Pavlo Gryb has been sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment in the Russian Federation

Pavlo Gryb, the Ukrainian political prisoner Hromadske

The U.S. condemns the verdict to Pavlo Gryb by the Russian authority and calls on Russia to let Ukrainian go home, as he needs immediate medical treatment. Robert Palladino, the Deputy Spokesperson under the leadership of the 70th Secretary of State, reports this on Twitter.

We condemn Russia’s conviction and 6-year sentence of Ukrainian Pavlo Hryb. He was targeted for opposing #Russian aggression against Ukraine. We are concerned about his health. Russia should immediately return him to Ukraine, and vacate his conviction. #FreeHryb — Robert Palladino (@StateDeputySPOX) March 23, 2019

“We condemn Russia’s conviction and 6-year sentence of Ukrainian Pavlo Hryb. He was targeted for opposing Russian aggression against Ukraine,” Palladino wrote.

According to him, the U.S. is concerned about the health condition of the Ukrainian political prisoner kept in Russia.

“Russia should immediately return him to Ukraine, and vacate his conviction,” the Deputy Spokesperson added.

On March 22, the Russian court sentenced Ukrainian Pavlo Gryb to six years in standard regime penal colony for terrorism. Pavlo Gryb announced a hunger strike.

As is known, Pavlo Gryb is the son of the former Ukrainian border guard Ihor Gryb. Russian special agency detained the 19-year-old boy on August 25, 2017, when he went to Gomel (Belarus) to meet his friend. Later, he was convoyed to Russia. The Russian law enforcers suspect Pavlo Gryb of preparing a terrorist attack at a school in Sochi (a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located on the Black Sea coast, - 112 International).

Pavlo Gryb was not allowed to see his mother and the Ukrainian consul. Russia promises to give permission to the meeting with the consul, but only after the verdict. Yet, the consular convention signed between Ukraine and Russia does not provide for such refusal.

On March 21, Ukrainian political prisoner Pavlo Gryb delivered his last plea in North Caucasus military court in Rostov-on Don, Russia.