Ukraine on Thursday said it would pardon and release 15 prisoners captured in separatist areas of eastern Ukraine as a way to start further prisoner swaps with pro-Russian rebels.
The prisoners will receive a presidential pardon and be returned home before the two sides meet for talks in Belarus next week, said Ukrainian lawmaker Iryna Gerashchenko, who heads the humanitarian committee.
Gerashchenko told reporters Thursday that “Ukraine is handing over 15 people from the list of 228 people,” many of whom are either elderly or sick.
She went on to say that Ukraine was prepared to release more prisoners, but demanded that the …read more
Source: Voice of America