KYIV. Aug 17 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described Belarus' decision to hand over the Russian citizens, considered by Minsk to be members of the Wagner private military company, to Russia as unfair and inconsistent with friendly relations between Belarus and Ukraine.
"We view this decision as, to put it mildly, unfair and inconsistent with the spirit of relations between Ukraine and Belarus based on the principles of respect and mutual aid," Zelensky posted on Facebook on Saturday.
The handover of the "demons of modern war" was "strange, incorrect and absolutely unacceptable in friendly interstate relations," he said.
He also denied that Ukraine was trying to interfere in Belarus' domestic affairs.
"First of all, publicly speaking of some alleged meddling by Ukraine in the internal processes of Belarus. This definitely did not happen. And secondly, the people, who were clearly involved in interference in the affairs of both Belarus and Ukraine (Ukraine mainly), being demonstrably handed over a third party, that's a bad story. One where trust, objectivity and an adequate evaluation of negative consequences were neglected," Zelensky said.
The approach to evaluating the "case of Wagner members" should be purely legal and objective, he said.
Ukraine's request for the extradition of 28 Wagner group members, nine of whom are Ukrainians suspected of membership of a terror group, remained unanswered, he said.
"Also, there were active attempts, through diplomatic and private channels, to prove to our partners why it would be right and correct to go down precisely the proposed way. But, to our big regret, that did not happen," Zelensky said.
He warned of tragic consequences of the handover. "We understand that the Wagner men will still return to their habitual job: spreading war. We hope Belarusian authorities did not get another burning, bloodless Donbas on their territory, something that all these Wagner men are very good at doing. Because they are - it's about expansionism and violence. Pure violence," Zelensky said.
No one will be able to avoid justice, he said. "Both Wagner members themselves and anyone else, whose business, by their own nature, is death, should know: they will still have to answer. Whether before law or before God now, time will tell," the Ukrainian president said.
On August 14 the Russian Prosecutor General's Office said that 32 of the 33 Russian citizens, who had been detained in Belarus, were repatriated. The men, who Belarus claimed were members of the private military company Wagner, were apprehended near Minsk on July 29 on suspicion of intending to organize mass disturbances during the presidential election in Belarus.