Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War has confirmed the return of 31 people who had been convicted in Belarus.
“In the course of successful negotiations with the Belarusian side, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, acting on the instructions of the President of Ukraine, succeeded in returning to Ukraine 31 citizens who had been held on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. Women and men detained in Belarus and sentenced to various prison terms — from two to eleven years — are returning to Ukraine. The youngest Ukrainian released today is 18 years old, and the oldest is 58. Among the freed civilians are individuals suffering from serious illnesses, including cancer,” the statement said.
The Ukrainian side expressed gratitude to the United States of America and to Donald Trump “for their effective work in securing the return of Ukrainian civilians and military personnel from the territory of Belarus and the Russian Federation.”
“We also thank all government bodies involved for their assistance and joint efforts. The freed Ukrainians will receive all necessary medical care and rehabilitation. The Coordination Headquarters continues its work. We are working to bring everyone home,” the headquarters added.
Earlier today, the press secretary of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Natallia Eismant, announced the pardon of 31 Ukrainian citizens, carried out under arrangements reached between Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Donald Trump.
“In furtherance of the arrangements reached between the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the President of the Republic of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and at the request of the Ukrainian side with the aim of creating conditions for resolving the armed conflict in the neighbouring state, the President has pardoned 31 citizens of Ukraine convicted of criminal offences on the territory of our country as a gesture of goodwill and guided by humanitarian principles. Right now, at this very moment, they are being handed over to the Ukrainian side,” she said.