The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners has condemned the actions of the Russian Federation regarding the transfer of Ukrainian prisoners to Hungary. The institution emphasized that this step is a deliberate provocation by Russia aimed at undermining international legal norms and destabilizing relations between the two European states.
This is reported by Finway
Violation of International Law and the Geneva Conventions
According to the headquarters, the actions of the Russian side are aimed at ignoring the Geneva Conventions and principles of international law. Representatives of the agency stress that such manipulations of the lives of Ukrainian prisoners of war could be classified by international courts as participation in unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.
“Its goal is to once again attack the Geneva Conventions and international law, as well as to attempt to worsen the relations between the two European countries within the framework of Russia’s hybrid aggression against Europe.”
The headquarters called on all those involved in this event to refrain from illegal actions and not to use Ukrainian servicemen as instruments of political pressure. Additionally, the Coordination Headquarters demands full information about the health status of the prisoners and to ensure access for authorized representatives of Ukraine to visit citizens in captivity.
Reactions and Previous Cases of Prisoner Transfers
The statement emphasizes that the headquarters is constantly working on the return of Ukrainians and individuals with dual citizenship from Russian captivity. It also reminded that in 2023, Russia transferred 11 Ukrainian citizens to the Hungarian government without agreement with Ukraine.
One day before this statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had requested the release of individuals who were in captivity of the Russian army and hold dual citizenship—Ukrainian and Hungarian. Putin stated that he agreed to release two such individuals and transfer them to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, but did not provide evidence for his claims and referred to these individuals as “forcibly mobilized.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomed the release of two Ukrainian prisoners of war of Hungarian descent but simultaneously emphasized the unacceptability of political manipulation on this issue.