Kiev says prisoner info exchange is simple, has stalled it since March – Morozova

Donetsk, Nov 24 – DAN. Ukrainian representatives at the Contact Group humanitarian subgroup video conference on Tuesday suggested exchanging information on detainees, though they have been unable to send these data at the Donetsk People’s Republic request since March, DPR representative in the humanitarian subgroup, the Republic’s ombudswoman Darya Morozova said.

“Kiev’s negotiator (Galina Tretyakova – eds Donetsk News Agency) raised the issue of exchanging information on detainees. She said that the process was a “piece of cake” to either party. This message looks particularly ridiculous because up to date, Kiev has not given an answer to the DPR’s query about the status and whereabouts of citizens, which was sent back in March 2020,” Morozova said.

This position shows that Ukraine is not interested in new prisoner swaps. “All their announcements and speeches carried by the mass media are nothing more than window dressing,” she said.

Morozova reminded that Donetsk and Lugansk had demanded that Ukraine coordinate the road map for implementation of the Minsk Agreements and have it approved by Verkhovnaya Rada (parliament) in order to resume productive dialogue in Minsk. Ukraine has not responded.

The DPR and the LPR expect Ukraine to meet its commitments on dropping criminal charges against 50 people handed over to the DPR in 2019-2020 prisoner exchanges. “During the meeting, the subgroup coordinator (OSCE representative) repeatedly asked the Ukrainian representatives on progress in dropping criminal prosecution against the released citizens. Our opponents simply ignored the coordinator’s questions and calls,” the DPR omdudswoman said.

The previous prisoner exchange in Donbass took place in April 2020. Donetsk handed over nine people to Kiev and the latter passed ten people to Donetsk.*jk