MINSK, 28 October (BelTA) – The parties in the contact group on Ukraine reached an agreement to swap 20 captives, OSCE special representative in the trilateral contact group on Ukraine Martin Sajdik told media on 27 October, BelTA informs.
The Ukrainian side plans to release 11 persons, while the self-proclaimed republics will free nine prisoners. “The swap is scheduled for 29 October. Partaking in the exchange will be representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross,” said Martin Sajdik.
“A new life will begin for these people and their families. However, the parties to the conflict still hold a lot of captives. 20 persons are just a small part of them. I urge both the sides to find ways for releasing the rest of prisoners and illegally detained persons. The release of all the captives, and as I said there are many of them, was coordinated in February 2015 in line with the Minsk Agreements,” the OSCE special representative said.
Eight months have passed since these agreements (Minsk 2) were signed. “Many captives and their families live in fear and uncertainty. It must be stopped,” stressed Martin Sajdik.
