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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ukraine: Prisoner Swap Is Small but Significant Step toward Ending Conflict
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Washington - September 9, 2019 — In response to an exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia on September 7, Freedom House issued the following statement:
“The exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia is an important step toward reducing the human toll of this grueling conflict,” said Marc Behrendt, director of Europe and Eurasia programs at Freedom House. “Yet with more than 80 Ukrainian political prisoners still detained in Russia, including dozens of peaceful Crimean Tatar activists, justice is still elusive for many. Russia and Russian-backed forces in Donbas and Crimea should immediately release all remaining political prisoners and stop the politically motivated persecution of civic activists, journalists, peaceful believers in Islam, and others who have been subjected to trumped-up charges and show trials. The prisoner swap is significant for its impact on the lives of those affected, but it can have a broader impact if it leads both sides toward a renewed commitment to respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
Background:
On September 7, Ukraine and Russia swapped dozens of prisoners, some of whom had been held since 2014. Among those held by Russia and returned to Ukraine were Oleh Sentsov, a filmmaker and activist convicted on spurious terrorism charges, and Pavlo Hryb, an innocent teenager abducted in Belarus. Russia also returned the 24 Ukrainian sailors who were illegally detained in a naval confrontation in the Kerch Strait in 2018. In exchange for 11 political prisoners and the 24 sailors, Ukraine released dozens of individuals, including a man believed to be connected to the destruction of a civilian airliner over eastern Ukraine in 2014, as well as a Russian soldier captured in eastern Ukraine in 2017.
The Russian authorities and Russian-backed forces in Donbas and Crimea continue to hold at least 88 political prisoners, according to Ukrainian human rights advocates. By detaining and convicting many of them under Russian law, the Russian government has flouted international law and human rights principles. Among those still detained are:
Rustem Abiltarov
Tofik Abdulhaziiev
Eskender Abdulhaniiev
Vladlen Abdulkadyrov
Izet Abdullaiev
Teimur Abdullaiev
Uzeir Abdullaiev
Medzhyt Abdurahmanov
Rustem Abilev
Zevri Abseitov
Arsen Abhairov
Bilial Adilov
Raim Aivazov
Muslim Aliiev
Refat Alimov
Enver Ametov
Ernes Ametov
Osman Arifmemetov
Marlen Asanov
Farhod Bazarov
Akim Bekirov
Enver Bekirov
Remzi Bekirov
Memet Belialov
Oleksii Bessarabov
Rustem Vaitov
Valentyn Vyhivsky
Server Haziiev
Dzhemil Hafarov
Diliaver Hafarov
Kostiantyn Davydenko
Emil Dzhemadenov
Aider Dzhepparov
Arsen Dzhepparov
Volodymyr Dudka
Rustem Emiruseinov
Andrii Zahtei
Ruslan Zeytullaev
Server Zekiryaev
Tymur Ibrahimov
Riza Izetov
Rustem Ismailov
Edem Kadyrov
Eldar Kantemyrov
Yevhen Karakashev
Alim Karimov
Ihor Kyiashko
Andrii Kolomiiets
Emir-Usein Kuku
Hennadii Lymeshko
Enver Mamutov
Yunus Masharipov
Nariman Memedeminov
Remzi Memetov
Ruslan Mesutov
Yashar Muedinov
Seiran Murtaza
Server Mustafaiev
Ruslan Nahaiev
Enver Omerov
Riza Omerov
Erfan Osmanov
Yurii (Nuri) Prymov
Fevzi Sahandzhy
Ferat Saifullaiev
Aider Saledinov
Seiran Saliiev
Vadym Siruk
Seitveli Seitabdiiev
Enver Seitosmanov
Rustem Seithalilov
Edem Smailov
Maksym Sokurenko
Oleksii Stohnii
Eskender Suleimanov
Renat Suleimanov
Ruslan Suleimanov
Shaban Umerov
Lenur Khalilov
Oleh Chaban
Oleksii Chyrnii
Hlib Shablii
Rustem Sheihaliiev
Mykola Shyptur
Dmytro Shtyblikov
Oleksandr Shumkov
Viktor Shur
Asan Yanikov
Ukraine is rated Partly Free in Freedom in the World 2019
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and Partly Free in Freedom on the Net 2018
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Russia is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2019
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and Not Free in Freedom on the Net 2018
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Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization that supports democratic change, monitors the status of freedom around the world, and advocates for democracy and human rights.
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