Lawyers negotiating exchange of Sentsov, Kolchenko for detained Russian servicemen

Alexander Alexandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev, Russian military intelligence officers detained in Ukraine, may be exchanged for Ukrainians Oleg Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko, imprisoned in Russia.

This was stated by Yuri Grabovski, lawyer of Alexander Alexandrov, Radio Liberty reports.

Yuri Grabovski said he had discussed this issue with Ukraine’s Security Service negotiator for prisoner exchange Volodymyr Ruban.

Ruban confirmed that Russia had agreed to such an exchange. According to him, during the meeting in Minsk, the Russians allegedly wanted to exchange Sentsov for Yerofeyev but Ukraine suggested exchanging “two for two” further approved by both sides.

“The exchange cannot be immediate till there is no sentence to Alexandrov and Yerofeyev. Then they will be exchanged as agreed and they will serve sentences in the homeland,” Ruban said.

Earlier, Mark Feygin lawyer of Nadiya Savchenko, also held in custody in Russia, announced that she could be released later this year. According to the lawyer, it would happen as a result of a political agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.