Nicosia, Cyprus. A delegation of Cypriot parliamentarians met former Ukrainian prisoners of war in Nicosia on Tuesday to reaffirm the republic’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Meeting in Nicosia
House foreign affairs committee chair Haris Georgiades and fellow Disy MP Averof Neophytou received former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko and journalist Dmytro Khilyuk. The head of Ukraine’s regional staff for prisoners of war, Yulia Pavliuk, also attended.
According to a parliamentary statement, the delegation is in Cyprus for events organised by the Ukrainian embassy marking four years since the start of Russia’s invasion.
Statements of support
Cypriot MPs expressed firm backing for Ukraine’s independence, territorial integrity and national sovereignty in what they described as its struggle against Russian aggression.
Georgiades said Cyprus has an added moral duty to stand with Ukraine, beyond its commitment to international law, as it remains a country affected by the illegal occupation of its territory. He also referred to the humanitarian issue of Cyprus’s missing persons, drawing parallels with the suffering caused by the war.
Briefing on prisoners of war
Members of the Ukrainian delegation briefed MPs on the current situation regarding prisoners of war, highlighting the difficulty of obtaining reliable information about detainees’ fate.
They recounted their experiences of captivity and said they would continue efforts to raise international awareness until the last prisoner returns. Particular concern was expressed about increasingly draconian living conditions facing civilians in Russian-occupied cities.
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