Solidarity groups appeal to Donetsk officials to release Borotba activists

To: Prime Minister Alexander Zakharchenko
Battalion Vostok Commander Alexander Khodakovsky
Chair of the People’s Soviet Dr. Andrei Purgin
Vice Chair of the People's Soviet Denis Pushilin
Former President of the Supreme Soviet Boris A. Litvinov
and other officials of the Donetsk People's Republic and Novorossiyan Armed Forces

December 29, 2014

Dear comrades,

On behalf of anti-fascists and anti-war activists in the United States, Greece and the United Kingdom who are organizing in solidarity with the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, we appeal urgently to you to secure the immediate release of four activists reportedly being held by the Vostok Battalion.

Victor Shapinov, Maxim Firsov and Maria Muratova are members of the Ukrainian anti-fascist organization Union Borotba. During a solidarity visit to Donetsk on Dec. 21, these three comrades were taken prisoner by Vostok Battalion soldiers. They were mistaken for a Ukrainian reconnaissance and sabotage team.

According to information obtained by Borotba, they are currently being held at the Vostok commandant's office on Elevatornaya Street in Donetsk city to be exchanged for prisoners held by the Ukrainian fascist regime.

On Dec. 27, Odessa Regional Council Deputy and survivor of the May 2 massacre Alexei Albu went to the Vostok Battalion headquarters to appeal for their release. He has not been heard from since.

If these anti-fascists are turned over to the Kiev junta, they face imprisonment, torture and death at the hands of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and neo-Nazis.

The four activists and their organization have been steadfast leaders of the AntiMaidan movement since the first days of the U.S.-NATO-backed coup in Ukraine. The Borotba activists were forced to flee to Crimea following the tragedy of May 2 in Odessa under threat of arrest and death.

These comrades have been essential to building international solidarity with Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as the anti-fascist movement inside Ukraine. They are valuable allies of your struggle against the Kiev junta and NATO expansion.

Mistakes happen in war time. It is not always easy to tell friend from foe. There is no shame in this. But there is still time to correct the mistake before it becomes a tragedy.

We appeal to you, as supporters of the Donetsk People's Republic and its armed forces, to intervene and free Alexei Albu, Victor Shapinov, Maria Muratova and Maxim Firsov.

Victory to the People's Republics! Down with the fascist junta!

Signed,

Greg Butterfield, coordinator, Solidarity with Ukraine Antifascists Committee / International Action Center, USA

Solidarity Campaign with the Antifascist Resistance in Ukraine, Greece

Solidarity with Antifascist Resistance in Ukraine, UK

Joe Lombardo, coordinator, United National Antiwar Coalition, USA

http://www.iacenter.org/ukraine/borotba122914/