Olexandr Kolchenko

Born in a working-class family, Oleksandr Kolchenko worked as a loader at the post while studying tourism management at the geographic faculty of Tavrida National University in Simferopol. He became a supporter of anarchist, antifascist and internationalist ideas. Since 2007, Kolchenko has been an active militant of the local antifascist movement. He staged numerous street protests against manifestations of fascism in the region, and participated in clashes with both Ukrainian and pro-Russian far right. He also organized actions of solidarity with Russian antifascists who fell victims of the neo-Nazi terror or government repression, including Anastasia Baburova and Ivan Khutorskoy.

From 2010 to 2013, Kolchenko was an active member of the independent trade union "Student Action" composed of socialists and anarchists advocating free education, student rights, and autonomy of universities. He was involved to numerous events and public campaigns to protect workers' rights and the environment. He was supporting the struggles of Crimean Trolleybus employees and protesting against construction of a contaminant port in Crimea.

Oleksandr Kolchenko was detained on May 16, 2014, in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine. He was convicted of arson of the offices of Russian political organizations and planning the bombing of the Soviet Memorial monument in Crimea. On May 23, 2014, Oleksandr was convoyed to Moscow and imprisoned in the Lefortovo prison.

Despite his left-wing and antifascist affiliations, he has been accused of belonging to the Ukrainian ultranationalist organization Right Sector and of plotting terrorist attacks.

In June 2015 the investigation of the Kolchenko and Sentsov criminal case was finished and the case went to trial. On July 31, 2015, the Rostov-on-Don military court started hearings on this case.{{cite web|last1=Litoy|first1=Alexandr|title=The Crimean Terrorists|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/alexandr-litoy/crimean-%E2%80%98terrorists%E2%80%99|website=Open Democracy|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-date=15 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015083929/https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/alexandr-litoy/crimean-%E2%80%98terrorists%E2%80%99|url-status=live}}

Oleksandr Kolchenko stood trial together with Oleh Sentsov.

The accusation against Kolchenko and Sentsov is primarily based on evidence given by two other so-called "Crimean terrorists", Chyrniy and Afanasyev, broadcast on Russian television.{{cite web|title=В Крыму обезврежены диверсанты "Правого Сектора", которые собирались устроить теракты на День Победы|url=http://www.1tv.ru/news/crime/259988|website=Первый Канал|access-date=19 August 2015|language=ru|archive-date=29 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829071650/http://www.1tv.ru/news/crime/259988|url-status=live}} But they refused to testify in court. Afanasyev announced that his testimonies had been given under torture.{{cite web|title=Key Prosecution Witness Against Ukrainian Filmmaker Sentsov Withdrew His Testimony|url=http://en.censor.net.ua/news/345991/key_prosecution_witness_against_ukrainian_filmmaker_sentsov_withdrew_his_testimony|website=Cenzor.net|date=31 July 2015 |access-date=19 August 2015|archive-date=3 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803152332/http://en.censor.net.ua/news/345991/key_prosecution_witness_against_ukrainian_filmmaker_sentsov_withdrew_his_testimony|url-status=live}}

Oleksandr Kolchenko rejects all charges of terrorism. Kolchenko fully admits to having held guard on the street while a Molotov cocktail was hurled at a building housing pro-Russian organizations (namely United Russia ruling party, formerly Crimean Party of Regions, and Russian Community of Crimea NGO), but denies that this was terrorism.{{cite web|last1=Coynash|first1=Halya|title=Sentsov-Kolchenko Trial{{cite web|last1=Coynash|first1=Halya|title=Oleksandr Kolchenko: 10 years for opposing Russia's invasion of Crimea|url=http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1499628761|website=Human Rights In Ukraine|access-date=31 August 2017|archive-date=6 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906184730/http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1499628761|url-status=live}} The attack was committed at night when the participants understood the office to be empty and there was no intention to put anybody's life in danger. According to the human rights organization Memorial, similar attacks on party offices in Russia to this date have been punished as arson or "hooliganism" and not as terrorism.[http://www.memo.ru/d/244621.html The Memorial Human Rights Centre considers Oleg Sentsov, Alexander Kolchenko and Gennady Afanasyev political prisoners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930171508/http://www.memo.ru/d/244621.html |date=2016-09-30 }}. Memorial, August 31, 2015.

