Russian Military Intelligence Officers Pardoned by the President of Ukraine

The Decree of the President of Ukraine that grants pardon to Alexander Alexandrov and Evgeny Yerofeyev, GRU [Rus.: Main Intelligence Directorate] officers from Russia, dated May 24, 2016 was published on the official website of the President on May, 25, after the plane with Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko landed in Kyiv.

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed the decree to pardon Nadiya Savchenko earlier, who was accused of killing two Russian journalists near Ukrainian Luhansk in 2014 and sentenced to 22 years in a penal colony in Russia and a fine. Putin claimed that the pardon was granted to satisfy the appeal of the families of the said journalists. It is known that before appealing to the Russian President, the families had a meeting with Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk known for his close personal ties with Putin.

Alexandrov and Yerofeyev were sentenced to 14 years in prison for the crimes they committed in Donbas by a court in Kyiv. The Russian authorities deny that they sent the GRU officers to the east of Ukraine, claiming they came there as volunteers.

Upon arrival to Russia, the two officers were only met by their wives. Only pro-government TV channels were allowed on site to film their arrival, but no journalists were permitted to ask questions. According to his press secretary Dmitry Peskov, Putin currently has no meeting with Alexandrov and Yerofeyev on his schedule.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda