Donetsk republic calls on Kiev to complete prisoner exchange on ‘all for all’ basis

The Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) calls on Kiev to carry out a prisoner exchange on “all for all” basis and adopt a law on amnesty, DPR’s envoy to the Contact Group Denis Pushilin said on Tuesday.

“We call on representatives of Ukraine to exchange prisoners as soon as possible on the ‘all for all’ basis, to secure pardon and amnesty for others by adopting an appropriate law,” Pushilin said.

He noted that there is understanding on prisoner exchange in the Contact Group on settlement of situation in Ukraine. “The issue of prisoner exchange remains very important. And there is certain understanding here,” the envoy said.

There are currently 40 prisoners “from Ukrainian paramilitary groups” in DPR, Pushilin added. “Investigation is underway into activities of 28 prisoners who committed grave crimes. Proceedings have been completed for other 12 people, and they are ready to be exchanged,” he explained.
“The Ukrainian side, in turn, handed us their lists of prisoners ready for exchange,” Pushilin continued. He urged the Ukrainian authorities to implement points 5 and 6 of the Minsk accords from 12 February 2015.

“It is necessary to move in the direction of exchanging prisoners on ‘all for all’ basis, but a law on amnesty is needed for that. Without this law, it will be impossible to free our supporters who remain political prisoners on the territory of Ukraine,” he concluded.