Moscow to take steps to return Russians sentenced to prison terms in Ukraine

Russia will take steps within the legal framework to return Russian nationals Alexander Aleksandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev sentenced to lengthy prison terms in Ukraine to their home country, Russian Consul to Ukraine Alexey Gruby told reporters on Monday.

"The Russian side has taken and is taking all possible steps to return our citizens to their home country. Steps will be taken within the legal framework for returning Aleksandrov and Yerofeyev to their homeland," he said.

"One may write anything when one’s office is set on fire," he told reporters after the court’s decision was announced. "We, naturally, disagree. All possible steps are taken within the legal framework to return our citizens to their homeland," Gruby said. "The pressure on the court was one of the reasons for the guilty verdict," the consul added.

The consul declined to say directly whether prisoner swap was discussed. "I initially did not use this term [exchange - TASS], because I consider it completely inappropriate here, since it does not exist in legal terms," Gruby said.

Lawyers plan to appeal

Lawyers of the detained Russians said on Monday they plan to lodge an appeal against the sentence announced by the Kiev court......More: http://tass.ru/en/politics/870635
18/4/16
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