Ukraine's Media Movement calls for exchange of Russian propagandist Molchanov for Ukrainian journalist Khyliuk
Ukrainian journalists and media professionals, members of Mediarukh (Media Movement), have called on the authorities to exchange the detained Russian "political expert" Kirill Molchanov, a propagandist from the circle of Putin's close friend Viktor Medvedchuk [a former Ukrainian MP and businessman deprived of Ukrainian citizenship – ed.], for Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Khyliuk, who has been in Russian captivity for more than three years.
Source: Detector Media with reference to the statement of Mediarukh
Details: It is noted that Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Khyliuk was abducted by the Russians on 3 March 2022 during the occupation of part of Kyiv Oblast. He was captured in the yard of his home in Kozarovychi near Kyiv. At first, he was held in occupied Dymer, then taken to a detention centre in Russia.
The statement notes that Russia does not officially recognise the fact of his captivity, which complicates any attempts to release him. This is due to the fact that international humanitarian law prohibits the detention of civilians in captivity, and therefore there is no official mechanism for the exchange of such people – they must be released outside of the exchange process.
Quote: "Since Ukraine already has experience of exchanging civilians in the interests of the state – Viktor Medvedchuk was exchanged for 215 captured Ukrainian defenders – we call on the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, and other state structures to release Dmytro Khyliuk from Russian captivity by exchanging him for the suspected collaborator Molchanov."
Previously: On 1 April, the Security Service of Ukraine reported that a Russian agent, a "political expert" from the circle of Putin's close friend Viktor Medvedchuk, propagandist Kirill Molchanov, had been transferred to Ukraine. He was initially detained in Poland and is currently being held in a detention centre in Kyiv.
Background:
According to the Media Initiative for Human Rights, Ukraine is currently aware of 31 Ukrainian journalists abducted by Russian forces and held captive in Russia.
Khyliuk was abducted by Russian forces on 3 March 2022 near his home in Kozarovychi, a village in Kyiv Oblast. He was sent through Belarusian territory to Novozybkov, Bryansk Oblast, Russia, which is where most of the citizens who were detained in Kyiv Oblast during the occupation were taken.
On 9 July 2024, Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament's Commissioner for Human Rights, said at a briefing that Ukraine had unofficial information on the whereabouts of Dmytro Khyliuk, a correspondent for the UNIAN news agency abducted by the Russians.
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