Lubinets suggested that Russia should change the principle of exchanges: the one who is in captivity longer gets released earlier
Kyiv • UNN
The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights noted that Ukraine has a separate list of Ukrainian military personnel who were captured before the full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian side suggested that the Russian side introduce new approaches to the exchange of prisoners of war. For example, those who have been in captivity longer get released earlier. Ukraine has a separate category of military personnel who have been held captive from 2014 and not a single one has been returned. This was stated by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets during a press conference, according to a correspondent of UNN.
The journalist noted that in Makiivka, there are 50 people left in colony No. 32 who were prepared for exchange in 2019. Among them there are 10-12 prisoners of war who were captured in 2018, 2019. They were prepared for an exchange that did not take place.
When asked what category these prisoners of war fell into and why they were not being released, Lubinets replied: "They fell into the category of those whom we are trying to take away as soon as possible. That is, a separate category of those who have been in Russian captivity since 2014 before the start of the full-scale aggression. Why don't they give them back? Only because of Russia's position. This applies to both prisoners of war and civilians. We have not returned a single person from this group of prisoners of war.
He noted that Ukraine has a separate list of prisoners of war from 2014 to 2022.
"No one has been returned. I don't understand what is the principled position, the attitude towards our prisoners of war who have been in captivity since 2014. I see the same problem with them as with the defenders of Mariupol. I do not single out any military unit. I always say that the defenders of Mariupol, where there were representatives of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, border guards, all of them are treated separately by the Russian authorities. They are delaying the process of their return as much as possible, making it impossible," Lubinets said.
The Ombudsman said he did not know the reason, but we can guess.
"I generally proceeded from what I suggested to the Russian side: okay, let's step back, you have your own criteria, we have the Geneva Conventions. Let's just move away from some of the established practices and start perhaps new approaches. The one who stays in captivity longer gets out earlier. Is that clear to everyone? Yes, it is clear. Is it fair to everyone? I think it is fair. If prisoners of war have been held for several years, then let's release them first," Lubinets said.
He emphasized that the injustice regarding the exchange of prisoners is happening solely because of the position of the Russian Federation.
"When you hand over a long list of people we have in our databases without any explanation, and then they say they won't give anyone up... After a while, they give us three people. We ask, what about the rest? They say: well, we are ready to confirm these three, we will think about the rest," Lubinets said.