Both Kolchenko and his lawyer, Svetlana Sidorkina, are adamant that the only real charge against Kolchenko can be classified as hooliganism or vandalism.{{cite web|last1=Coynash|first1=Halya|title=Sentsov & Kolchenko Face 20-year Sentences For Non-Existent Terrorism|url=http://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/2015/07/24/sentsov-kolchenko-face-20-year-sentences-for-non-existent-terrorism/|website=Ukraine Solidarity Campaign|date=24 July 2015|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-date=24 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724232925/http://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/2015/07/24/sentsov-kolchenko-face-20-year-sentences-for-non-existent-terrorism/|url-status=live}} Kolchenko also refuted belonging to the political party Right Sector which is banned in Russia. Right Sector itself has released a press statement stating that the four individuals considered by Russia as "Crimean terrorists" have nothing to do with the party.

Russian authorities denied Sentsov and Kolchenko Ukrainian consular assistance, claiming that they were Russian citizens.{{cite web |url=http://mfa.gov.ua/en/page/open/id/4177 |title=Ukrainians Illegally Detained in Russia and in the occupied Crimea - MFA of Ukraine |publisher=Mfa.gov.ua |access-date=2019-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225142024/https://mfa.gov.ua/en/page/open/id/4177 |archive-date=2019-02-25 |url-status=dead }} Following the annexation of Crimea, Kolchenko and Sentsov had not signed the document stating that they did not wish to change citizenship. In other words, these accused men have been "united with Russia" along with the Crimean peninsula".{{cite web|last1=Litoy|first1=Alexandr|title=The Crimean Terrorists|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/alexandr-litoy/crimean-%E2%80%98terrorists%E2%80%99|website=Open Democracy|access-date=20 September 2015|archive-date=15 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015083929/https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/alexandr-litoy/crimean-%E2%80%98terrorists%E2%80%99|url-status=live}} In turn, the State Migration Service of Ukraine confirmed Kolchenko's Ukrainian citizenship and the Kyiv Prosecutor's Office opened a case regarding the abduction of a Ukrainian citizen Oleksandr Kolchenko.

According to his lawyer, Svetlana Sidorkina, Kolchenko was illegally issued with a Russian passport, dated May 26, 2014, when he was already in detention.{{cite web|url=http://khpg.org/index.php?id=1428583933|title=Imprisoned Crimean Activist takes Russia to Strasbourg over forced citizenship|website=Права Людини в Україні|access-date=2019-07-29|archive-date=2019-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714030214/http://khpg.org/index.php?id=1428583933|url-status=live}} Kolchenko has sent a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights against Russian citizenship forcibly having been conferred on him.{{cite web|url=https://therussianreader.com/tag/svetlana-sidorkina/|title=Svetlana Sidorkina – The Russian Reader|language=en|access-date=2019-07-29|archive-date=2019-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729080351/https://therussianreader.com/tag/svetlana-sidorkina/|url-status=live}}

On August 25, 2015, the board of military judges chaired by the judge Sergey Mikhailyuk sentenced Oleksandr Kolchenko and Oleh Sentsov to 10 and 20 years respectively.{{cite web|author1=Ukrayinska Pravda|author-link=Ukrayinska Pravda|title=From the Russian Foreign Ministry could knock as received Ukrainian passports Russia|url=http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7132772/|website=Ukrayinska Pravda|access-date=18 January 2017|language=uk|archive-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119054534/http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7132772/|url-status=live}} When the verdict was pronounced, Kolchenko and Sentsov started to sing the Ukrainian National Anthem.{{cite web|author1=Открытая Россия|title="Ще не вмерла" вместо ответа судье. Сенцов и Кольченко спели Гимн Украины|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ3CzWSOid8#action=share|website=Youtube|access-date=26 August 2015|language=uk|archive-date=14 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914003725/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ3CzWSOid8#action=share|url-status=live}}

