On September 7, 2019, 35 people who had been in custody in Russia returned to Ukraine. All of them were deprived of their liberty in connection with the annexation of Crimea and the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. Among them are Ukrainian sailors, whose release was to take place in accordance with the decision of the UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, as well as unjustly convicted Ukrainian citizens Roman Sushchenko, Oleg Sentsov, Olexandr Kolchenko, Volodymyr Balukh, Stanislav Klykh, Mykola Karpiuk, Oleksii Syzonovych, Pavlo Gryb, Eden Bekirov, Yevhen Panov, Artur Panov. The list of persons who were in retaliation extradited to Russia suggests the idea that the release of Ukrainian citizens did not occur as an act of goodwill, reconciliation, recognition of the rule of law, or the implementation of the decision of the International Tribunal, but as an act of bargaining, since the Russian leadership was interested in returning to its territory of specific individuals, such as Volodymyr Tsemakh.

Moreover, the release of 35 people does not resolve the problem of persons illegally detained in Russia, Crimea and the uncontrolled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

According to human rights defenders, at least 86 citizens of Ukraine are detained only in the territory controlled by Russia (see the list compiled by the Center for Civil Liberties below). Also, according to Ukrainian human rights defenders, at least 227 people are held in custody in the territory of the non-government controlled districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In the circumstances concerned we urge:

• to abandon the concept of exchange, which is contrary to humanitarian principles, and immediately release all detainees who are not invilved in war crimes and crimes against humanity;
• the EU and the Governments of the Member States – not to stop efforts aimed at the immediate release of all illegally detained in custody in Russia, Crimea and the non-government controlled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and to strengthen monitoring of the cases of detainees and the provision of necessary humanitarian assistance to them;
• Parliament of Ukraine – to regulate at the legislative level the issue of the legal status of persons illegally detained in Russia and in the territory of the non-government controlled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and harmonise domestic criminal law with international humanitarian law by adopting the Draft Law #0892.

Name list of people illegally detained in Russia and Crimea:

1. Abiltarov Rustem

2. Abdulgaziev Tofik

3. Abdulganiev Eskender

4. Abdulkadirov Vladlen

5. Abdullaiev Izet

6. Abdullaiev Teimur

7. Abdullaiev Uzeir

8. Abdurakhmanov Medzhit

9. Abiliev Rustem

10. Abseitov Zevri

11. Abkhairov Arsen

12. Adilov Bilial

13. Aivazov Raim

14. Aliev Muslim

15. Alimov Refat

16. Ametov Enver

17. Ametov Ernes

18. Arifmemetov Osman

19. Asanov Marlen

20. Bazarov Farkhod

21. Bakirov Akim

22. Bekirov Enver

23. Bekirov Remzi

24. Bielialov Memet

25. Bessarabov Oleksii

26. Vaitov Rustem

27. Vygovskyi Valentyn

28. Gaziiev Server

29. Gafarov Dzhemil

30. Gafarov Diliaver

31. Davydenko Kostiantyn

32. Dzhemadenov Emil

33. Dzhepparov Aider

34. Dzhepparov Arsen

35. Dudka Volodymyr

36. Emiruseinov Rustem

37. Zakhtei Andrii

38. Zeitullaiev Ruslan

39. Zekiriaiev Server

40. Ibrahimov Tymur

41. Izetov Riza

42. Ismailov Rustem

43. Kadyrov Edem

44. Kantemyrov Eldar

45. Karakashev Yevhen

46. Karimov Alim

47. Kiyashko Ihor

48. Kolomyiets Andrii

49. Kuku Emir Usein

50. Limeshko Hennadii

51. Mamutov Enver

52. Masharipov Iunus

53. Memedeminov Nariman

54. Memetov Remzi

55. Mesutov Ruslan

56. Muedinov Iashar

57. Murtaza Seiran

58. Mustafaiev Server

59. Nagaiev Ruslan

60. Omerov Enver

61. Omerov Riza

62. Osmanov Erfan

63. Primov Iurii

64. Sagandzhy Fevzi

65. Saifullaiev Ferat

66. Saledinov Aider

67. Saliev Seiran

68. Siruk Vadym

69. Seitabdiev Seitveli

70. Seitosmanov Enver

71. Seitkhalilov Rustem

72. Smailov Edem

73. Stohnii Oleksii

74. Suleimanov Eskender

75. Suleimanov Renat

76. Suleimanov Ruslan

77. Umerov Shaban

78. Khalilov Lenur

79. Chirnii Oleksii

80. Shablii Glib

81. Sheikhaliiev Rustem

82. Shyptur Mykola

83. Shtiblikov Dmytro

84. Shumkov Oleksandr

85. Shur Viktor

86. Ianikov Asan

Signatories:

Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)

Kharkiv Human Rights Group (Ukraine)

Luhansk oblast human rights center “Alternativa”

NGO Kraina Vilnykh Liudei (Ukraine)

Truth Hounds (Ukraine)

Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (Ukraine)

Human Rights Center “Memorial” (Russia)

NGO “Citizen and Army” (Russia)

DRA (Germany)

Memorial Deutschland (Germany)

Helsinki Citizens Assembly (France)

Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland)