Poroshenko pleaded with CE to send mission to Russia for monitoring situation with Ukrainian prisoners. PHOTOS

President Petro Poroshenko met with EU Commissioner for Human Rights ‎Nils Muižnieks.

Сensor.NET reports citing presidential press service.

The head of state urged the EU commissioner to facilitate the release of Nadiia Savchenko and other Ukrainian political prisoners held in Russia.

"Criminal prosecution of Ukrainian citizens illegally held in Russia is politically motivated and contradicts generally accepted legislative regulations and principles. These cases have similar features that prove the existence of a very dangerous trend," Petro Poroshenko said.

The president addressed the Council of Europe with a request to send a special mission to Russia to monitor the situation with Ukrainians imprisoned in Russia.

"We must use every opportunity to control the situation with imprisoned Ukrainians and introduce other necessary mechanisms, in particular, Russia's monitoring by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture," Poroshenko stated.

In turn, Nils Muižnieks said he was following the situation with Nadiia Savchenko and other imprisoned Ukrainians.

Poroshenko elaborated on a disastrous humanitarian situation in the Donbas caused by the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine. He emphasized that Russia, as an occupying state, bears full responsibility for human rights violations in that region.

The president also expressed concern over the oppression and abduction of Crimean Tatars. The last flagrant example - the prohibition of the Mejlis - contradicts all norms of international law.

Nils Muižnieks noted: "I am worried by the attempt to ban the Mejlis as an extremist organization. It may affect thousands of people who will be associated with extremists under Russia's legislation and face oppression."

Poroshenko also thanked the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for imposing sanctions against Russia for its actions in Crimea and the Donbas.