The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its resolute protest over the continuation of illegal acts of the Russian side against Ukrainian  citizen Gennadiy Afanasyev, illegally sentenced by the Russian authorities to 7 years in strict regime colony in the case of the so called "Crimean terrorists."

The Ukrainian side is deeply concerned with the information on deliberate actions of the Russian authorities aimed at the deterioration of Gennadiy Afanasyev's conditions of detention, which led to a breakdown in his health.

Russian authorities continue to ignore the multiple requests by the Ukrainian side to grant permission for Ukrainian consular officers to meet with Gennadiy Afanasyev.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands from the Russian side to ensure the observance of rights of the illegally sentenced Ukrainian citizen Gennadiy Afanasyev, to provide immediately the permission for the Ukrainian consular officers to meet him according to the international obligations, taken by the Russian Federation, and also to take all measures to provide him with proper medical aid.