Humanitarian subgroup in talks over prisoner exchange, humanitarian corridors, search for the missing

Donetsk, Jul 21 – DAN. The Contact Group humanitarian subgroup was the first to open Minsk platform talks via video conference on Tuesday, the Donetsk People’s Republic Ombudswoman’s Office press service reported.

“The working group on humanitarian issues of the Contact Group on settling the Donbass conflict is having a session,” the report said. “The talks are being held via video conference.”

The release and handover of persons held in connection with the conflict tops the agenda, the press service said. It is planned to consider the next phase of the exchange and analyse the situation with dropping criminal prosecution against the persons who were exchanged in December 2019 and April 2020.

The agenda is also focused on setting up “humanitarian corridors” for citizens to cross the contact line for humanitarian reasons or other circumstances during the quarantine introduced as a COVID-19 lockdown measure.  The humanitarian group will consider safety measures and proper hygiene on crossing point premises.

The discussion on stepping up the search for the missing will be followed up.

The groups on security and humanitarian, political and economic issues plan to meet on Tuesday. The Contact Group will sum up the results of the negotiations on July 22.*jk

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