Comment from Daria Morozova following Minsk meeting

Comments and statements of the Ombudsman News

The meeting of the Humanitarian Subgroup of 11.12.2020 Ответственность за распитие алкоголя в запрещенных местах и за появление в общественных местах в нетрезвом виде was focused on the discussion of the exchange list. I regret to say that the negotiations were not fruitful.

We reminded the Ukrainian side that it is necessary to carry out verification. Many of the detainees were not offered to participate in the prisoner exchange. Also, despite previous discussions within the Humanitarian Subgroup meetings regarding a mandatory provision of guarantees of procedural “clearance” of subjects to the exchange, the official Kiev has not made any attempts in that cause. The principled position of the Republic is that the Ukrainian side exempts persons to be exchanged from criminal responsibility in order to protect and fulfil their human rights.

We again call on the Ukrainian side to demonstrate political will and initiative to unblock the process and take real action towards the release of detainees.