The highly politicized trial of Sentsov and Kolchenko has resonated not only in Ukraine but also worldwide. Many prominent world organizations advocating human rights and democratic movement such as OSCE,{{Cite web |url=https://www.oscepa.org/en/news-a-media/press-releases/press-2015/osce-parliamentary-assembly-adopts-resolution-condemning-russia-s-actions-in-ukraine |title=OSCE PA "OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopts resolution condemning Russia's continuing actions in Ukraine". |access-date=2023-10-05 |archive-date=2022-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423085434/https://www.oscepa.org/en/news-a-media/press-releases/press-2015/osce-parliamentary-assembly-adopts-resolution-condemning-russia-s-actions-in-ukraine |url-status=live }} US Mission to the OSCE,Ambassador Daniel B. Baer. "On the Detention of Nadiya Savchenko (who upon returning to the Ukraine was accused to have personally planned an attack with mortars and hand grenades at the Ukrainian parliament), Oleg Sentsov, and Oleksandr Kolchenko".http://osce.usmission.gov/jul_23_15_detention_savchenko_sentsov_kolchenko.html. US Mission to the OSCE. Amnesty International,{{cite web|title=Russian Federation: Overturn the Convictions of Oleg Sentsov and Aleksandr Kolchenko (UA 170/15) Urgent Action|url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/get-involved/take-action-now/russian-federation-overturn-the-convictions-of-oleg-sentsov-and-aleksandr-kolchenko-ua-17015|website=Amnesty International|access-date=26 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827193748/http://www.amnestyusa.org/get-involved/take-action-now/russian-federation-overturn-the-convictions-of-oleg-sentsov-and-aleksandr-kolchenko-ua-17015|archive-date=27 August 2015|url-status=dead}} International Federation of Human Rights, FIDH - Center for Civil Liberties Human Rights in Ukraine,{{cite web|title=Liberté pour Alexandr Koltchenko, antifasciste de Crimée, kidnappé et emprisonné par l'Etat russe|url=https://www.fidh.org/La-Federation-internationale-des-ligues-des-droits-de-l-homme/europe-de-l-est-asie-centrale/ukraine/liberte-pour-alexandr-koltchenko-antifasciste-de-crimee-kidnappe-et|website=FIDH|access-date=26 August 2015|language=fr|archive-date=8 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308061615/https://www.fidh.org/fr/regions/europe-asie-centrale/ukraine/liberte-pour-alexandr-koltchenko-antifasciste-de-crimee-kidnappe-et|url-status=live}} Open Democracy, No Borders Network, European Trade Unions, the European Court of Human Rights,{{cite web|title=PRESS RELEASE EU-Ukraine hold Human Rights Dialogue|url=http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150725_01_en.htm|website=EU External Action|access-date=26 August 2015|archive-date=15 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815081559/http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150725_01_en.htm|url-status=live}} and the Group of Resistance to Political repressions in Russia have condemned political persecution of Kolchenko and called for his release.{{cite web|title=Repressions against Crimean activists: political context|url=https://avtonom.org/en/news/repressions-against-crimean-activists-political-context|website=Автономное действие|date=4 October 2014|access-date=26 August 2015|language=ru, en|archive-date=13 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813212450/https://avtonom.org/en/news/repressions-against-crimean-activists-political-context|url-status=live}}

Kolchenko's name was mentioned in an OSCE PA resolution condemning Russia's continuing actions in Ukraine. These organizations call on Russia to "immediately release and return to Ukraine detained pilot Nadiya Savchenko, filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko and all other illegally detained Ukrainian citizens". The Active Generation: The web activists network, The Committee of Solidarity with the "Crimean hostages" and the International Solidarity Campaign for Oleksandr Kolchenko run an ongoing multinational supporting campaign for the political prisoner.{{cite web|url=https://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/|title=Кампнія Солідарності з Україною|website=Кампнія Солідарності з Україною|language=en|access-date=2019-07-29|archive-date=2019-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701210238/https://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/|url-status=live}} The information about how to support Oleksandr Kolchenko is available in German, Italian, French and Spanish.

The social media campaign uses the hashtag #freeKolchenko.

A number of organizations, including the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe,{{Cite web|date=2017-05-02|title=Political Prisoners in Russia|url=https://www.csce.gov/international-impact/political-prisoners-russia|access-date=2021-06-29|website=CSCE|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629050550/https://www.csce.gov/international-impact/political-prisoners-russia|url-status=live}} and the Memorial Human Rights Center{{Cite web|date=2015-08-03|title="Мемориал" считает Олега Сенцова и Александра Кольченко политзаключенными|url=https://memohrc.org/ru/news/memorial-schitaet-olega-sencova-i-aleksandra-kolchenko-politzaklyuchennymi|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Правозащитный центр «Мемориал»|archive-date=2021-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629050554/https://memohrc.org/ru/news/memorial-schitaet-olega-sencova-i-aleksandra-kolchenko-politzaklyuchennymi|url-status=live}} have recognized Oleksandr Kolchenko as a political prisoner. Amnesty International campaigned for his release.{{Cite web |date=30 May 2014 |title=UA: 142/14 Index: EUR 50/026/2014 Ukraine |url=https://www.amnesty.org/fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/eur500262014en.pdf |website=Amnesty International |access-date=8 March 2022 |archive-date=8 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308061053/https://www.amnesty.org/fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/eur500262014en.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2019-09-11 |title=Oleg Sentsov thanks activists for their letters of support |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2019/09/oleg-sentsov-letters-from-activists/ |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=Amnesty International |language=en |archive-date=2021-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205162117/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2019/09/oleg-sentsov-letters-from-activists/ |url-status=live }}

