Mutual release of the detained persons may be evidence of the fact that relations between Ukraine and Russia “can be different,” said Murphy

Photo: EPA (archive)

Us Senator from the Democratic party Chris Murphy hopes that the expected in the near future the exchange of detainees between Ukraine and Russia will free more people.

This opinion he expressed during a conversation with journalists on 5 September in Kiev, commenting on the issue of the release of a probable witness of the crash of MH17 in the sky over Donbas in July 2014, the former head of the “brigade of air defence of DNR” Vladimir Tzemach, said the Agency “Interfax-Ukraine”.

“As a rule, we do not comment on court decisions, but we hope that after consultations of the President Zelensky Vladimir Putin will reduce the stress in the relationship, and hope that in the future an even greater number of Ukrainian hostages and prisoners of war being held in Russia, will be freed,” said Murphy.

Mutual release of the detained persons may be evidence of the fact that relations between Ukraine and Russia “can be different”, he said.

“Still remain serious questions “of life and death”, but the release of the hostages is an important, major step,” said the Senator.

Media reported that Moscow and Kiev have reached a preliminary agreement on the exchange of detained persons. “Kommersant” wrote that about 30 detained in Russia Ukrainians, including 24 sailors may be pardoned by the decree of the President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in exchange for the release of Russians prisoners in Ukraine.

Former Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko has suggested that the exchange will take place in the format of “35 by 35”.

The night of 30 August the chief editor of radio station “Echo of Moscow” Alexei Venediktov said that the plane with the freed Ukrainians in the framework of the exchange of detainees early in the morning to fly to Kiev. In social networks, the media and Telegram channels also wrote that the exchange is already happening.

In the Office of the President of Ukraine reported that the process of exchange of detainees continues, information about its completion is not true. Relatives of political prisoners and prisoners of war sailors, who in the morning arrived at the airport in Kiev to meet with relatives, went home.

Assistant to the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak September 2, stressed that “there is great hope” that the exchange happen in a very short time. According to “Interfax”, the exchange may take place on 7 September.