Moscow refuses again to extradite prisoners Sentsov, Kolchenko to Ukraine

The Russian Justice Ministry has again declined the Ukrainian Justice Ministry's request for the extradition of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov and his accomplice Oleksandr Kolchenko, who were given lengthy prison sentences in Russia, Interfax informed.

"Russia has refused to extradite Sentsov and Kolchenko without any grounds. It considers them its citizens," Serhiy Petukhov, deputy justice minister for European integration, said on Facebook.

He said Ukraine considers Sentsov and Kolchenko its citizens and will seek their return through international organizations that have influence on Russia, and also within the framework of the lawsuits filed with the European Court of Human Rights.

Petukhov has attached a copy of the Russian Justice Ministry's response to his report.