Representatives of Ukraine and so-called LPR agree to exchange prisoners
Representatives of Ukraine and the so-called Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) have agreed to exchange a total of 12 prisoners on the 26th of February. This exchange will occur in Minsk and is a result of the Trilateral Contact Group's meeting on the conflict settlement in the Donbas region. This was reported to Interfax by the OSCE representative, Martin Sajdik.
“On the 26th of February, the release of another group of people is planned,” Sajdik said. He also reported that on February 20th, representatives of Kiev and the so-called Donbas People’s Republic (DPR) had exchanged prisoners. In that case, a total of 10 prisoners freed, of which six were from Ukraine and four were from the so-called DPR.
Darka Olifer, the Press Secretary of former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, has said that four people will be freed from the so-called LPR. “On the 26th of February, four people who were held captive in the LPR will be freed,” Olifer posted on Facebook.
“We also demand that experts of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders be allowed to examine hostages. These include Ukrainian hostages held in the Donbas region, as well as prisoners held in districts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. International humanitarian organizations should be given unhindered access to the Donbas region," Olifer added.
“With regard to the elections issue in Donetsk and Lugansk, Ukraine’s position is clear. These elections are only possible after the withdrawal of foreign military units from Ukraine, and the implementation of Ukrainian control over the Ukrainian-Russian border,” Olifer concluded.
The next meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group will be held in Minsk on the 2nd of March. The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Normandy four in Paris is scheduled for the following day. During the latter meeting, key decisions on political affairs, security and humanitarian aspects will be discussed.