The release was the effect of efforts made by the Ukrainian authorities and continuous actions by the international community, which categorically called on the Russian authorities to release the prisoners. The detention of the prisoners by the Russian Federation violated the international law and contradicted universal human values and the rules of a civilised world.

Among the released prisoners are Ukrainian sailors seized in the Kerch Strait in November 2018 and persons actively opposing the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the Russian Federation’s intervention in Donbass. We also welcome the return to his country of Oleg Sentsov, a film director and the last year’s laureate of the Pro Dignitate Humana prize awarded by the Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. The award honours the full of sacrifice and uncompromising actions in defence of people who are persecuted, as well as the unwavering attitude of protecting individual rights and respecting human dignity.

Poland was part of the international efforts to release the Ukrainian citizens detained in Russia through a resolution adopted by the Polish Sejm on 15 June 2018, resolutions and debates at the European Parliament, initiated jointly with other countries, a briefing at the UN Security Council on the situation in Ukraine on 29 May 2018, a report for the International Criminal Court of April 2016, as well as an intervention at the forum of the OSCE.

Today, we join the families of the prisoners in celebration. We wish the released a speedy recovery and a return to full professional activity. We hope that the negotiated agreement will lead to further steps towards the de-escalation the conflict in Donbass and a lasting end of the acts of war in Ukraine.

 

MFA Press Office

Photo Tymon Markowski / MFA