"Ми здатні забрати з ТОТ людей, проти яких є кримінальні провадження": Лубінець told how the evacuation mechanism works

Every week, Ukraine returns citizens from temporarily occupied territories, including elderly people, children and people with limited mobility who need special support. Наразі Офіс Human Rights Commissioner Верховної Ради processes each appeal individually and agrees with the Russian side on the possibility of leaving Ukraine.

This was stated by ВРУ Commissioner for Human Rights Дмитро Лубінець in the "Тепер головне" project on Espreso.

Ukraine returns citizens from temporarily occupied territories every week

According to Дмитра Лубінця, the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of Верховної Ради actually took over the function of organizing the evacuation of Ukrainians from the temporarily occupied territories and negotiations with the Russian side. Now the return of people takes place every week.

"Ми зараз виступаємо як єдиний орган, який може і домовляється з росіянами щодо евакуації з тимчасово окупованої території України. Ми вже вийшли на таку періодичність. Кожного тижня ми повертаємо громадян України з ТОТ", said the ombudsman.

He stressed that different categories of citizens can apply for help, including children, the elderly, people with limited mobility and those who need additional support.

In particular, on Friday, 16 October, 11 citizens were returned to the territory controlled by Ukraine. Among them was 96-year-old woman who needed a special medical transportation organization.

"Частина з них були маломобільні. Одній жінці взагалі було 96 років. І вона потребувала такого, знаєте, окремого технічного супроводу. І на ТОТ її везли на кареті швидкої допомоги. І зразу на кордоні мої співробітники зустрічали каретою швидкої. І, по суті, вся ця група потребувала окремої уваги", said Дмитро Лубінець.

How to organize departure from ТОТ

The Ombudsman explained that there is no single universal algorithm for leaving the temporarily occupied territories. Ukrainian state bodies do not have access to these territories, therefore, they cannot automatically guarantee a safe departure for every citizen.

At the same time, the Office of the Commissioner considers each appeal separately: checks the availability of documents, determines the possible route and holds negotiations with the Russian side.

"Коли звертаються до нас, ми беремо в роботу кожен кейс, ми аналізуємо, чи є документи, як треба прорахувати логістичний маршрут. Ми зразу ведемо перемовини з росіянами", he noted.

According to Дмитра Лубінця, there are cases when it was possible to organize departure even for Ukrainians against whom the occupation authorities opened criminal proceedings.

"Тому, по суті, це зараз єдиний алгоритм, коли громадяни України, які мають проблеми того чи іншого характеру, можуть усе ж таки звідти виїхати", the ombudsman said.

Ukrainians can return through Belarus

Another route of return is the checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border of Mokran - Domanovo. To get to the territory controlled by Ukraine in this way, citizens have to first leave the temporarily occupied territory to Russia, then get to Belarus and from there cross the border with Ukraine.

Дмитро Лубінець also thanked Ukrainian diplomats working in Minsk. According to him, Ukrainians who have problems with documents can contact the Ukrainian consulate in the Belarusian capital to get the necessary assistance for their return.

The Ombudsman urged citizens who need assistance with leaving the temporarily occupied territories to contact his Office.

"Я хотів чергово звернутись до всіх громадян України, які знають, що треба допомога, вам треба допомога, будь ласка, короткий номер 1678, звертайтесь, ми пропрацюємо по вашому питанню і точно зробимо, щоб усім допомогти",

• 15 October became known that from ТОТ on the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government 14 October managed to return 19-year-old girl and her older sister in the framework of the initiative Bring Kids Back UA.