Ukraine seeks extradiction for Russian 'mercenaries' detained in Belarus
President Lukashenka and Security Council members discussing the detention of Russian citizens, 29 July 2020 / Reuters
Ukraine will request extradition for Russian militants from Belarus "in accordance with all the procedures." The press office of the Ukrainian president says that Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has collected "enough evidence" of their crimes committed in Donbas. Consultations with Belarusian counterparts are reportedly underway.
33 Russian nationals were detained in Belarus on July 29. The Belarusian authorities claim the detained Russians are members of the Wagner Group, a private security company from Russia who arrived "to destabilize the situation" in Belarus ahead of the August 9 presidential elections. The Belarusian investigators also said that political prisoners Siarhei Tsikhanouski and Mikalai Statkevich are associated with this group.
Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the Russians were in Belarus in transit in their way to Turkey.
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