The Ukrainian side at a meeting of the Tripartite Contact Group on Donbas settlement in Minsk will not fall for blackmail on the part of militants who demand that Ukraine include in the swap list persons suspected in the murder of the “Heavenly Hundred” heroes during the Revolution of Dignity, according to Iryna Gerashchenko, the country’s humanitarian envoy in Minsk talks and First Deputy Parliament Speaker.
“Minsk. In the humanitarian subgroup, I urged to immediately unblock the issue of hostage release. After all, it’s been 14 months since the latest release," Gerashchenko wrote on Facebook.
"We are ready to hand over all those whom the Ukrainian legislation allows, to take back confirmed Ukrainians, but we will not fall for blackmail, we cannot release those who are beyond the framework of Minsk agreements - for example, ‘Berkut’ operatives suspected of killing the Heavenly Hundred heroes," said Gerashchenko.
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She also noted that the Ukrainian delegation is doing its utmost to free the hostages and have the whole process unblocked as soon as possible.
"I feel sincerely sorry for the people now living in the occupied territories. You can’t even imagine, what kind of people are at the helm there today...” Gerashchenko added.
She summed up: "We will free the hostages, liberate the territories. We surely will. I believe in this.”
Read alsoRFE/RL: Putin promises to discuss prisoner swap with separatist leaders in Ukraine's east
On November 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed he would do his best to have a prisoner exchange with Ukraine carried out.
"I will do all I can and speak with the leadership of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics. I hope what you are proposing will be done as soon as possible," Putin said, responding to a request to facilitate the exchange voiced by Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of the “Ukrainian Choice” movement, deemed Putin’s political operative in Ukraine.
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It should be noted that the Ukrainian party to the Tripartite Contact Group on Donbas settlement in Minsk has repeatedly offered a "313 by 88" hostage swap scheme.