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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Lack of amnesty law hinders release of militias held prisoner — Donetsk ombudsman

At the moment Ukraine is prepared to release only 19 men

© EPA/TASS/ANDREI LEBLE

MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. There are about two hundred names on the list of seized militias that has been handed over to the Kiev authorities, but most of them cannot be released at the moment because they are faced with legal charges or have been convicted by courts, the human rights commissioner of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Darya Morozova, has told the media on Monday.

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At the moment Ukraine is prepared to release only 19 men.

"We have received a list of 19 persons whom Ukraine is prepared to hand over to the Donetsk Republic," Morozova said. "There are problems with the procedural clearance of the other guys, because courts have pronounced sentences and put some in custody. They have real terms. The Minsk Memorandum says there must be an amnesty law. That’s the stumbling block. Without that law the judges cannot amnesty them."

Morozova speculated that the exchange might take place as early as next week.

"The Ukrainian side has been taking steps. We had a phone call from Viktor Medvedchuk yesterday. An exchange of prisoners may take place next week," the Donetsk News Agency quotes her as saying.

The Contact Group for Ukraine on February 12 signed a package of measures to implement the Minsk Accords. Item five of that document requires pardon and amnesty by introducing a special law prohibiting prosecution and punishment for all those involved in the conflict in Donbass. Item six obliged the parties to the release prisoners of war under the "all-for-all" pattern. It was to be effected on the fifth day following the pullback of weapons.

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Eastern Ukraine

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

"The impression is that Warsaw is maniacally seeking to attract even more attention from military planners in the Russian General Staff," Maria Zakharova added

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Gefest system analyzes data of the Glonass satellite navigation grouping on the mutual location of the aircraft and the target

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North Korea to take part in SPIEF — Embassy in Russia

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Russian foreign minister to meet with Bolivian counterpart in Moscow

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Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

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Hungary sees Ukraine conflict entering new phase, NATO involvement rising

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Houthi leader says group attacked more than 100 ships in Red, Arabian seas so far

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Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

Russian international reserves up $2.5 bln in one week exceeding $603.2 bln — Central Bank

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Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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