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Ukraine-Russia Prisoner Swap Draws Criticism

Jamie Dettmer

   Criticism mounted in Kyiv Monday over a controversial prisoner swap
   with Russian-backed separatists, as it emerged that among the captives
   exchanged by Ukraine were five riot policemen accused of killing
   protesters during the 2014 Maidan uprising.

   The policemen were members of a Berkut militia unit that is now
   disbanded.

   Relatives of those killed during the uprising had urged Ukrainian
   President Volodymyr Zelenskiy not to include the policemen in the
   exchange. After the handover, which took place Sunday, the Ukrainian
   leader defended his decision, saying it was necessary in order for
   Ukraine to secure the return of several of its reconnaissance soldiers.

   A total of 200 captives were exchanged between the two warring sides.

   "It was a hard decision. It was a political decision," Zelenskiy told
   reporters at Kyiv's Boryspil International Airport, as he met 76 freed
   Ukrainians.

   His remarks failed to assuage the relatives of protesters who were
   killed in 2014.

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