During a visit to Kyiv, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Belarusian delegation met with the leadership of Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
The body includes representatives of 22 state agencies, security structures and institutions, including military intelligence, the presidential office and the police. The Ukrainian side at the meeting included headquarters secretary, Brigadier General Dmytro Usov, head of the secretariat Bohdan Okhrimenko and his team, as well as Ukraine’s ambassador-at-large for relations with Belarus’s democratic forces Yaroslav Chornogor.
Tsikhanouskaya thanked the headquarters for cooperation in organising the safe evacuation of Belarusian political prisoners released with US assistance. The headquarters organised escort and support for those released and maintained contact with representatives of Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and the United Transitional Cabinet.
The sides discussed the situation of Belarusian volunteers fighting for Ukraine and efforts to resolve their problems. Particular attention was paid to the fate of Belarusian servicemen Yan “Trombli” Dziurbeika and Siarhei “Kleshch” Dzyohtseu, who are being held in Russian captivity, and possibilities for their exchange. The parties also discussed prospects for the release or exchange of political prisoners in Belarusian prisons convicted for supporting Ukraine, as well as the situation involving Vasil Veramejchyk and other hostages. Tsikhanouskaya’s Office noted that there are certain restrictions related to international conventions that complicate exchanges of civilians for military personnel involving a third country.
The sides also discussed cooperation aimed at stopping the recruitment of Belarusians into the Russian army. According to Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, many Belarusians joining the Russian military do so for financial reasons, and 400 Belarusian citizens fighting for Russia have already been killed.
During the meeting, a video call took place between Tsikhanouskaya and three Belarusian citizens who had fought for Russia, were taken prisoner and are currently being held in a prisoner-of-war camp. Asked about their motivation, they said they had gone to war for money and now regretted it. Their fate remains uncertain because Belarus and Russia are not interested in securing their release or exchange.
Participants also agreed to exchange information about the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus. Pavel Latushka and his team at the National Anti-Crisis Management have collected evidence of forced transfers and will provide the materials to the Ukrainian side.
The sides agreed to establish a working group to continue cooperation.
