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Kremlin denies agreement on handing over two Ukrainians convicted in Russia to Kiev

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he had reached a preliminary agreement with Russia on returning Ukrainian nationals Yuri Soloshenko and Gennady Afanasyev convicted for espionage in Russia

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov Mikhail Metzel/TASS

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

MOSCOW, May 30. /TASS/. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has not confirmed reports on an alleged agreement with Kiev on handing over Ukrainian nationals Yuri Soloshenko and Gennady Afanasyev convicted in Russia for espionage.

"I could not confirm this," Peskov said. "I have no information that would allow me to confirm this," he added.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Sunday he had reached a preliminary agreement with Russia on returning these citizens.

In March 2016, Ukraine’s Justice Ministry asked Russia to hand over four Ukrainian citizens, including Soloshenko and Afanasyev, who were convicted in Russia for terrorism and spying. The Russian Justice Ministry explained in reply that such issues are regulated by the 1983 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Russia’s Criminal Code.

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