JAILED communist Mikhail Kononovich thanked supporters who have protested in solidarity with Ukrainian political prisoners as the trial of him and his brother Alexander resumed on Monday. 

The brothers said that leftists are being persecuted in Ukraine for political reasons and praised those who held demonstrations in London, Madrid, Rome, Brussels and Belarus. 

They face life in prison on charges of “actions aimed at seizing state power,” although little evidence has been presented to back the claims.