Azovstal Plant in Mariupol – Prisoner swap increasingly unlikely – News


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Russia doesn’t seem interested in a prisoner swap. A show trial against Ukrainians, on the other hand, is possible.

The situation in the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol was dramatic: Ukrainian soldiers and civilians holed up there for weeks – besieged by Russian soldiers. At the beginning of the week there was a turning point. Ukrainian fighters surrendered, some seriously injured. How many there are is unclear.

The fighters were evacuated and are now in Russian captivity. Ukraine has agreed to this evacuation – on the assumption that the prisoners will then be exchanged with Russian prisoners. Now, however, there are increasing indications that such an exchange could not take place.

That is why Ukraine agreed to the evacuation of the fighters


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Zelensky stressed that Ukraine needs its heroes alive. He also pointed to the involvement of influential international mediators, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. “And maybe in Ukraine there is actually hope or perhaps assurances that the fighters will be exchanged,” explains SRF foreign editor Judith Huber.

In addition, the pressure on the Ukrainian government to evacuate the fighters from the surrounded steel works has increased almost daily. “I think they also wanted to signal that our soldiers are important to us, we’ll do everything we can to save them and not leave them to certain death.”

The Kremlin initially said that the prisoners of war would be treated according to international standards. President Putin personally guarantees that. Russian politicians have already put that into perspective.

For example, the head of the Russian parliament said, “Nazi criminals should not be exchanged, but brought to justice.” And the MP and foreign politician Leonid Slutski was even sharper: “Inhumans must be brought to justice”. He even brought up the death penalty.

«It is possible that Russia is preparing for show trials»

Another piece of information fits into this picture: that the Russian Ministry of Justice has come to the Supreme Court with a request to declare the Azov regiment a terrorist organization. Many of the prisoners belong to this regiment. That says SRF foreign editor Judith Huber. She is in charge of the Russia dossier. “It seems possible that preparations are being made in Moscow for a trial or a show trial against some of the prisoners of war.”

With such show trials, Putin could continue his insane narrative that he is denazifying Ukraine. And according to Huber, he could also continue to spin another story: “That Russia is not committing any war crimes in Ukraine.”

Ukraine has started trying Russian soldiers for war crimes in Ukraine. “Moscow could counter this with its own big lawsuit and claim to the world and its own population: Look, here are the real war criminals, the Ukrainian Nazis.” Although this is speculation, it would fit into Russia’s well-known propagandistic approach.

Legend:

The first Russian war crimes case was tried. The International Criminal Court is also investigating in Ukraine.

Reuters

In general, there is a lot of speculation about the situation in the Azovstal plant. For the city of Mariupol, however, the picture is very bleak, says Huber. It is said that 90 percent of the houses have been destroyed. The remaining population suffers from a lack of food and medicine and even drinking water is scarce.

A steelworks as a symbol of resistance

The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin – one of the region’s most important pro-Russian figures – has announced that the damaged Azovstal Steel Works will be completely demolished.

“This would have the advantage for the Kremlin that an important symbol of the Ukrainian resistance would be made to disappear. Furthermore, the Russian conquest of Mariupol will likely mean that there will never be an independent investigation into Russian war crimes that can rely on on-the-spot evidence.”

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