Soldier and human rights activist Maksym Butkevych released from Russian captivity

Maksym Butkevych, a Ukrainian human rights activist and soldier, has been released from Russian captivity.

Source: ZMINA Human Rights Centre, citing Butkevych's father

Quote: "Ukrainian human rights activist, journalist, public figure and soldier Maksym Butkevych has been released from Russian captivity! This was reported by his father. We welcome the co-founder of the ZMINA Human Rights Centre home."

Background:

• Butkevych was fighting in eastern Ukraine with the Armed Forces of Ukraine when he was captured by the Russians in the summer of 2022.
• In March 2023, the human rights activist was sentenced to 13 years in prison by a "court" in the so-called Luhansk People's Republic.
• From August 2023 onwards, neither Butkevych’s lawyer nor his parents knew anything about his whereabouts.
• Later it became known that he was in a penal colony in Krasnyi Luch in Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast.

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