![[People First]](https://khpg.org/files/img/1608822539.jpg)
On the tragic anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the “People Fist!” campaign, supported by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation Mariana Katzarova, two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, and over forty leading Ukrainian, Russian and international human rights organizations held a press conference demanding the immediate release of the captives of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly pledged that he would help end this war. The intergovernmental negotiations have started. In recent weeks, numerous policy makers, experts and media have been contemplating different aspects of such negotiations. Sadly, they all seem to overlook the one aspect which should be the absolute priority — that is, the fate of the people most severely affected by this bloody and protracted war.
Our call was simple: put people first. As preparations for negotiations to end the war are underway, the key priority of any negotiated agreements must be the return of all civilian detainees to Ukraine, exchange of all prisoners of war and the release of Russian political prisoners, sentenced for their anti-war actions.
Watch our distinguished speakers raising their voices in support of the captives of war!
Online press-conference recording
Speakers:
Mariana Katzarova, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation 7.06
Oleksandra Matviichuk, leader of the Center for Civil Liberties, the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate 17:38
Oleg Orlov, Co-Chair of Memorial Human Rights Defense Center, former political prisoner and the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate 20:38
Yevgeniy Zakharov, Director of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group 28:15
Moderator
Tanya Lokshina, Human Rights Watch, Associate Director, Europe and Central Asia Division
Read more about the “People First!” Campaign and its demands here.
