Herashchenko: 113 Ukrainian prisoners are held by separatists in the Donbas
Both servicemen and civilians are being held captive
On the 6th of June, the First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Iryna Herashchenko, reported that 113 Ukrainian citizens are still held captive by separatists supported by Russia in the Donbas, Radio Svoboda reports.
"There are both servicemen and civilians. Separatists are trying to exchange the release of hostages for amnesty and are demanding that their leaders are pardoned. They have not provided any information as to where the hostages are and the representatives of humanitarian missions are not allowed access to them. In this regard, Russia is not implementing the Minsk Agreements," Herashchenko stated.
It was noted that based on the information provided by human rights groups that after the release of Nadiya Savchenko, Russia continues to keep at least 31 other Ukrainians in prison. These individuals are being persecuted for political reasons in Russia and in the occupied Crimea.
The release of prisoners is one of the provisions of the Minsk Agreements.
Herashchenko stated that fighters continue to conceal the location and the number of Ukrainian hostages.