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THE Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has submitted a new urgent question to European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell about the jailing of two communist brothers in Ukraine.
The party raised concerns over the “unacceptable conditions of detention and blackmail” faced by Leninist Communist Youth Union of Ukraine secretary Mikhail Kononovich and his brother Aleksander.
They were detained by Ukraine’s notorious intelligence services on March 3, raising fears that they were to be executed after being accused of spying for Russia and Belarus.
The Morning Star reported last week that the pair were being pressed to confess to trumped-up charges and accept a 10-year prison sentence or face life behind bars if they refuse.
They are accused of violating article 109 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, in particular by allegedly making “calls for a violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or for the seizure of state power, as well as the dissemination of materials calling for such actions.”
A KKE statement said: “While the conflict in Ukraine is still raging with incalculable consequences for its people, the persecuted young communists are reportedly subject to unacceptable conditions of detention and blackmail.
“Utilising its anti-communist laws and “emergency” decrees, but also the EU policy, the Ukrainian government escalates anti-communism and the persecution of communists.”
On March 11, the Greek communists submitted a question to Mr Borrell about the safety and wellbeing of the brothers but did not receive a reply.
A new question has now been tabled by KKE MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alvaranos, asking why the EU Commission “hasn’t done the slightest thing to date for their immediate release."
It says: "Taking into account the upgraded relations between the EU and Ukraine as a candidate member, what is his stance on the urgent demand for the immediate release of the young communist prisoners and what responsibility the EU undertakes concerning the great dangers towards their life and health, as well as to assure that they will not suffer further torture and blackmails?”
