07 December 2016 — Representatives of the Philippine Embassy in Moscow travelled to the Amur Region of Russia from November 27 to 30 to visit a Filipino currently serving a prison sentence in a penal colony there. The penal colony is located in a remote area in the region, 100 kilometers away from the nearest city.

Mr. Christian Baggas, the Embassy’s Assistance to Nationals Officer and Mr. Dmitry Khodzko, the Embassy’s Interpreter, visited and spoke to the Filipino national and provided him with food, clothing and several personal care items.  The Filipino national was sentenced to prison after a trail court judge found him guilty of killing another Filipino on board a ship. The ship was within Russian territorial waters at the time of the incident.

Mr. Baggas also conveyed messages from the Filipino national’s relative and committed to in turn convey the prisoner’s messages to his relatives back home. While at the penal colony, the Philippine Embassy Team met with relevant officials to try work out the early release of the Filipino national for good behavior, particularly the legal and procedural requirements.

The Philippine Embassy will continue to monitor and assist the Filipino national and work for his early release. Certain details have been omitted from this press release to protect the identity of the Filipino national and the specific location of the penal colony. END