Denisova meets with Donetsk counterpart to discuss prisoner exchange

Liudmyla Denisova, Ukraine’s human rights ombudswoman,
reported on Dec. 3 on her Facebook page that she conducted a meeting that day
with Daria Morozova, who represents the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic
in the humanitarian working group of the Trilateral Contact Group to resolve
the war in Donbas. Denisova didn’t disclose the location of the meeting, which
was beyond the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group. As her main achievement,
she reported having agreed to the transfer of 300 prisoners – already
incarcerated at the outbreak of war in April 2014 –from occupied Donetsk to
Ukrainian territory, but only after the COVID-19 pandemic is resolved. They
also discussed the transfer from Ukraine to Donetsk of 125 criminal cases
involving 133 individuals, also convicted before the start of the war.

Denisova and Morozova also discussed the process of
freeing Ukrainian civilian and military prisoners in occupied Donbas,
Denisova’s post said. “There are technical issues currently that need
clarification, but on the whole, the side of the talks is prepared for
organizing this process,” she wrote. Denisova also mentioned having succeeded
in transferring to a Donetsk appellate court – after two years of efforts – a
criminal case involving an unnamed Ukrainian citizen who has spent 20 years in
appeals courts. The citizen’s rights to investigations, a just judiciary and
effective defense will be upheld in Donetsk, she said.

Zenon Zawada: This
strange event has already drawn criticism from Ukrainian patriots and
pro-Western activists. They reject direct contact with the occupational forces
in Donetsk, as well as Denisova’s apparent attempt to reap positive publicity
from the war. The transfer of 300 civilian prisoners until after the COVID-19
pandemic rings rather hollow, considering it is likely to extend for many
months. Moreover, accepting the burden of 300 criminals offers relief to the
occupying forces and their prison system.

Denisova also seems to assume the role previously
held by Andriy Yermak, the president’s righthand man, in negotiating prisoner
exchanges. It’s not clear if she had his permission for this role, especially
with someone (Morozova) who is not even capable of making such an arrangement.
Overall, this meeting seems like a publicity stunt. It reflects the overall
lack of political integrity by the Zelensky administration amid its eagerness
to score points with the Russian-oriented public in producing feel-good impressions
of making peace.