People First International Campaign

Thirty Ukrainian, Russian and international civil and human rights organizations, including Memorial International Association and the association's members, Memorial Human Rights Defense Center and the Kharkiv Human Rights Defense Group, are launching the People First campaign for the release of captives held as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is addressed to the new US administration along with all international bodies and governments involved in or having influence on possible negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. We are publishing the campaign statement.

2025 is likely to see some form of negotiation between Russia, Ukraine and the wider international community. Our movement has come together around a simple call: put people first. A key priority of any negotiated agreement must be the release of all captives and illegally deported children of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Among them:

• Thousands of Ukrainian civilians held by the Russian state
• Thousands of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war held by both sides
• At least 20,000 of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred or deported to Russia
• Hundreds of Russian political prisoners held behind bars for protests against the war

We demand:

• In accordance with international law, all Ukrainian civilians captured and illegally detained by Russian forces, including those sentenced by Russian courts, be released and allowed to return home immediately and unconditionally. Those whose homes are in Russian-controlled areas, should be given the opportunity to leave for Ukrainian government-controlled areas of the country should they wish to do so.
• All illegally transferred or deported children be returned.
• It is also essential to ensure timely repatriation of deported Ukrainian convicts and patients of closed medical institutions, such as nursing homes and psychiatric facilities.
• All efforts are made to repatriate POWs, through exchanges or otherwise, as soon as possible, and no later than at the end of active hostilities as required by the Geneva Conventions.
• Russian political prisoners already sentenced to prison terms or awaiting sentences in connection to their antiwar statements and actions be released and should face no limits on their freedom of movement, including to travel abroad if they wish to do so.
• A special independent international mechanism is established to facilitate these processes, monitor their compliance with international humanitarian law, and ensure regular, transparent reporting on progress, including updates on the release of prisoners and adherence to humanitarian standards.
• Russia must provide immediate full access to all the captives and all illegally transferred or deported children for the UN agencies and ICRC.

Initiators:

• Center for Civil Liberties
• International Memorial Association
• Human Rights Watch
• International Federation for Human Rights
• Memorial Human Rights Defense Center
• Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
• Moscow Helsinki group
• Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
• PAX   
• Stichting Justice Initiative
• European Prison Litigation Network 
• Norwegian Helsinki Committee
• Another Europe Is Possible
• OVD-Info
• Platform of Civic, Anti-War and Humanitarian Initiatives
• Truth Hounds, Ukraine
• Voices of Children Charitable Foundation, Ukraine
• Protection For Prisoners of Ukraine
• Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners of the Kremlin
• Assemblée Européenne des Citoyens, France
• Ukraine Comb’art 
• European network of solidarity with Ukraine
• Syrian British Consortium
• Clear, Centre of Law enforcement activities research
• “Russia Behind Bars” Charity Foundation for Aid to Convicts and Their Families
• Freedom for Eurasia
• Expert Group “Sova”
• “Peace. Progress. Human rights” Movement
• Organization of relatives of missing persons “Liberta”
• Public Verdict