Russia wants to organise "tribunal" for Ukrainian Azovstal fighters in self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic

Svitlana Kizilova – Monday, 23 May 2022, 20:57

Denis Pushylin, Head of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic, said that an "international tribunal" for the Ukrainian soldiers taken prisoner after the surrender of Azovstal will take place on the Russian-occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast since that is where the soldiers are currently being held.

Source: Interfax

Details: According to Pushylin, the Ukrainian soldiers who took part in Mariupol’s defence are currently being held in the Russian-occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast.

That is also where Russia is planning to stage a so-called "international tribunal" where the trial of the Ukrainian soldiers will take place.

Quote from Pushylin: "An international tribunal will also be organised on the territory of the republic [the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic on the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast - ed.]. We are currently working to determine the remit of the tribunal."

Background: On 18 May, Denis Pushylin said he was in favour of an "international tribunal" for Ukrainian soldiers defending Azovstal.

Andrey Rudenko, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, said that Russia might negotiate an exchange of Mariupol’s defenders with Ukraine.