In brief
The Kremlin acknowledged that there are currently no agreements between Russian and Ukrainian human rights ombudsmen for prison visits, even though Ukrainian ombud Dmitry Lubinets recently traveled to Russia. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such visits would require a multi‑step coordination process and that the precedent was created by Lubinets’ trip as part of a humanitarian mission in Alyoshki.
The Kremlin has confirmed that, as of today, no formal agreements exist between Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova and Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets concerning prison visits in either country. Yet the fact that Lubinets has already travelled to Russia, according to the Kremlin, sets a precedent for such exchanges.
In a televised interview with Russia’s Vedomosti, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that if a need for such visits were to arise, the two parties would first have to "work out a plan" and then "coordinate with their relevant authorities," describing the process as "multi‑stage". He stressed that he had seen no agreements in place "so far".
«If this issue should arise, they must certainly work out a plan in the first place, and then each party will need to coordinate with their relevant authorities…This is a multi‑stage process. So far, there are no agreements on this matter,»
Peskov added that Lubinets had arrived in Russia for the first time as the representative of the Ukrainian human rights office during a humanitarian mission to the settlement of Alyoshki. He called the visit a "precedent" for potential future reciprocity.
«Lubinets arrived in Russia. This is for the first time he has come to Russia, creating a precedent,» Peskov said.
The mission in Alyoshki was organised to support civilians amid a temporary ceasefire in the Kherson region, which ran from 04:00 a.m. Moscow time on 27 October to 22:59 p.m. Moscow time on 1 November 2026. Food, medicine and essential items were provided to residents, and voluntary evacuation was offered to those who wished to leave.
While no reciprocal visit arrangements have been ratified, the Kremlin’s acknowledgment of Lubinets’ trip indicates that the door may be open for further dialogue once the necessary procedural steps are agreed upon.
