Moskalkova told why Kiev does not give residents of the Kursk region

Kiev is putting forward unacceptable conditions regarding the exchange of residents of the Kursk region held on the territory of Ukraine, the Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine said on January 17. Russian Tatyana Moskalkova following talks with the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mirjana Spolaric at the organization's headquarters in Geneva.

The Ukrainian side linked the transfer of Kuryans with the exchange for civilians in Russia is under investigation for cases of offenses or crimes against the state. This is unacceptable, Moskalkova stressed.

"They are not being given away because conditions are being set that the Russian side cannot fulfill. According to the Geneva Convention, such people should be repatriated, that is, transferred to the country of their nationality without any conditions, and conditions are set," she said.

Moskalkova noted that residents of the Kursk region are actually in a hostage situation, as they are unable to leave temporary accommodation facilities due to lack of documents and financial resources.

In December, Russia handed over to Ukraine 45 citizens who were subject to expulsion from the country. As Moskalkova emphasized, all the transferred persons independently expressed a desire to return to their homeland.