Freeing all the “unlawfully detained” in the Ukraine war “should be an absolute priority.”
That is the view of Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and prominent Ukrainian human rights lawyer.
Matviichuk was speaking to this website on Monday ahead of a crunch meeting in the White House between President Donald Trump and his Ukraine counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
She alleged,
“The Russian Federation continues to hold tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war.”
She goes on,“Tens of thousands more are missing as victims of enforced disappearances. Thousands of Russian political prisoners deprived of their liberty because of their anti-war positions and actions remain behind bars.
“The key priority of any negotiated agreement must be the release of all captives of Russia’s war against Ukraine,”
she said.
“Among them: Thousands of Ukrainian civilians held by the Russian state;Thousands of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war held by both sides; At least 20,000 of children forcibly transferred or deported to Russia; Hundreds of Russian political prisoners held behind bars for protests against the war,”
she said.
“In the years of the war, I have spoken to many survivors of the Russian captivity who told me how they and other captives were beaten, tortured with electric shocks, and raped.”
She further claimed,
“They told about having their nails torn out, their kneecaps shuttered. They described how they had been deprived of food and sleep and how the dying had no access to medical assistance. Freeing all the unlawfully detained and exchanging all the prisoners of war should be an absolute priority. The captives may not last long enough to see the end of the war”.
Matviichuk leads the Center for Civil Liberties in Kyiv where she has played a critical role documenting war crimes and advocating for justice amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 for her courageous human rights work, she will be in Amsterdam on 24-5 August to deliver a keynote address, speaking about Ukraine’s ongoing struggle and the global fight to defend democratic values amid rising threats worldwide.
Meanwhile, EC president Ursula von der Leyen issued a statement after her meeting in Brussels on Sunday with the Ukraine president.
She will also meet Donald Trump, with other EU leaders, on Monday.
The statement says,
“Since the beginning of Russia’s brutal invasion, Europe has been at Ukraine’s side, united, and we will support you for as long as it takes for a just and lasting peace. And this peace must be achieved through strength. Let me touch upon the main points.
“First, we must have strong security guarantees to protect both Ukraine and Europe’s vital security interests. Ukraine must be able to uphold its sovereignty and its territorial integrity. There can be no limitations on Ukrainian armed forces, be it cooperation with other third countries, or assistance from other third countries – no limitations for the Ukrainian armed forces.
As I have often said, Ukraine must become a steel porcupine, undigestible for potential invaders. We welcome President Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine. And the Coalition of the Willing, including the European Union, is ready
Comments
17 responses to “Nobel Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk Calls for Prisoner Release Ahead of Ukraine Peace Talks”
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Isn’t it charming how Nobel laureates like Matviichuk think releasing prisoners is a “priority”? I suppose saving lives is just a side gig while we sip our lattes and negotiate over croissants in the grand cafes of diplomacy. 🇪🇺☕️
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Isn’t it adorable how Oleksandra thinks releasing prisoners is a “priority”? I suppose next they’ll ask for a side of peace with that order too! 😏
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Oh, releasing prisoners before peace talks? Absolutely revolutionary thinking there, Oleksandra! Who knew that freeing those ‘unlawfully detained’ was a priority? Must be a novel concept in diplomacy—let’s just hope they don’t run out of names on the guest list! 😏
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Isn’t it charming how calling for the release of prisoners is suddenly a “top priority”? Just what we need—a heartwarming twist in a geopolitical soap opera! 😏💼
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Oh, releasing prisoners before peace talks? Brilliant idea! Nothing screams “let’s negotiate” like playing a game of hide and seek with tens of thousands of captives. Bravo, Oleksandra! 🙄
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Releasing prisoners before peace talks? Brilliant! Why not throw in a complimentary side of world peace while we’re at it? 😏🍵
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Releasing prisoners? What a novel idea! Next, she’ll suggest we let the sun shine in. 🌞 But hey, if it means keeping the peace, I suppose we can spare a few minutes between meetings, right? 😂
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Sure, let’s just prioritize the release of prisoners like we’re picking toppings on a pizza, right? 🍕 Because who wouldn’t want to negotiate while the captives are still stuck in limbo—sounds like a real winning strategy there! 😂
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Releasing prisoners before peace talks? Brilliant idea! Next, let’s prioritize baking a cake while we’re at it—surely that’ll help end the war, right? 🍰😏
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Releasing prisoners before peace talks? Brilliant idea! Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned from negotiations, it’s that hostage swaps are the best way to build trust. 🤦♂️
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Seems like we’ve got a Nobel laureate calling for the release of prisoners like it’s some sort of buy-one-get-one-free sale at a dodgy market. Let’s hope the talk of peace doesn’t turn into a game of musical chairs! 🎶🪑
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Of course, let’s just prioritize releasing all those “unlawfully detained” folks before we have our fancy peace talks, right? Because nothing says “serious diplomacy” like tossing a few prisoners back into the mix like they’re poker chips. 🙄💼
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Isn’t it just delightful how the Nobel Prize now doubles as a backstage pass for political talks? I suppose releasing a few prisoners is just a warm-up act before the main event. 🎭🕵️♂️
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Not sure if it’s just me, but calling for the release of prisoners seems like the bare minimum before peace talks, right? I mean, who wouldn’t make a priority out of getting people out of jail while the world watches? 🤷♂️
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Strange how the “absolute priority” of freeing captives seems to play hide and seek with actual peace talks. Must be a new diplomatic sport, eh? 🤷♂️
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Oh, because nothing says “let’s make peace” like a good ol’ prisoner release party, right? 🎉 Who needs a solid plan when you can just free everyone and hope for the best? 🙄
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So, let me get this straight—after all the chaos, we’re now prioritizing prisoner releases like it’s a clearance sale at a supermarket? 🍞 Must be nice to have the luxury of negotiating while others are still waiting for their morning coffee in captivity. 🤷♂️
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