He was open about his opposition to the occupation of Crimea by Russia, prompting a fierce reaction from the Russian authorities.{{cite web|url=http://khpg.org/index.php?id=1438647288|title=Sentsov & Kolchenko declared political prisoners as rot exposed in Russia's Crimean 'terrorist' trial|website=Права Людини в Україні|access-date=2019-07-29|archive-date=2019-10-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027234059/http://khpg.org/index.php?id=1438647288|url-status=live}}

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine urged the Russian Federation to immediately release Oleh Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko.{{cite web|title=The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine urges the Russian Federation to immediately release Oleg Sentsov and Olexandr Kolchenko|url=http://mfa.gov.ua/en/press-center/comments/4044-the-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-of-ukraine-urges-the-russian-federation-to-immediately-release-oleg-sentsov-and-oleksandr-kolchenko|website=The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine|access-date=25 August 2015|archive-date=27 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827182814/http://mfa.gov.ua/en/press-center/comments/4044-the-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-of-ukraine-urges-the-russian-federation-to-immediately-release-oleg-sentsov-and-oleksandr-kolchenko|url-status=live}} The sentencing of Kolchenko was condemned by the US Department of State {{cite web|title=Sentencing of Oleg Sentsov and Olexandr Kolchenko Press Statement|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/08/246322.htm|website=US Department of State|access-date=26 August 2015|archive-date=21 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121124109/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/08/246322.htm|url-status=live}} and the European Union.{{cite web|title=STATEMENT Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini on the sentencing by a Russian court of Ukrainian citizens O. Sentsov and O. Kolchenko|url=http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150825_01_en.htm|website=European Union External Action|access-date=26 August 2015|archive-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910024241/http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150825_01_en.htm|url-status=live}} Kolchenko's lawyer, Svetlana Sidorkina, compared the verdict to one from the times of Stalin′s Great Terror. She intends to appeal to the Supreme Court of Russia and to the European Court of Human Rights.{{cite news|title=Адвокаты хотят вернуть Сенцова и Кольченко на Украину|url=http://www.svoboda.org/content/article/27201994.html|website=Радио Свобода|date=21 August 2015 |access-date=27 August 2015|language=ru|archive-date=22 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822114550/http://www.svoboda.org/content/article/27201994.html|url-status=live}}

The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko awarded Oleksandr Kolchenko an Order for Courage First Class ({{langx|uk|Орден «За мужність»}}) for personal courage and dedication in upholding constitutional rights and freedoms for the integrity of the Ukrainian state on September 24, 2015.{{cite web|title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №556/2015 Про нагородження орденом "За мужність"|url=http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/5562015-19446|website=President of Ukraine. Official website.|access-date=16 October 2015|language=uk|archive-date=13 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013174920/http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/5562015-19446|url-status=live}}

File:Returning of 35 detained Ukrainians 47.jpg

On 7 September 2019, in a prisoner swap with Ukraine,{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/07/europe/ukraine-russia-prisoner-swap-intl/index.html|title=Film director Oleg Sentsov and MH17 suspect among those freed in Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap|first1=Denis|last1=Lapin|first2=Olga|last2=Pavlova|first3=Bianca|last3=Britton|first4=Sarah|last4=Dean|website=CNN|access-date=2019-09-07|archive-date=2019-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907180613/https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/07/europe/ukraine-russia-prisoner-swap-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/09/07/signaling-readiness-for-thaw-russia-and-ukraine-swap-prisoners-a67090|title=Signaling Readiness for Thaw, Russia and Ukraine Swap Prisoners|last=Gershkovich|first=Evan|date=2019-09-07|website=The Moscow Times|language=en|access-date=2019-09-07|archive-date=2019-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908094043/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/09/07/signaling-readiness-for-thaw-russia-and-ukraine-swap-prisoners-a67090|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/reuters-sentsov-24-ukrainian-sailors-in-russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap.html|title=Reuters: Sentsov, 24 Ukrainian sailors in Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap {{!}} KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice|date=2019-09-07|website=KyivPost|access-date=2019-09-07|archive-date=2022-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308061612/https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/reuters-sentsov-24-ukrainian-sailors-in-russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ukraine-russia-prisoners-sentsov-idUKKCN1VS079|title=Filmmaker Sentsov, 24 Ukrainian sailors in Russia-Ukraine prisoner...|date=2019-09-07|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-09-07|language=en|archive-date=2019-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001234713/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ukraine-russia-prisoners-sentsov-idUKKCN1VS079|url-status=dead}} Russia released Oleksandr Kolchenko and same day he returned to Kyiv where he - and other returning prisoners - was welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.{{cite web|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-razom-z-usiyeyu-ukrayinoyu-mi-povernemo-ne-tilki-l-57145|title=President: Together with all Ukraine we will return not only people, but also our territories|website=Official website of the President of Ukraine|language=en|access-date=2019-09-07|archive-date=2021-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122170405/https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-razom-z-usiyeyu-ukrayinoyu-mi-povernemo-ne-tilki-l-57145|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/what-we-know-about-33-ukrainian-political-prisoners-that-russia-might-release.html|title=What we know about 35 Ukrainian political prisoners released from Russia {{!}} KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice|date=2019-09-06|website=KyivPost|access-date=2019-09-07|archive-date=2022-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120063229/https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/what-we-know-about-33-ukrainian-political-prisoners-that-russia-might-release.html|url-status=live}}

