Ukraine’s intel chief on Medvedchuk’s whereabouts after POW swap
Viktor Medvedchuk (Photo:Office of the President)
Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian MP and member of the Opposition Platform – For Life, a pro-Russian and Eurosceptic political party outlawed in Ukraine, is currently in Moscow, the Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, said in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda on Oct. 24.
“I can assure you he wasn't given a red-carpet treatment,” said Budanov.
“Where is he at the moment? I’d need to check details first. He was taken to Moscow – that’s certain.”
According to Budanov, Medvedchuck was taken to Turkey first, but “eventually he ended up in Moscow.”
"I know Russia’s FSB had many questions to ask him; the questions were absolutely not political, but rather practical ones," he said.
Budanov noted the Russian special services might ask Medvedchuk – a close ally of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin – about the money he was given for preparing the invasion of Ukraine.
On Oct. 22, Ukraine returned 215 people from Russian captivity, including 108 fighters from the Azov Regiment.
Five Azov Regiment commanders were exchanged for 55 Russian troops. The Ukrainian officers are now in Turkey, under personal security guarantees of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Another 210 Ukrainian soldiers were swapped for Medvedchuk, who was charged with treason in Ukraine.
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