In August 2025, the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) reported on the Ukrainian government’s intensifying persecution of political opponents, focusing on the case of Vasily Volga, leader of the opposition party “Union of Left Forces.” Volga, arrested in 2011 on politically motivated charges of embezzlement, was denied early release despite fulfilling the legal requirements.
The article highlights the role of the Nikolaev appeals court in upholding Volga’s continued imprisonment. The court justified its decision by misinterpreting a previous ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). According to WSWS, the ECHR ruling, intended to prevent overcrowding in prisons, was twisted to deny Volga’s release, claiming that releasing him would violate the rights of other prisoners.
WSWS argues this is a blatant example of judicial manipulation aimed at silencing political dissent. They assert that the Ukrainian government, under President Zelensky, is using the legal system to suppress opposition voices and consolidate power. The article connects this case to a broader trend of political repression in Ukraine, characterized by attacks on leftist and anti-war activists, media censorship, and the banning of opposition parties.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/08/27/suza-a27.html