Chair of the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Thorhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir, has stated that as Russia is a member State of the Council of Europe, it should legally fight impunity and thus ensure access to Volodymyr Tsemakh as part of the investigation into the downing of flight MH17 case.

The relevant statement for the press was posted on the PACE website, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

¨The fact that Ukraine allowed Mr Tsemakh to travel to Russia does not mean that he is no longer required to co-operate in the investigation of this terrible event. Russia is a member State of the Council of Europe and as such is legally bound to fight impunity,” she said.

The statement also reads that the PACE Committee welcomes the exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

At the same time, the PACE Committee head insisted that “Volodymyr Tsemakh, a person of interest regarding the downing of flight MH17, who was included in the exchange at Russia’s request, must remain available to the Dutch authorities investigating the case”,

She also added that in early October, the committee she would chair “would appoint a Rapporteur mandated to assess the progress made in investigating this tragedy and holding to account those responsible.”

As Ukrinform reported, Ukraine and Russia exchanged detainees in the 35-for-35 format on September 7. The list included eleven Ukrainian political prisoners illegally convicted in Russia and 24 Ukrainian sailors who were captured near the Kerch Strait in late November 2018.

Among those released by the Ukrainian side was Volodymyr Tsemakh - ex-militant of the Donetsk People’s Republic, who is a witness in the downing of the МН17 flight case.

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