Zelensky reports the arrest of a fugitive opposition leader who is a “personal friend” of Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Telegram on Tuesday that the leader of the Ukrainian opposition party, the Opposition – For Life platform, Viktor Medvedchuk, had been arrested. Medvedchuk is a loyal ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky suggests exchanging him for Ukrainian prisoners.

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Zelensky, who posted a photo of the detainee in Ukrainian army uniform and handcuffs, said that the Ukrainian opposition politician was arrested after a special operation carried out by Ukrainian intelligence.

The pro-Russian Medvedchuk was placed under house arrest on May 13, 2021. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General accused him of financing terrorism, high treason and attempting to plunder the national wealth of Crimea, which was Ukrainian until Russia annexed it in 2014. He managed to escape four days after the start of the current invasion.

Putin described Medvedchuk, 67, as a “personal friend” and godfather to his youngest daughter.

“exchange”

Ukrainian President Zelensky suggested that Russia “exchange” Medvedchuk for Ukrainians captured in Russia.

“I am proposing to the Russian Federation to replace this man with our boys and girls who are currently imprisoned in Russia. This is why it is important that our law enforcement and military take this possibility into account,” Zelensky said in a video message on Telegram.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the arrest. According to him, there is “a lot of false news from Ukraine” and the arrest must be “verified first”.

© Reuters

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