Mykola Katerynchuk created an initiative group for the release of our prisoners in the ATO

“The initiative group, which will deal with the release of prisoners in the ATO and help in finding missing people, was created today. The group includes well-known journalists, lawyers, and community activists who are willing to contribute fully to the process”, – reported the creator of the group, the leader of the European Party of Ukraine, People`s Deputy of Ukraine Mykola Katerynchuk.

“This week, during the Twenty-third Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku as the parliamentary delegation from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine we have created a contact group, which will include 8 countries. I will represent Ukraine and the group will address two key issues: the release of prisoners and the issue of refugees to the Russian Federation who want to return to Ukraine”, – said Mykola Katerynchuk.

“I believe that this initiative group is necessary, because the current process of the prisoners release is unprofessional and contains some issues related to money. Namely, remuneration is required for the release of our guys. We need to stop such things”, – he said.

“After gathering all the necessary information there will be created a special section on the website www.facenews.ua, which you can send to all available information about the acquaintances, friends and relatives who were in captivity, inform about the conditions of their detention and get information from the Ministry of Defense, Security Service of Ukraine, Border troops, the National Guard and other law enforcement agencies about  particular individuals who are in captivity, missing or take part in the ATO”, – said the politician.

“Over the past 10 days we have released two prisoners. When we started this process and appealed to the authorities, it became clear that these issues are not all right. There is no center to deal with such issues. Therefore, we will apply to Irina Gerashchenko, the representative of the President on the peaceful settlement of the Donbass conflict, to the Administration of the President and to the appropriate authority with a requirement to create an appropriate body at the state level. We believe that the state must make decisions on such issues and help to solve them. And we will actively take part in it”, – said the People`s Deputy of Ukraine.

Mykola Katerynchuk said that he has received considerable experience after the release of the first two prisoners. “We have already got tried and tested contacts and volunteers, who are willing to help to release prisoners. Every day people that occurred in the hands of terrorists are in the danger of tortures or even physical destruction. So we need to act quickly”, – he said. – “Our goal is to unite the capabilities of ordinary citizens, the state and the OSCE in the release of our prisoners.”

Mykola Katerynchuk also emphasized that the release of prisoners will not be done by monetary redemption in any case.