Boris Gryzlov, Russia’s representative at the Contact Group on Donbas, has asserted that Ukraine agreed to not ‘persecute’ those released as part of the Dec. 29 exchange of prisoners. This would include the five former Berkut officers who were charged with gunning down at least 39 Maidan activists on Feb. 20, 2014. This directly contradicts what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Prosecutor General Ruslan Riaboshapka have claimed, and clarity from them on what exactly was agreed is urgently required. Russia has already gained a major victory through its demand that the five Maidan suspects were included in the exchange list, and it is quite possible that it is now seeking maximum mileage in fostering distrust of Ukraine’s leaders.
EuroMaidan Revolution
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Halya Coynash: Russia claims Ukraine will not try Maidan suspects
A man destroys a picture depicting policemen shooting at EuroMaidan activists during the anti-government protests of 2014 as he attends a rally against ceasing investigations of EuroMaidan cases at President Volodymyr Zelensky's office in Kyiv on Nov. 8, 2019.
