Issue of permit for prisoners to enter Ukraine from DPR not solved yet

The joint order on the coordination of security forces in case of arrival of convicts from uncontrolled territories at the Ukrainian checkpoints was released for Donetsk region. Such resolution is planned to be released for Luhansk region as well.

Yuri Belousov, Director of the National Preventive Mechanism Implementation Department at the Office of the Ombudsperson, explained this in an interview with Head of the Human Rights Information Center Tetiana Pechonchik for the Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukrainian Truth) Ukraine’s media outlet.

According to Belousov, this issue is not settled at the legislative level. When such a person comes to a checkpoint, he has at best a release certificate with the DPR seals affixed, which are not recognized by the Ukrainian side. In addition, the inmates often do not have passports, so the Ukrainian checkpoints become impassable barrier for them.

“The first attempt to solve this problem is the joint order of the law enforcement agencies at the level of Donetsk region, which was signed on July 14 by the regional prosecutor and chiefs of the Ukraine’s Interior Ministry department in Donetsk region, the Security Service department, the department of the State Penitentiary Service, the main department of the Migration Service and the Donetsk border detachment. The order provides for clear coordination between the security forces in such cases. As far as I know, the same procedure is to be introduced in Luhansk region as well,” Yuri Belousov said.

According to him, about one hundred people have come from the uncontrolled territory to the Ukrainian checkpoints as of now. They came for different reasons: either they were released, or the colony was bombed out and they were forced to leave. Overall, about 13,000 people stay in the penitentiary system facilities in the territories, not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. The precise number is unknown though.

According to Yuri Belousov, the convicts should be given a clear message: if they are released, they should not be afraid of coming to the Ukrainian checkpoints.

As a reminder, Head of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine Volodymyr Palahniuk believes that if a convict has voluntarily came from the uncontrolled territory at the Ukrainian checkpoint, he deserves being released on parole because his actions demonstrate patriotism and commitment to the Ukrainian authorities. After such person is checked, the materials for his early release should be prepared to be submitted to court.

As reported, the first prisoner transfer of nine inmates from the territory in Donetsk region, uncontrolled by the Government of Ukraine, took place with the assistance of the National Preventive Mechanism Implementation Department on July 8. In August, another 20 prisoners were transferred to Ukraine.