About 100 Ukrainian citizens who are illegally imprisoned in the Russian Federation are "celebrating" Christmas holidays in jail, the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has reported.

"Some of the Ukrainian political prisoners have been released and returned back home to their families and friends, but they couldn’t see the loved ones for years and “celebrated” many holiday seasons in prisons. Given that, our New Year’s resolution is to do everything we can to bring our people back home," the statement reads.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called on the international community to keep the pressure on Kremlin until the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners held in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

"There is no place for political repressions in progressive and free societies," the report notes.

As reported, on December 29, 2019, the detainee exchange between Ukraine and the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic” took place at the Mayorske entry-exit checkpoint in Donetsk region.

Seventy-six people returned to Ukraine. Ukraine transferred 127 detainees, being ready to transfer 141 people, but 14 of them refused to return to the militant-controlled territory.

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