Sanction-related decisions should not be used to persecute political, public figures – ex-political prisoners 3 min read KYIV. March 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Former Ukrainian political prisoners, founders of the Liberation of Prisoners platform call on the authorities to refrain from discrediting and persecuting political and public figures in the wake of the right decisions to impose sanctions against pro-Russian TV channels and politicians. "We sincerely and unquestioningly support those actions of the authorities that are really aimed at the destruction and inevitable eradication of the ramified criminal network built and introduced in Ukraine by the aggressor country – the Russian Federation [...] We urge President Volodymyr Zelensky [...] to state wisdom [...] Correct and necessary decisions aimed at the closure of pro-Russian TV channels and other media outlets, the introduction of sanctions against pro-Moscow politicians – collaborators within the country, firstly, require the introduction of legislative justification, secondly, in no case should they be used as a formal pretext for criminal and sanctioning prosecution of political and public leaders, individuals who have undoubtedly proved their loyalty to the ideals of the Ukrainian state, but conduct their activities in opposition to the course of the current government, " according to the text of the appeal, which was presented on Tuesday at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine by former political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh.