The Association of the Relatives of the Kremlin’s Political Prisoners appealed to the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, with a request to hold a meeting with them. The relatives of the political prisoners want to know at what stage the negotiations on the future exchange are. This was reported via the association’s Facebook page.
“Over the past two months, the head of the President's Office, Andrii Iermak, has twice announced a new possible exchange, which may take place soon. It is impossible for the relatives of political prisoners to get used to the fact that such news are not being fulfilled. Each such statement first kindles in our hearts the hope for the return of relatives, however, the absence of a result breaks them mercilessly every time”,- the message said.
The relatives note that for several months they have been trying to get in touch with the Office of the President of Ukraine in order to find out at what stage the negotiations on the release of political prisoners are, how and by whom the lists are drawn up, and also to talk about pressing problems.
The association turned to Zelenska with requests:
– to hold a meeting with relatives of Ukrainian political prisoners, at which the pressing problems of regulating social and legal assistance to Ukrainian citizens illegally convicted in Russia and their family members will be discussed;
– to help establish permanent communication between the Office of the President and the relatives of the Kremlin prisoners;
– with the help of available resources, to update the public narrative about the issue of the needs of political prisoners and their relatives.