On the Issue of Returning Mariupol Defenders from Captivity
As part of an advocacy campaign focused on the captive defenders of Mariupol, a delegation of servicemen from the Azov Brigade and representatives of the Association of Azovstal Defenders' Families carried out a working visit to the United Kingdom.
United Kingdom, 2024
During the visit the delegation addressed members of both houses of the UK Parliament at a roundtable dedicated to the return of Mariupol defenders from captivity. The event was chaired by Member of Parliament and Attorney General for England and Wales, Victoria Prentis.
In their speeches Azov fighters and representatives of the Association placed particular emphasis on the treatment of Azov Brigade prisoners by russians. Lieutenant Arsenii “Protses” Fedosiuk and Azov veteran Ruslan “David” Serbov shared their personal experiences of russian captivity, describing the torture endured by Mariupol defenders in russian prisons, the psychological pressure exerted on them, and the lack of proper medical care and nutrition.
The speakers also addressed the terrorist attack in Olenivka, where russians killed 53 Azov prisoners of war.
Junior Sergeant of the brigade Volodymyr “Zelandiia” Vernyhora, along with representatives of the Association Kateryna Prokopenko, Yuliia Fedosiuk, and Yevheniia Synelnyk drew the attention of British parliamentarians to the fact that more than 900 Azov fighters, who have been in captivity for nearly three years, are not included in exchange lists. Instead, the russian side, in violation of the Geneva Convention, “sentences” them to long prison terms, including life imprisonment, accusing them of war crimes.
The roundtable was held with the support of Member of Parliament Sir John Whittingdale and Member of Parliament and Chair of the UK–Ukraine Friendship Group Bob Seely.
