"As long as Ukrainians are illegally detained in the occupied territories and in Russia, we must provide a comprehensive support to their families," -- Iryna Herashchenko
During the morning plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the first vice-speaker Iryna Herashchenko highlighted on July 11 the vital importance of the draft bill No.8205 "On legal status and social guarantees for persons unlawfully deprived of their liberty, hostages or convicts in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and outside" dated March 27, 2018. Iryna Herashchenko stressed that the bill aims at establishing a legal status of persons illegally deprived of their liberty and detained in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and in the Russian Federation.
The first vice-speaker asserted the bill provides for a legal aid as well as for medical and psychological assistance and social support to families of illegally detained Ukrainians.
"As long as Ukrainians are illegally detained in the occupied territories and in Russia, we must provide a comprehensive support to their families," I. Herashchenko emphasized.
The politician thanked all the co-authors of the bill and expressed her hope that the next session would be capable of giving a “full-fledged birth” to the said bill, on its second reading and in tote.
"There can be no “againsts” to the release of hostages, political prisoners of the Kremlin and prisoners of war. Over the past five years, such issues have brought together representatives of all parliamentary factions and parliamentary groups," I. Herashchenko underscored, and wished the new TCG negotiators progress and success in the liberation of illegally detained Ukrainians.
The first vice-speaker thanked all parliamentarians and government representatives for supporting decisions aimed at helping families of illegally detained Ukrainians. The dignitary then informed that the families of the Kremlin prisoners have already begun receiving state scholarships named after Levko Lukianenko, which is regulated by the special presidential decree No. 417/2018 dated November 7, 2018.
"The aggressive Russian Federation still holds 24 seamen as prisoners of war, some 70 Ukrainians are political prisoners of the Kremlin, dozens of hostages are also held in the occupied Donbas. All of them must be released, and by that time their families ought to receive support from the State," I. Herashchenko emphasized.
The draft bill No. 8205 was approved on the first reading by 235 ayes.