| Series Title | EurActiv |
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| Series Details | 19.04.16 |
| Publication Date | 19/04/2016 |
| Content Type | News |
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On 18 April 2016, an Ukrainian court sentenced two Russian soldiers captured in May 2015 to 14 years in prison for their involvement in the pro-Russian separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russia denied sending troops to help the rebels and says Alexander Alexandrov and his commander, Captain Yevgeny Yerofeyev, had quit their special forces unit to take part in the fighting on their own initiative. Ahead of the court session, Mr Yerofeyev’s lawyer said the verdict was a foregone conclusion because of Ukraine’s wish to exchange the servicemen for Ukrainians detained in Russia, including pilot Nadiya Savchenko. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko later said he had talked with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin about the Russian soldiers and Savchenko. On the 25 May 2016 it was reported that Ukraine and Russia had carried out a prisoner swap that saw Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko returned home to Ukraine, and the Russian prisoners, Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Alexander Alexandrov, returned to Russia. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/ukrainian-court-sentences-russian-soldiers-prisoner-swap-taking-shape/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Russia, Ukraine |
