A new investigation has cast doubt on the conviction of a prominent Ukrainian human rights defender and anti-fascist activist in Russian-occupied Luhansk, in the east of the country.
Maksym Butkevych was sentenced to 13 years in prison on 10 March, for attempted murder and violating the customs of war in Severodonetsk, a city occupied by Russia in summer last year. A court in the self-proclaimed “Luhansk People’s Republic” announced it had convicted the veteran activist of firing a grenade launcher at two civilians during the battle for the city on 4 June 2022.
But message logs between Butkevych and colleagues suggests he was not in Severodonetsk on the day in question.
