European Union demands that Russian Federation immediately release Ukrainian hostages

The EU expresses solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine, who were illegally detained by the Russian authorities, demanding their immediate release and the provision of urgent medical care to those who need it.
Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Maja Kocijancic, said this in a statement on the cases of illegally detained Ukrainian citizens.

“Pavlo Hryb, a disabled, 20-year old citizen of Ukraine was abducted on 24 August 2017 in Belarus, and detained by the Russian authorities without any clear charges. The European Union expects him to be immediately released and granted access to the special medical treatment he needs. Ukrainian doctors must be allowed to see him while he remains in detention, as required by a recent injunction from the European Court of Human Rights," the report says.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) statement also notes the demand for the release of Crimean Tatar activist Edem Bekirov, who was detained on December 12, 2018 after arriving in the Crimean peninsula illegally annexed by Russia. "Bekirov also needs daily medical assistance given his health condition. We expect him to be released without delay and granted access to urgent and appropriate medical care," the document says.

The European Union reiterates that all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens in the Crimean peninsula and in Russia and the crew of the vessels captured by Russia on November 25 must be immediately released. International human rights observers must be granted full, free and unhindered access to the Crimean peninsula.

The European Union remains committed to fully implementing its policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol.