Kiev Wants Return of Ukrainians in Crimean Prisons

By The Moscow Times

May 30, 2016

The Ukrainian authorities have announced their readiness to have all inmates of prisons situated in Crimea returned to Ukraine, the local media reported, citing the Ukrainian Justice Ministry.

?€?We will do everything possible to pick up everyone who is in jail there,?€? First Deputy Justice Minister Natalya Sevostyanova said, according to Ukrainian news website Podrobnosti.ua.

?€?Over the past two years, we have been negotiating with Russia, trying to get our prisoners. And we were very surprised by the statement of the new Russian ombudsman ?€” that Russia is ready to give us all the prisoners in Crimea,?€? Sevostyanova said.

On Thursday, Russian human rights ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova said that Kiev didn't want to take convicts from Crimea despite repeated offers from Russia.

According to Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service branch in Crimea, there are about 3,000 convicts kept in the peninsula's detention facilities, the Slon.ru news website reported Sunday.

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