Alert over prisoners trapped by the fighting
The civic initiative Donbas SOS has issued an appeal to Ukraine’s President, head of the Penitentiary Service of Ukraine and the Human Rights Ombudsperson regarding Prison Colony No. 23 (Chornukhino).
Information has been received on their help line indicating that over 50 people remain on the territory of the prison. This includes both prisoners and people whose homes nearby have been totally destroyed by the shelling. “People are sitting in 2 separate bomb shelters which they can’t leave because of the relentless shelling. Yesterday missiles again hit the prison building injuring both prisoners and local residents. Some have lost a lot of blood. Stocks of food are exhausted and people urgently need to be evacuated, to receive medical care.
However the Penitentiary Service is proposing to provide an evacuation convoy in the direction of the colony only 17-18 February which is dooming people to die.
Article 27 of Ukraine’s Constitution states that each person has an inalienable right to life.
We turn to all who can influence the situation!
Help organize urgent evacuation and help to save lives. Feb 17 could already be too late!”