The swap and release of prisoners was welcomed by American,{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-ukraine-exchange-prisoners-in-bid-to-ease-tension-between-the-two-nations/2019/09/07/f5015376-d146-11e9-b29b-a528dc82154a_story.html|title=Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners in bid to ease tension between the two nations|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2019-09-07|archive-date=2019-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908164751/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-ukraine-exchange-prisoners-in-bid-to-ease-tension-between-the-two-nations/2019/09/07/f5015376-d146-11e9-b29b-a528dc82154a_story.html|url-status=live}} French and German leaders and leaders of international organizations such as NATO,{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_168599.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=Statement by NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu|last=NATO|author-link=NATO|date=2019-09-07|website=NATO|access-date=2019-09-07|archive-date=2022-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116200948/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_168599.htm?selectedLocale=en|url-status=live}} OSCE{{cite web|url=https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/429335|title=OSCE Media Freedom Representative welcomes release of Sentsov, Sushchenko and Vyshinsky, thanks both countries for this achievement|last=OSCE|author-link=OSCE|date=2019-09-07|website=OSCE - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe|access-date=2019-09-07|archive-date=2019-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909071745/https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/429335|url-status=live}} and regional (European Parliament).{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/07/world/europe/russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap.html|title=Russia and Ukraine Swap Dozens of Prisoners, 'the First Step to Stop the War'|last=Nechepurenko, Karasz|first=Ivan, Palko|date=2019-09-07|website=The New York Times|access-date=2019-09-07|archive-date=2019-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907103003/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/07/world/europe/russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-ukraine-exchange-prisoners-in-bid-to-ease-tension-between-the-two-nations/2019/09/07/f5015376-d146-11e9-b29b-a528dc82154a_story.html|title=Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners in bid to ease tension between the two nations|last=Englund|first=Will|date=2019-09-07|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2019-09-07|archive-date=2019-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908164751/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-ukraine-exchange-prisoners-in-bid-to-ease-tension-between-the-two-nations/2019/09/07/f5015376-d146-11e9-b29b-a528dc82154a_story.html|url-status=live}}

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kolchenko had undergone combat training in Kyiv in the spring and then signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He fights in the south of the country. In April he got married.{{in lang|ru}} [https://ru.krymr.com/a/bolshoy-obmen-2019-krymchane-polituzniki-krym-ukraina-rossiya-voyna/32022485.html Из застенок Кремля ‒ на войну: экс-политузники из Крыма через два года после обмена], Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (7 September 2022)

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• [http://solidarityua.info/en/ Solidarity Committee with the Crimean Political Prisoners: Kolchenko, Sentsov and Afanasiev]
• [http://alexandrekoltchenko.wesign.it/en Supporting campaign for Alexander Kolchenko]
• [http://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/2015/08/28/step-up-the-campaign-to-free-kolchenko-and-free-sentsov/ Kolchenko and Sentsov at Ukraine solidarity campaign]
• [http://anarchistnews.org/content/join-international-solidarity-campaign-alexander-kolchenko International anarchist solidarity campaign for Alexander Kolchenko]
• {{YouTube|id=k5VxDhQlC7U|title=From Crimea to Siberia: How Russia is Tormenting Political Prisoners Sentsov and Kolchenko}}, documentary by Hromadske.TV

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kolchenko, Olexandr}}

Category:1989 births

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Category:People from Simferopol

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