Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Ukrainian Political Prisoner every year on January 12. Yesterday, a petition was registered on the website of the President’s Office to award the title of Hero of Ukraine (posthumously) to Gennadiy Afanasiev. Afanasiev was a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a former political prisoner, and a fighter for Ukrainian Crimea.

In 2014, Gennadiy Afanasyev was imprisoned by the kremlin for his involvement in public resistance against the Russian occupation of Crimea. He was released in 2016 as part of an exchange and later served as a pro bono special representative for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, working to secure the release of prisoners. Additionally, he initiated free IT courses for veterans and their families.

Hennadii Afanasiev volunteered to defend Ukraine from the invaders from the first day of the full-scale invasion. However, he unfortunately passed away on December 18, 2022, at the age of 32, in the Luhansk region near Bilohorivka. He was posthumously awarded the Order for Courage, III class.

You can endorse the petition here.