Russia’s trumped up criminal charges against Azov soldiers not to undermine swap efforts - Ukraine official

"Criminal cases" initiated in Russia against the Azovstal defenders of Mariupol now being held as PoWs pose no obstacles to Ukraine’s efforts to seal their exchange.

That’s according to the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Ukrinform reports.

The HQ held a meeting with the families of Azov Regiment’s soldiers, also attended by National Guard officials.

"As for the trumped-up ‘criminal cases’ that have been brought against our defenders, or as for those ‘sentenced’ by Russian courts, none of this is an obstacle to them being included in the exchange process," said the HQ spokesperson.

Among other issues, the parties raised the topic of difficulties during the negotiations on the POW swap and algorithms employed to ensure that such exchanges succeed.

It was emphasized that, despite obstacles during talks, the Ukrainian side uses all possible resources to make sure such exchanges are completed.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on June 15, a court hearing in the case of the captured Azovstal defenders was held in Russia.

Photo: SBU