Kiev detains former prisoners while assuring there’s no criminal prosecution – Morozova

Donetsk, Jul 22 – DAN. The humanitarian subgroup at the talks on Tuesday failed to clarify the issue of dropping criminal prosecution against  former prisoners who had been released during prisoner exchanges; Kiev detains them at the first opportunity while making assurances that they have nothing to fear in Ukraine, Donetsk Republic ombudswoman Darya Morozova said on Tuesday.

“The group discussed the dropping of charges against the persons who were set free during the prisoner swaps on December 29, 2019 and April 16, 2020. Ukraine’s position is unclear as it maintains that these persons do not require protection in the Ukrainian territory. It alleges that the persons in question can freely cross the Ukrainian border without fearing criminal prosecution, but the recent detention of Sergey Pastukhov, a former exchange participant, proves otherwise,” Morozova said in comments on the outcome of the Tuesday negotiations.

At present, Ukraine has not dropped criminal prosecution against the detainees passed to the DPR in the last two exchanges. On December 29, 2019, and April 16, 2020  Kiev passed to the DPR 61 and ten persons, respectively.*jk