Ukrainian former PoW wins court battle with Russia

Volodymyr Fomitskyi
Volodymyr Fomitskyi

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A Ukrainian court in Kryvyi Rih ruled in Fomitskyi’s favor, awarding him UAH 1 million in damages, to be paid by Russia’s International Reserve Bank (formerly known as Sberbank).

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According to Dmytro Chernesh, who represented Fomitskyi in court, the Ukrainian legal team decided to sue the Russian embassy in Ukraine, as well as Russia’s Sberbank. The proceedings lasted for almost two years.

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“Now we’re going to implement the court’s decision,” said Chernesh.

“The government has to ensure the ruling is enforced, no matter where these funds can be recovered; there are more than enough appropriate mechanisms to achieve this.”

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“This is now a course of action every Ukrainian citizen harmed by Russia’s aggression can pursue.”

Fomitskyi volunteered to serve in Kryvbas Battalion, and was taken prisoner near Ilovaisk in 2014. After having spent ten days as a PoW, Fomitskyi was then deemed unfit for service.

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Fomitskyi also sued Russia in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

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