Ukraine: End prosecution of conscientious objector and journalist Ruslan Kotsaba

Ukrainian journalist, conscientious objector and a member of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement Ruslan Kotsaba will be on trial again on Friday (22nd January) for a video he posted in 2015 in which he was calling to boycott military mobilisation for the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Kotsaba is being accused of treason and obstructing military operations for his expressions calling for peace. His trial, initially scheduled to take place on 10th December, was postponed to January due to Covid-19 related reasons. The trial date has now been announced to be 22nd January.

Send your emails in support of Ruslan Kotsaba to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine here.

Kotsaba had already spent 524 days under arrest for his expressions opposing the war and was duly acquitted in 2016. His retrial is a clearly politically motivated persecution which must end immediately.

For background and more information on Ruslan’s case, see here.

Support Ruslan Kotsaba with your emails, write to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine demanding an end to his prosecution. You can use our template letter, both in Ukrainian and English, here. Scroll down for its English translation when you click the link.

WRI stands in solidarity with Ruslan Kotsana, Ukrainian Pacifist Movement and all conscientious objectors and pacifists in Ukraine, and follows Ruslan Kotsaba's case closely.