(Kiev, 13 July, 1992) - Ukrainian human rights committee "Helsinki 90" distributed in Kiev an open letter addressed to Ukrainian president Mr Leonid Kravchuk, calling to pardon Sergej Vladimirovich Abakumov, born in 1953, habitant of Kerch city. This man was sentenced in September 1989 to death penalty on the accusation in raping and killing the 8 years old boy.

After the acquaintance with materials of this criminal case, the committee has serious doubts about Abakumov's fault. Moreover, the committee explored many violations of processional law during the preliminary investigation and trial. "Helsinki 90" accented also on the pressure from side of local press, which leaded the campaign against Abakumov and called him "the killer" some months before the trial. In particularly, the petition campaign for death sentence to him was organized in Abakumov's city before the trial. Human rights activists from "Helsinki 90" stated in their appeal, that case of Sergej Abakumov has also the political aspect, because he is known by many interventions in local press against corruption among city's leadership. This aspect was even not pointed during the trial.

In spite of the protests from side of both USSR General Prosecutor Mr Trubin and Ukrainian General Prosecutor Mr Shishkin, Supreme Court of Ukraine confirmed the death sentence to Sergej Abakumov.

Co-presidents of Helsinki 90 - Vasyl Lisovyj, Vasyl Ovsienko and Natalja Belitcer - call Mr Kravchuk, as a last instance, to pardon this prisoner.