Captured Ukrainian oppositionist’s wife calls for exchange with UK prisoners
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The wife of captured Ukrainian pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk has called on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to help arrange an exchange between her husband and British nationals in the Ukrainian military taken prisoner by Russia.
“Mr prime minister, you have a great influence on President Zelensky,” Oksana Marchenko said in an address on YouTube.
“If you are not indifferent to the fate of your subjects, help their family and friends return [them], help me return Viktor.”
We recently reported the concerns of Aiden Aslin’s family after Russian media reported his capture in the city of Mariupol. Mr Aslin, a dual national born in Newark, Nottinghamshire, was one of the two men mentioned by Ms Marchenko.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in her telegram channel she hoped Mr Johnson “would not be slow to respond”.
Mr Medvedchuk was captured by Ukrainian security agents on Tuesday while apparently trying to flee to Russia. He had been under house arrest on suspicion of treason but escaped when Russia invaded in late February.
As well as leading the Opposition Platform – For Life party, he is a wealthy businessman with close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But the Kremlin has previously said it would not consider him for an exchange because he is a “foreign politician”.
