The Kremlin says it can’t discuss sanctions relief for freeing ‘political prisoners’ because Russia has none. The human rights group Memorial lists 1,368.
Source: Interfax
The Kremlin is not in talks with U.S. officials about a proposal to ease sanctions on Russia in exchange for the release of political prisoners, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“We have not discussed this issue in those terms, nor could we have, because we categorically deny that there are any political prisoners and consider that framing entirely inappropriate,” Peskov said, according to Interfax.
However, Peskov said, “As for the various exchanges that have taken place in the past, our security services remain in regular contact about them.”
On Wednesday, The Atlantic reported that U.S. President Donald Trump had approved the idea of easing sanctions on Russia in exchange for the release of political prisoners. Journalist Simon Shuster said the proposal came from special envoy John Coale, who secured the release of roughly 500 political prisoners in Belarus in exchange for sanctions relief.
The human rights organization Memorial currently lists 1,368 political prisoners in Russia. Rights advocates warn the list is “admittedly incomplete.” Memorial’s database includes an even longer list of people held for apparently political reasons — more than 5,700 people. The political prisoner list also excludes people persecuted on religious grounds.
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