Sentsov and sailors are free: prisoners exchanged between Ukraine and Russia. A PHOTO. VIDEO

On Saturday, 7 September, a long-awaited exchange of prisoners took place between Russia and Ukraine. Writes about it with the BBC.

Фото: Depositphotos

How it was

In the first half of the day, the Ukrainian plane arrived at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport, and the plane of the special flight detachment (SLO) “Russia” landed at Kiev’s Boryspil airport.

Two buses with Ukrainians participating in the exchange approached the Ukrainian plane at Vnukovo.

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At the same time, buses with Russian citizens detained in Ukraine arrived at the Boryspil airport in Kyiv, who later took off on a special flight to Moscow.

At the airport, Ukrainian released prisoners were met by relatives, relatives, friends and journalists. Politicians were also present, in particular, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, writes "Ukrainian Truth".

On leaving the plane Zelensky shook hands with every Ukrainian who returned to his homeland.

A Russian special flight carrying persons held in Ukraine landed at Vnukovo in Moscow at 13:28 local time.

What is the exchange formula?

A total of 70 people were exchanged (according to the “35 for 35” formula).

35 Ukrainians arrived in Ukraine as part of the exchange, including political prisoners Oleg Sentsov, Alexander Kolchenko, Vladimir Balukh, Roman Suschenko, Nikolai Karpyuk, Stanislav Klikh, Pavel Grib, Evgeny Panov, Arthur Panov, Eden Bekirov, Nikolai Sizanovich, as well as those captured by Russia from Strait of Kerch sailors.

On the subject: How do political prisoners Ukrainians Oleg Sentsov and Alexander Kolchenko live in Russian colonies?

Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov was convicted in 2015 for 20 years, allegedly for preparing a terrorist attack in Crimea. The issue of Sentsov’s exchange was complicated by the fact that in Moscow he was considered a citizen of Russia, but the convict himself insisted on Ukrainian citizenship. In the colony, Sentsov went on an 145-day hunger strike.

According to the results of the exchange, 35 prisoners also returned to Russia, writes about this "TSN".

Among them, Vladimir Tsemakh, who commanded the air defense of the city of Snezhnoye in 2014; former head of RIA Novosti-Ukraine Kirill Vishinsky, who during the annexation of Crimea worked as a journalist on the peninsula and justified Russia’s actions; Evgeny Mefedov is a citizen of Russia. participant of the Anti-Maidan in Odessa; Maxim Odintsov is a Ukrainian military man who, after the annexation of Crimea, defected to Russia.

Also, the Ukrainian military man Alexander Baranov, who was recognized as a deserter; Alexander Rakushin is a Ukrainian military man accused of collaborating with Russian intelligence services; former Berkut member, participant in the events in Crimea Alexander Satarov; Russian citizen, FSB agent Igor Kimakovsky; Russian citizen, Russian reserve lieutenant Alexey Sedikov.

The list for exchange also included Yulia Prosolova, a Ukrainian recruited by Russian intelligence services; Russian serviceman Viktor Ageev, participants in anti-Ukrainian rallies, citizens of Ukraine Elena Bobova, Valery Pikalov, Denis Khitrov and citizen of Moldova Petr Melnichuk; Stanislav Yezhov, accused of espionage and collaboration with Russian intelligence services, worked as a translator for the former Prime Minister of Ukraine Vladimir Groysman.

In addition, Alexander Valehidis, a Russian citizen convicted of espionage, also went to Russia; ex-SBU employee who leaked classified information, Andrey Vaskovsky; Vladimir Galichy - ex-deputy of the Sevastopl City Council, who voted for the annexation of Crimea to Russia; Sergei Gnatyev and Sergei Egorov - Ukrainian and Russian, convicted of participation in illegal armed groups; Arkady Zhidkikh is a Russian citizen who was on the territory of Donbass during the military operations.

Among the prisoners, Russian citizens accused of espionage, Olga Kovalis and Pavel Chernykh, also took part in the exchange; Ukrainians who were also accused of spying, Dmitry Korenovsky, Viktor Fedorov, Yuri Lomako and Antonina Radionova; Sergey Lazarev - citizen of Ukraine, Russian agent, colonel of the Ukrainian Air Force; Denis Sidorov is a Russian who took part in military operations in the Donbass.

Also, 5 citizens of Ukraine went to Russia, information about whom could not be found - Alexander Tarasenko, Aslan Baskhanov, Nikolay Eremin, Andrey Kostenko and Oleg Khomenko.

How to prepare for the exchange

News about the intensification of exchange negotiations between Moscow and Kiev began to appear back in August. Initially, it was planned to make an exchange according to the “33 for 33” formula, but later other agreements were reached.

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It was also originally planned that the exchange would not affect Oleg Sentsov, however on August 29 it became known that Sentsov sent from the colony Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug to Moscow.

On August 28, the Kiev Court of Appeal softened the preventive measure for the head of RIA Novosti-Ukraine, Kirill Vyshinsky, accused of high treason. He was released from the pre-trial detention center on personal recognizance.

Vyshinsky stated that he would not participate in the exchange of prisoners, but a copy of his consent to participate in the mutual release of persons was soon made public, and in a statement he confirmed his willingness to leave Ukraine.

Agreement on the exchange of prisoners was reached after the first a telephone conversation between the presidents of Russia and Ukrainewhich took place on July 11.

On August 30, news began to appear on the network that an exchange between Kiev and Moscow had already taken place. The source of these rumors was a post on Facebook by Anna Islamova, an employee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The repost of the record by Islamova was also made by the new Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Ryaboshapka.

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However, in Ukraine this information was not confirmed, while in Russia they completely refrained from commenting. Sources then said that the exchange did not take place, since it takes time to process the documents.

According to other sources, the exchange did not take place due to the fact that the Russian side at the last moment demanded the release of Vladimir Tsemakh, who commanded the air defense of the city of Snezhnoye at the moment when the Malaysian Boeing was shot down on July 17, 2014.

On 3 of September, a Ukrainian court extended Tsemakh’s arrest, but a day later, on 5 of September, decided to release him from custody. On the same day, there were reports that Ukraine agreed to add it to the list of exchanged persons.

On September 5, Medvedchuk flew to Vladivostok, where the Eastern Economic Forum (WEF) was held. He said that negotiations on the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine are nearing completion, and said that he would like to meet with the President of Russia.

Putin himself at a forum meeting said that Russia was approaching the final direct negotiations with Ukraine on the exchange of prisoners, and noted that the exchange will be “large-scale”. At the same time, Putin noted that it was “quite difficult for Russia to make decisions regarding specific people,” but did not name their names.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Sixth birthday in captivity: how the world congratulated Oleg Sentsov on the 43 anniversary

How do political prisoners Ukrainians Oleg Sentsov and Alexander Kolchenko live in Russian colonies?

More than 100 days of Sentsov's hunger strike: what you need to know about the Ukrainian victim and other record hunger strikes

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