The Ukrainian Parliament's Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova met with Ukrainian citizens Yevhen Fomenkov and Oleksandr Sanpiter who returned home after three years in captivity in Iraq.
In July 2017, Ukrainians were captured by unknown individuals and held hostage in a remote area of Iraq. In early December 2020, they were finally released and were able to return home. The process of liberation of Ukrainian citizens was personally coordinated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During the meeting in Kyiv, Liudmyla Denisova assured Yevhen Fomenkov and Oleksandr Sanpiter that she would ensure parliamentary control over the observance of their rights and freedoms, as well as the provision of the necessary assistance. The released citizens, in particular, asked for a medical examination.
Ukraine expresses gratitude to the Honorary Consul of Iraq Farhad Ali Shakir and officials of the cities of Sulaymaniyah, Erbil, Baghdad, the Government of the Republic of Iraq for their huge contribution to the release of Ukrainian citizens from captivity.
The President of Ukraine noted that the state did not forget about Ukrainians illegally detained in other countries.
"We will fight for every citizen who got into trouble. Because for us a person is the highest value," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.