President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested looking into the possibility of exchanging Victor Medvedchuk for Ukrainians captured by the Russian occupiers.
He posted a video with this proposal.
“Everyone will be held responsible for military crimes. A good example is today’s results of the Security Services of Ukraine operation. It is very symbolic that Medvedchuk was captured on Cosmonautics Day. He was hiding for 48 days. And at last he tried to escape, to cross the borders of our country. Well, the famous “‘Let’s Go!’ did not work well for this ‘cosmonaut' – in the very worst sense of this word,” Zelenskyy said.
The President indicated that he thought Medvedchuk's use of military camouflage to be especially cynical.
“He tried to disguise himself this way. You can see what type of ‘soldier’ he is. What type of ‘patriot’. Well, since Medvedchuk chose military uniform for himself, he falls under the war time rules. My suggestion for the Russian Federation is to exchange this guy of yours for our guys and girls that are in Russia in captivity now. It’s important for police and military services to look into this possibility,” Zelenskyy suggested.
The Security Services of Ukraine captured Medvedchuk today, who has a non-blood relation to Putin because Putin is his daughter’s godfather.
On 18 March, Lychakiv Regional Court of Lvyv arrested Medvedchuk in absentia. Medvedchuk disappeared after the full-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine. Deputy from “Opposition Platform — For Life” political party and Putin’s non-blood relative is suspected of treason and aiding and abetting a terrorist organization.
“Opposition Platform — For Life” political party leader was under house arrest. On 21 February, several days before the full-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine, he started to move things out of his estate. His wife moved to Belarus prior, on 19 February. The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed on 27 February that Medvedchuk left in an unknown direction.