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Poroshenko says two Ukrainians convicted in Russia could be released in June

Ukraine's president did not rule out two Ukrainian nationals Soloshenko and Afanasyev exchange in June, without adding any details

Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko Mikhail Palinchak/Press Office of the President of Ukraine/TASS

Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko

© Mikhail Palinchak/Press Office of the President of Ukraine/TASS

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

KIEV, June 3. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko said on Friday Ukrainian citizens Yuri Soloshenko and Gennady Afanasyev convicted in Russia on terrorism and espionage charges could be swapped in June.

"I don’t rule out Soloshenko’s and Afanasyev’s exchange in June," he said at a news conference. No further details followed.

In March 2016, the Ukrainian Justice Ministry asked Russia to release four Ukrainian citizens, including Yuri Soloshenko and Gennady Afanasiev, who were convicted in Russia for terrorism and spying. The Russian Justice Ministry explained in reply that such issues fell under the operation of the 1983 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Russia’s Code of Criminal Procedure.

On May 30, the Kremlin did not confirm allegations that an agreement had been reached with Kiev to on release of Soloshenko and Afanasyev. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he did not have any information allowing to confirms such an agreement.

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