KYIV. Aug 5 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko have discussed in detail the detention of a group of individuals associated with the Wagner private military company in the vicinity of Minsk in late July, the Ukrainian presidential website said on Wednesday.
Zelensky said over the phone that he has no doubt that the persons involved in the operations of illegal forces in Donbas will not escape justice. "Hopefully, everyone suspected of perpetrating terrorist activity on Ukrainian territory will be handed over to us to be held criminally liable consistent with existent international legal documents," he said.
The heads of state noted the importance of further efficient interaction between the relevant agencies of Ukraine and Belarus, in particular, in the context of the transfer to Ukraine of individuals suspected of terrorist activity on Ukrainian territory.
The interlocutors also highlighted the preparations for the Third Forum of Regions of Ukraine and Belarus due to be held in the fall of 2020.
Zelensky personally thanked Lukashenko for the humanitarian assistance provided to the populations of flood-stricken areas in western Ukraine, which was given in July. "This genuine gesture of friendship from Belarus is another confirmation of the value of the partnership that exists between our countries," he said.
Additionally, the presidents discussed the coronavirus situation in their countries and efforts to contain the epidemic.
Thirty-three Russian citizens were detained near Minsk on July 29. The Belarusian authorities said they are members of the Wagner private military company suspected of intending to organize mass unrest during the presidential election.
Russian Consul to Belarus Kirill Pletnev said on August 3 that the Russian citizens detained in Belarus described themselves as travelers in transit to Latin America. The men were supposed to depart from the Minsk Airport for Istanbul on July 25, on their way to a third country, Pletnev said.