The head of Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties, Alexandra Matviychuk, co-chair of the Memorial Center, Oleg Orlov, and more than 70 civil society organizations participating in the #PeopleFirst campaign have sent an open letter to political leaders involved in negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The letter addresses U.S. President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and leaders of European Union member states.
The #PeopleFirst campaign urges all parties involved in negotiations to prioritize the release of war prisoners, including:
🟡 Ukrainian civilians illegally detained in Russia and occupied territories. Human rights groups warn these individuals face hunger, lack of medical care, and are regularly subjected to torture and sexualized violence.
🟡 Prisoners of war from both sides. Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity are particularly at risk, experiencing systematic and brutal torture.
🟡 Russian political prisoners sentenced or held in pretrial detention for opposing the war or supporting Ukraine.
The letter emphasizes that the most vulnerable groups should be prioritized: the elderly, women, people with disabilities or serious illnesses, and Ukrainian children forcibly displaced by Russian authorities.
Read the full text of the open letter here: Open Letter