More than 5,000 Ukrainians are held in detention facilities in Russia. This was stated by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Valeriya Lutkovska in an exclusive interview with 112.ua.
She stressed that she did not discuss the topic of the recent exchange of hostages, which was held on December 27 in the Donbas, with the Russian ombudsman.
"With Tatyana Moskalkova, Russian Ombudsman we actively cooperate, but it’s due to the fact that today there are more than 5 thousand of Ukrainians held in custody in the territory of Russian Federation. This is the main issue of our cooperation. Tatyana Moskalkova addresses me regarding those citizens who are in custody on the territory of Ukraine, "she said.
Lutkovska also did not confirm or deny the information about participation of the Russian side in the recent exchange of hostages.
"It's hard for me to say whether the Russian side took part in it. I can say about those present at the Mayorsk checkpoint at the time when we were preparing buses and carrying out the procedure with representatives of the so-called "LNR", and who then came to the representatives of the so-called "DNR." Those people really took an active part in prisoners’ exchange, "the Ombudsman explained.
As it was reported earlier Zarytska claimed that some of the released Ukrainian hostages in Donbas refused from the rehabilitation due to the unexpected pressure from the public and mass media
All details of the exchange process revealed at the chronicle of the long-awaited event.