A pastor from Donetsk tortured by militants gave evidence in International Court of Justice

Pastor Olexandr Khomchenko, who was brutally beaten and tortured by militants for the prayer in for his countrythe center of Donetsk, gave evidence as a witness in Brussels this week. Previous to the International Court of Justice in The Hague,a preliminary hearing on crimes of Russian military in Ukraine was held. 

It was reported by ZIK that cited “Facts”edition.

 On the day of departure to Belgium, Olexandr Khomchenko was noticeably nervous. He repeated several times, “Now I am flying to Brussels and thinking: is it necessary? Will they hear our voices?”

Three citizens of Ukraine, who survived abuse, torture and humiliationin captivity,areflying  toBelgium for a preliminary hearing on crimes of Russian troops in Ukraine.

Among them is Iryna Dovgan from the town of Yasynuvata, Donetsk region, who was arrested for assistance to the Ukrainian army. The woman was wrapped Ukrainian flag and tied to a pillar in Donetsk and made her hold a sign saying "She kills our children. She is an agent of the hit squad.”

Passers-by spit in her face, beaten.

Lviv student Yuri Yatsenko stayed in the Russian prison for a year. He was tried on trumped-up charges of possession of 41 grams of shooting powder.

After the men left for the safe area, they gave evidence to Polish police - MEP Malgorzata Hosevska set out to gather information and prove at the Hague Tribunal that Russia is a sponsor of terrorists who are operating in Ukraine.

“I did not understand only one thing - why the Poles are concerned about our fate, and the law enforcement of Ukraine are not,” Olexandr Khomchenko said.

He said that the SBU asked him only the call signs and full names of his tormentors. They were not interested what the tormentors were doing to me. It was the Poles that filed an appeal to the Hague Tribunal, proving specific examples that the LPR and DPR are is the international terrorist organizations sponsored by Russia,” Khomchenko said.

In 2014, in the Constitution Square, the heart of Donetsk, the pastor together with supporters and parishioners of the church "Word of Life" installed a prayer tent, where they prayed for peace in Ukraine. The prayer marathon lasted 158 days. Later Olexandr was detained militants. He was beaten, tortured, hung on a rackhis hands tied behind his back. During four days of captivity Olexandr was taken out to be shot three times.