The prisoner swap comes three months after a similar exchange between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels in the east.
Keystone
Switzerland has welcomed a prisoner exchange this week between Kiev and non-government controlled areas of eastern Ukraine, saying Swiss diplomats working for the OSCE were instrumental in the deal.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/jc
On 16 April 2020, around 40 prisoners were exchanged between the government-controlled and non-government controlled areas of Ukraine, according to a Swiss foreign ministry press releaseExternal link. This came three months after the last such large-scale exchange, it said.
The planned prisoner swap went ahead despite a state of emergency in Ukraine to combat coronavirus, “with participants agreeing on the necessary precautions and protective measures in advance”.
This came after intensive negotiations within the Trilateral Contact group, a forum between the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Russia and Ukraine.
According to the Swiss foreign ministry, the negotiations have been led since January by Heidi GrauExternal link of Switzerland, who is Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group. The contact group’s humanitarian sub-group is led by its Swiss coordinator, Toni Frisch.
The armed conflict between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels in the east has been ongoing for six years and has claimed over 13,000 lives, according to the UN. Switzerland is “committed to a peaceful solution to the conflict and promotes de-escalation and dialogue, mainly within the framework of the OSCE”, says the foreign ministry.
More
More
Coffee with Europe’s peace manager
This content was published on
Thomas Greminger, the first Swiss Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), has a lot on his plate.
Should Switzerland take measures to support its struggling industries?
Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
Switzerland increasingly a target for people smuggling and trafficking
This content was published on
Switzerland is increasingly being targeted by organized crime. This also applies to commercial people smuggling, the fastest growing criminal market in Europe.
Swiss forests better equipped against storms 25 years after Lothar
This content was published on
Twenty-five years ago, Hurricane Lothar toppled trees like dominoes in Switzerland. Forests today are better prepared to cope with such an exceptional event, say experts.
This content was published on
The Locarno Film Festival is considering moving from the beginning of August to the second half of July for its 80th edition in 2027.
Council of Europe head Alain Berset visits Georgia
This content was published on
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, is visiting Georgia, which has been rocked by a political crisis, from Wednesday.
Swiss politician who shot at Jesus faces criminal proceedings
This content was published on
The Zurich public prosecutor's office has opened criminal proceedings against politician Sanija Ameti. It is investigating whether she disrupted freedom of religion and worship.
Switzerland must be able to control immigration, says head of business federation
This content was published on
Switzerland must be able to control immigration itself if it "exceeds the tolerable limits", says Christoph Mäder, president of Economiesuisse, the Swiss Business Federation.
This content was published on
The film Reinas by Klaudia Reynicke, a Swiss-Peruvian-Spanish co-production, has missed out on an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Assets of former Ukrainian lawmaker remain frozen in Switzerland
This content was published on
The assets of former Ukrainian parliamentarian Yuri Ivanyushchenko remain frozen in Switzerland, the Federal Court has ruled.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.