Ukraine Offers To Swap Captured Close Friend Of Putin In Exchange For POWs In Russian Custody

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country was willing to swap one of its wealthiest citizens in exchange for prisoners of war who are currently in Russian captivity.

Viktor Medvedchuk, a former oligarch and a pro-Russia politician was captured on Tuesday after he escaped from house arrest following Russia's invasion.

Reuters

Close friend of Putin

The 67-year-old who is known to be very close to Russian President Vladimir Putin was being held under house arrest since last year on treason charges.

He was accused of attempting to steal natural resources from Russia-annexed Crimea and of handing Ukrainian military secrets to Moscow.

Medvedchuk who runs a pro-Russian Opposition Platform - For Life party has repeatedly described the accusations against him as "political repression".

He had fled from his home after Russia launched the attack on Ukraine on February 24.

Reuters

Fled house arrest after the war

Medvedchuk, who counts Putin among his personal friends and says he is godfather to his youngest daughter Darya, was arrested by Ukraine's security service SBU in what is being described as a special operation.

"You can be a pro-Russian politician and work for the aggressor state for years. You may have been hiding from justice lately. You can even wear a Ukrainian military uniform for camouflage.

"But will it help you escape punishment? Not at all! Shackles are waiting for you and same goes for traitors to Ukraine like you," the SBU said in a statement posted on social media.

Ukraine Armed Forces

It also shared photos of dishevelled-looking Medvedchuk with his hands in cuffs and dressed in a Ukrainian army uniform.

Security agency chief Ivan Bakanov said agents had carried out a "lightning-fast and dangerous multi-level special operation to detain" him.

Zelensky's offer

On Wednesday, during his televised address, Ukraine President Zelensky said he was ready to swap Medvedchuk for Ukrainians captured by Russia.

"I propose to the Russian Federation to exchange this guy of yours for our boys and our girls who are now in Russian captivity," Zelensky said in a video address posted on Telegram.

Reuters

"And may Medvedchuk be an example for you. Even the former oligarch did not escape. What can we say about much simpler criminals from the Russian hinterland? We will get everyone."

A Kremlin spokesman was cited by the Tass news agency as saying he had seen the photo and could not say whether it was genuine.

Prosecutor arrested for spying

This is the second high-profile arrest made by Ukraine in recent days.

A top Ukrainian prosecutor was recently arrested for passing military secrets to Russian spies in exchange for his safety should the region he lived in fall under Moscow¡¯s control in the future.

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