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bountyofbeads · 4 years

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As we ponder whether Donald Trump should be convicted of crimes in the Senate’s impeachment trial, I highly recommend you read this thread by Christopher Miller @ChristopherJM on the prisoner swap that took place today between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists. It's well worth the time.

Ahead of a much-anticipated prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia-led separatists expected on Sunday, Dec. 29, here’s a good rundown by @Hromadske of some of the Ukrainian captives Kyiv hopes to get back. /1 https://t.co/17IZBkxOtV

Meanwhile, much debate in Ukrainian society over whether to include several Berkut riot police accused of murdering Euromaidan revolutionaries. Russia/separatists want them in POW swap. Giving them over would free Ukrainians but mean no justice for families of revolutionaries. /2

More on the five Berkut riot police officers in trial for murder who do appear to be on the list of prisoners to be exchanged tomorrow. /3 https://t.co/A5dSb92Ihq

To get its wrongly imprisoned countrymen back in the September prisoner exchange, Ukraine had to make a big sacrifice in handing over Volodymyr Tsemakh, a Ukrainian separatist commander who’s a suspect in the MH17 downing. This time around, another sacrifice might be needed. /4

Interesting! Also rumored to be on list of prisoners to be exchanged by Ukraine tomorrow is Brazilian citizen Rafael Lusvarghi, who fought for Donetsk separatists. In 2018, I chronicled his strange story after I found him hiding out in a Kyiv /5 monastery. https://t.co/RJMsZ3HKU2 https://t.co/OHo4ZwOkfp

Here's the link to the @HromadskeRadio story about Lusvarghi's possible inclusion (h/t @ukrreporter): /6 https://t.co/Z52w4GPFJj

Ukrainian perspective regarding the swap of riot police charged with murders of Euromaidan revolutionaries: “A tragedy for the families..., no justice. But there’s also pain for families waiting for the return of their living loved ones held captive.” /7

https://t.co/ifV1n8ZkhU

Another Ukrainian perspective on the issue: /8

https://t.co/wqwmzLbCGX

And the prisoner swap in eastern Ukraine is underway. /9 https://t.co/u0Wu2nmZwn

Photos of Ukrainian captives freed today, via President Zelensky’s press secretary: /10

https://t.co/2VmETRssap

The prisoner exchange again forced Ukraine and President Zelensky to make a hard choice. This time it had to release five riot police officers charged with the 2014 murders of Euromaidan protesters in order to get many of its other people back. /11

Some Ukrainian thoughts on that: /12 https://t.co/X95zBma6el

More thoughts from another Ukrainian:

/13

https://t.co/TrPAfpLbqS

And more comments on today’s prisoner swap in eastern Ukraine, from @dkaleniuk and @ANTAC_ua: /14 https://t.co/BFWhhEHB3v

Live streamof prisoner exchange shows a freed woman with the words “My country is Ukraine" and the Ukrainian trident scrawled on her jacket. /15 https://t.co/Ia99wJODzf

“Criminals in exchange for heroes” is how Ukrainian news magazine Novoye Vremya (@tweetsNV) is describing those included in today’s prisoner swap in E Ukraine. “Criminals” refers to the 5 riot police accused of murdering Euromaidan protesters. /16 https://t.co/PQgHo11WS4

Zelensky’s office releases more photos showing freed Ukrainian prisoners eating lunch and finally meeting family members after months and years in captivity. /17

https://t.co/Cf6GmvJ6pX

Prisoner swap in eastern Ukriane is over. Reports from Kyiv and Russia-led separatists say Ukraine exchanged 123 people (60 to Donetsk and 63 to Lugansk) for 77 people. Still waiting to hear whether high-profile Ukrainians like @RFERL journalist Stanislav Aseyev were released. /18

A critical Ukrainian take on today's POW swap. @HopkoHanna, a former MP: "Revanche, betrayal and capitulation packaged as a move to save human lives." /19 https://t.co/6NbRwuIqIf

Lawyer Valentin Rybin confirms to that Kyiv handed over Brazilian fighter for the DNR Rafael Lusvarghi in today's prisoner swap. He faced 13 years in Ukrainian prisoner for terrorism. More in quoted tweet: /20 https://t.co/cQDuyt448G

Excellent news! @RFERL journalist Stanislav Aseyev appears among those handed over to Kyiv in today's prisoner exchange! He was held for 2.5 years in Donetsk. /21

https://t.co/F3mnV6a5NZ

President Zelensky's office confirms POW swap is over in eastern Ukraine. Says 76 Ukrainians have been freed and returned to government-controlled territory. No confirmation of how many Kyiv handed over. More details to come.

