NEWS PROVIDED BY
Jubilee Campaign
Aug. 31, 2021

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- As President Biden prepares to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky - 16 organizations and over 40 individuals have written to urge President Biden to raise the case of Youth Pastor Yaroslav Mysyak, who has spent over 20 years in prison after being framed as the responsible party for the murder of his grandparents and uncle, a crime he did not commit.

Over 20 years have passed since Police authorities arrested Mysyak and later tortured him physically and psychologically to sign a confession of guilt, which he retracted in court. Amnesty International in 1998 reported on the use of torture towards Pastor Mysyak and explained there were reports of the police being complicit in framing Pastor Mysyak for the murder. There are several aspects that point to youth pastor's innocence: (1) Pastor Mysyak did not have a motive, (2) the wounds were done by a professional – had struck the vital organs, (3) Mr. Mysyak's uncle owed large amounts of money to men from Yugoslavia, likely with connections to the narcotic mafia transporting drugs from Central Asia to European markets.

New findings have also appeared showing that the initial forensic report was tampered with and the court of cassation stated that the charge against Yaroslav Mysyak does not have "clear evidence of his guilt," and the evidence on which the prosecution is based can be interpreted in "two completely different ways."
 
The case of Pastor Mysyak is not an anomaly. The State Department Human Rights Report: Ukraine 2020: Human Rights Report also cites the ubiquitous practice of arbitrary detention in Ukraine and particularly the brutality of police in Uzhgorod the town where Pastor Mysyak was arrested. However, due to the set-up of the criminal justice system in Ukraine it does not allow for judicial review.

"Right now it seems there are only two options: to go all the way through to the Ukrainian supreme court and to the Human Rights courts in Strasbourg, which will take years... Or a Presidential pardon." Linus Pfister, Chief Executive of HMK Switzerland, a signatory to the letter shares.

Jubilee Campaign et. al are hopeful however, that an appeal from the US President will have an impact, "The US has done a lot for the Ukraine and therefore Ukraine might not want to decline such a request if brought forward," Linus Pfister, HMK Switzerland.

On Wednesday the two President's will meet two days later than planned due to the crises in Afghanistan.* The signatories are hoping that President Biden will see the letter in time. In addition to the letter there is a public petition in tandem with the letter to get congressional action and a social media campaign being launched to raise the status of Pastor Yaroslav's case and others wrongfully charged under Ukraine's criminal law system by using the hashtag, #freeyaroslavmysyak #endarbitrarydetention.

Read the full letter here.

Jubilee Campaign is a non-profit organization which promotes the human rights and religious liberty of ethnic and faith minorities in the most oppressive countries. We assist individuals seeking asylum from religious persecution as well as promote the care and well-being of larger groups of refugees fleeing persecution.

* Jubilee Campaign has joined several organisations in calling for an extension of the deadline to ensure that the vulnerable Afghans who need to flee are able to do so and have been working to get a family out. If you are able to support the family to resettle to the US and similar efforts you can do so here: LINK.
 
SOURCE Jubilee Campaign

CONTACT: 703-503-2260, information@jubileecampaign.org

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