Ukrainian forces release video showing Putin ally Medvedchuk asking to be exchanged
Ukraine's security service has released a video showing arrested Russian pro-Russian Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk asking to be exchanged for Ukrainian troops and civilians in the besieged city of Mariupol.
It came as two captured British fighters appeared on Russian state TV, asking to be exchanged for Medvedchuk, who is a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In the video by Mr Medvedchuk, he was seen addressing Mr Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
It was not clear how freely Mr Medvedchuk, the leader of Ukraine's Opposition Platform -- For Life party, spoke in the video.
In his appeal, Medvedchuk asked to be exchanged for the defenders of Mariupol and its citizens who are there today, and had no opportunity for a safe exit through a humanitarian corridor Three days after Russia moved its forces into Ukraine on February 24, Ukraine said Mr Medvedchuk had escaped from house arrest.
He had been confined to his home in May 2021 and was charged with high treason and later with aiding terrorism.
Medvedchuk denies wrongdoing and argues that he is the victim of politically motivated repression. He was captured by Ukraine last week.
Russia last week turned down a prisoner swap for Medvedchuk, and issued a warning to Ukrainian authorities that those holding him might soon be detained themselves.
After the video of Mr Medvedchuk was released on Monday, British men Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin appeared in footage broadcast on the Rossiya 24 state TV channel and spoke separately after being prompted by an unidentified man.
It was not clear how freely the two men were able to talk.
The pair asked British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to exchange them for Medvedchuk.
Mr Pinner and Mr Aslin fought on the Ukrainian side in Mariupol, which is now almost entirely under Russian control, apart from the sprawling Azovstal steelworks where some Ukrainian fighters are holed up.
The unidentified man on Russian state TV was seen showing the two Britons a video on his mobile phone of Mr Medvedchuk's wife Oksana, making an appeal over the weekend for her husband to be swapped for the two British nationals.
"I understand the situation, Mr Pinner, who was wearing a blue hooded top and looked tired and nervous," he said after being shown the video.
I'd like to appeal to the British government to send me back home, I'd like to see my wife again, he said.
Mr Pinner made a direct appeal to Mr Johnson, which he said was on behalf of himself and Mr Aslin.
We look to exchange myself and Aiden Aslin for Medvedchuk. He said that he spoke a little Russian and had been treated well. I would really appreciate your help in this matter.
The unidentified man was then shown speaking to Mr Aslin, who was sitting in a chair wearing a T-shirt bearing the emblem of Ukraine's Azov battalion.
Boris Johnson needs to listen to what Oksana Medvedchuk's wife said, said Aslin, who looked nervous.
If Boris Johnson cares about British citizens, then he would help pressure Zelenskiy to do the right thing and return Viktor to his family and return us to our families. The British Foreign Office did not make a statement about the footage but released a statement made by the Pinner family.
Our family is currently working with the Foreign Office along with the family Aiden Aslin who is also being held by the Russian Army to make sure their rights as prisoners of war are upheld according to the Geneva Convention.
Russia will keep an eye on Medvedchuk's fate.