/22

https://t.co/uJMhursSJb

US Embassy Kyiv statement on today's prisoner exchange. "Recognizing that Russia's ongoing aggression confronts Ukraine's leadership with difficult choices, we stand in solidarity with our Ukrainian partners..."/23

A Zelensky ally and @NSDC_ua advisor confirms final tally: Kyiv got back 76 people held prisoner and gave over 127.

/24

https://t.co/GnCPYTBgVe

Quick take on today's POW swap in Ukraine: That it was even carried out & done smoothly is a sign there's still momentum toward solving the war. But conditions for swap to go forward, hard to swallow for many Ukrainians, show Russia still holds the cards in any settlement talk. /25

Among the 76 Ukrainians returned to Kyiv are 64 civilians, named here (in Ukrainian), and 12 military personnel.

/26

https://t.co/KPdVZBzPJE

Reaction from Moscow and Berlin to prisoner swap. /27 https://t.co/aFej2qW3Dk

This is second report I've seen about Artur "Dingo" Kurmakayev (aka Artur Krinari) included in today's prisoner swap. No official confirmation yet. Kurmakayev, you'll recall, was a hitman who got caught in Kyiv. Here's a great piece on him by @CarlSchreck: /28 https://t.co/MSDrO3Fdm4

Great news: "@RFERL welcomed the release today of Stanislav Aseyev and Oleh Halaziuk, two contributors to its Ukrainian Service who were taken captive by Russia-backed separatists in 2017 because of their reporting from Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region." /29 https://t.co/zKtSflJ7Wt

Indeed. Let's not forgot the many Ukrainians who remain wrongfully imprisoned in Crimea. /30 https://t.co/umJchrZufa

Newly released Ukrainians aboard a government jet and on their way to Kyiv. Photos shared by Zelensky’s office./31 https://t.co/Yp8LXWWoY6

Zelensky is yet to release a public statement on today’s prisoner exchange and his office has declined to say whether the president notified the families of Euromaidan protesters about the release and handover of 5 riot police accused of their murders./32 https://t.co/GumaQO6Z5f https://t.co/5BXaKWGNja

Joyous scenes at Kyiv’s Boryspil International Airport, where Ukrainians released in today’s prisoner exchange are greeted by loved ones./33 https://t.co/lBgkUmUHzs

President Zelensky also greeted the Ukrainians released today on the airport’s tarmac./34 https://t.co/RRemO3QP2d

In statement at Kyiv’s Boryspil airport, Zelensky says: "Handing over Berkut riot police was a difficult, political decision. But it was a condition of this exchange. The return of our military, civilians and journalists was a priority. I brought them back alive. It was my choice."/35

Zelensky says many Ukrainians prisoners still held in Donbas and Russia-occupied Crimea. Kyiv is working to free them./36

https://t.co/GLjSUwhrGJ

Many of the released Ukrainians are speaking about the horrific conditions in which they were kept for months and years in Donetsk and Luhansk; they say many need medical attention./37 https://t.co/4glXSQfnV5

Zelensky: If we didn’t include the ex-Berkut officers in prisoner swap list, we wouldn’t get our military scouts back, those guys who were in Debaltseve. To me they [UA reconnaisance officers] are heroes./38

"British ambassador to Ukraine:

I welcome the long overdue return of #Ukrainians imprisoned in the non govt controlled areas. Pres.Zelensky had to make tough decisions to deliver Normandy 4 summit deal and bring them home. Time now for Russia to release all Ukrainian political prisoners held in Russia & Crimea" It remains important justice is pursued for all those responsible for serious crimes, including violence against #Maidan protesters, and the Kharkiv attack in 2015"/39

https://t.co/kCMmpv7DJu

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