Warsaw, December 6 – On behalf of 70 institutions and organisations from 23 countries, the Prize of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience was awarded to Dmytro Khyliuk in recognition of his courage and his tireless efforts in advocating human rights and fundamental democratic values and freedom during the war caused by the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

During the invasion of the Russian army in the Kyiv region, on March 3, 2022, journalist Dmytro Khyliuk was kidnapped. In August 2022, through the International Committee of the Red Cross, Dmytro Khyliuk’s parents received a letter from him dated April 2022. The Russians are still holding 42 people captive from the Khyliuk community. His official status is a civilian hostage. According to international law, such people should be returned outside special exchanges.

 

They tried to exchange him several times, but every time, the Russians broke the agreement at the last moment concerning him and several other people. The international organisation, “Reporters without Borders”, managed to interview five witnesses who confirmed the stay of УНІАН journalist Dmytro Khyliuk, kidnapped by the Russians, Novozybkovsky Pretrial Detention Facility No. 2 in Bryansk Region in 2022. Also, according to the received data, at least 500 Ukrainians are still held in this prison.

In the name of Dmytro Khyliuk, the award was handed to Tetiana Poliakovska, journalist, УНІАН correspondent, Khyliuk’s friend.