On Saturday, Moscow-based sources reported that Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there are currently no agreements allowing the human rights ombudsmen of Russia and Ukraine to visit each other's prisoners. The statement followed the recent visit of Ukrainian ombudsperson Dmitry Lubinets to Russia, which Peskov called a new precedent.
Peskov explained that if such visits were to happen, they would first need to “work out a plan” and coordinate with the relevant authorities. He described the process as “multi‑stage” and confirmed that no formal agreements exist on the matter.
Lubinets travelled to Russia as part of a humanitarian mission that began in May 2026 to support the civilian population in the settlement of Alyoshki. The mission was carried out amid a temporary ceasefire regime in the Kherson region, which lasted from October 27 to November 1, 2026.
Visit details
During the mission, Lubinets was the first Ukrainian human rights representative to set foot in Russia in this capacity, creating an official precedent for future exchanges. The visit coincided with the delivery of food, medicine and essential supplies to residents of Alyoshki, and the Russian side organized a voluntary evacuation for those who chose to leave.
Peskov said that, “If this issue should arise, they must certainly work out a plan in the first place,” adding that each party will need to coordinate with their authorities. He stressed that the process must move through several stages before any mutual visits could be organized.
"If this issue should arise, they must certainly work out a plan in the first place… This is a multi‑stage process," said Peskov in an interview with Vedomosti.
The Kremlin’s statement highlights that while a precedent has been set, formal agreements and a clear coordination framework are still lacking. The ongoing conflict and the humanitarian situation in Kherson underline the importance of establishing such mechanisms if mutual prison visits are to become a reality.