Russia ignores most requests regarding Ukrainian prisoners - Ukrainian ombudsman
Photo: Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russia ignores most requests regarding the location of Ukrainian prisoners. As a result, Ukraine is seeking third countries willing to assist with this issue, stated the Ukrainian Parliament's Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets.
According to him, the Ombudsman’s office sends inquiries to Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, in which families of the missing request information about the whereabouts of their relatives.
However, Russia rarely provides information about Ukrainian citizens held under its control.
"A number of initiatives Russia ignores: it doesn't create mixed medical commissions, it is not interested in returning citizens of both countries under the Hochu k Svoim project, and does not provide information about the places where detained Ukrainians (both prisoners of war and civilians) are being held," Lubinets stated.
The Ombudsman also emphasized that Ukraine continues to search for third countries willing to participate in implementing the fourth point of the peace formula and show results by returning as many Ukrainians as possible, who are illegally held by Russia.
He added that as of today, Ukraine has managed to return 168 civilian citizens from Russian captivity.
Prisoner exchange
It was announced on August 15 that a strategy for the return of prisoners had been presented at the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
In particular, Ukraine will expand the negotiation group involved in preparing prisoner exchanges, adding six more agencies.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, stated that the priority for future exchanges with Russia will be severely wounded individuals, women, and all those who defended Azovstal.
Yesterday, it became known that Russia had agreed to a visit by Turkish ombudsman Şeref Malkoç to the locations where Ukrainian prisoners are held. The exact date of the visit has not yet been determined.
Recently, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha shared that one country is ready to become a patron state to help Ukrainians in Russian captivity. The Foreign Minister did not specify which country this is.
