Kiev’s proposal on prisoner exchange under the “five for five” format mentioned at the recent meeting of the Humanitarian Subgroup in Minsk is unacceptable. It contradicts the agreements concluded earlier, said DPR Ombudsman Daria Morozova.
“They (Ukrainian representatives – ed.) tried to put forward a proposition that they would release two Russian citizens as a gesture of goodwill by Independence Day demanding the DPR to release three Ukrainian servicemen, and we can choose three other people from the list. In fact, this is a 5 for 5 exchange. They sidetrack the sixth paragraph and implementation of the second stage of the exchange … This position is unacceptable for us,” said Morozova, commenting the results of Minsk negotiations.
Ombudsman explained that positive results of the meeting of the Humanitarian Subgroup can only be reached provided that Ukrainian representatives Victor Medvedchuk and Irina Gerashchenko attend the meetings.
DPR Ombudsman claimed that Kiev blocks the work of the Humanitarian Subgroup at Minsk negotiations. “Ukraine is not willing to work on the issue of missing persons. They are not willing to sign the Declaration against torture, as well. As regards the issue of persons detained before the conflict, the Ukrainian side does not make any decisions in that respect. So, all issues of the agenda have been blocked,” Morozova added.
In late December 2017, the first prisoner exchange for 15 months took place in Donbass. Parties to the conflict claimed that the process of release of detainees would continue. The second stage of the prisoner exchange was scheduled for the beginning of this year.
Source: RIA Novosti
