PACE calls on Russia to establish permanent prisoner exchange mechanism with Ukraine
Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted a prisoner of war exchange (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution calling for the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war. In particular, Russia was urged to establish a special exchange mechanism.
The PACE resolution expressed deep concern about the dire situation of Ukrainian prisoners of war, who are "subjected to summary executions, widespread and systematic torture, and inhuman and degrading treatment, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity."
Against this backdrop, the Parliamentary Assembly called on the international community for urgent intervention and strongly urged all states to support negotiations aimed at accelerating the release and return of all prisoners of war.
PACE also appealed to Russia to respect international human rights and humanitarian law, as well as to uphold all conditions for the treatment of prisoners of war. This includes:
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The creation of special detention facilities, including prisoner of war camps and temporary and permanent transit camps;
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Providing prisoners with sufficient food, water, and medical care;
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Allowing prisoners to communicate with their families.
The resolution called for the establishment of a "structured permanent mechanism" to enable the prompt, safe, and regular identification, tracking, release, and return of all prisoners of war.
At the same time, PACE urges all states to prosecute Russian officials involved in war crimes and other offenses.
Prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia
During two rounds of negotiations in Istanbul, Ukraine and Russia agreed on large-scale exchanges of prisoners of war.
In particular, several rounds of prisoner exchanges have taken place over the past week.
On June 20, Ukraine managed to bring home wounded and seriously ill defenders. The exact number has not been publicly disclosed.
