Comment from Daria Morozova on exchange claims by Ukrainian representatives

Comments and statements of the Ombudsman Detention News

Eleven months after the large-scale exchange of December 27, 2017, the President of Ukraine “remembered” about his citizens. On November 11, following a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, Petro Poroshenko stated that the exchange process must be resumed.

I would like to note that the Donetsk People’s Republic has long been ready for the second stage of the exchange under the formula “all confirmed for all confirmed”, as we have repeatedly stated.  If the Ukrainian side really intends to resume this process, then it must, as a minimum, ensure that its authorized representatives participate in the next meeting of the Humanitarian Subgroup in Minsk. If the Ukrainian representatives are absent at the next meeting, we will regard this exchange statement as another publicity stunt of Mr. Poroshenko.

Mr. Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian representative to the Humanitarian Subgroup, has repeatedly stated in mass media that the second phase of the exchange can be performed under the formula “174 for 46”. Accordingly, I have requested clarification of the formula “174 for 46”. It would have been more appropriate if they had announced the formula at the Minsk talks first so that we could discuss it. Currently, we are waiting for an official response.   I do not rule out the possibility that we could perform the exchange under this formula, although the matter is subject to negotiation in due course. I would like to highlight that it is necessary that Ukrainian authorised representatives attend the meeting of the Subgroup and provide the exchange list, specifying names.