New PACE Resolution on Prisoner Exchange
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has unanimously adopted a resolution urging the international community to support negotiations between Ukraine and Russia for the swift exchange of prisoners of war based on the "all for all" formula.
The document emphasizes that a significant majority of freed Ukrainian detainees have suffered torture, sexual violence, or inhumane treatment by the Russian Federation.
This information has been reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
PACE calls for immediate "all for all" exchanges
The document adopted by PACE stresses the need to establish an international exchange mechanism involving the International Committee of the Red Cross and neutral states. The release of all Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians is identified as a priority.
The Assembly condemned the systematic violations of the Geneva Conventions by Russia. The resolution highlights that the situation of Ukrainian military personnel in captivity is critical and requires immediate action from the global community.
In particular, the Assembly demands from Russia:
- the establishment of specialized camps for prisoners with proper conditions of detention, medical care, nutrition, and legal assistance;
- the creation of a Joint Medical Commission to assess the wounded;
- the launch of an official Bureau of Information on prisoners;
- immediate access for international humanitarian organizations to places of detention.
Additionally, PACE has officially included Belarus in the list of countries that also hold Ukrainian prisoners of war, assigning responsibility for their fate to it.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War thanked the Ukrainian delegation to PACE for their diligent efforts on this important document and for advocating key provisions for Ukraine.
