Vyshinsky told how Moskalkova persuaded him to board the plane
One of the most famous participants in the recent exchange of detainees between Russia and Ukraine, editor-in-chief of RIA Novosti Ukraine Kirill Vyshinsky, considers Crimea to be the territory of the Russian Federation, and the issue around the peninsula is closed.
He stated this at a press conference in Moscow, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The journalist also explained how he ended up on the exchange lists.
“Ukrainian politicians suggested writing an application for an exchange. I refused to write an application for an exchange because I said that I did not understand what it was. What kind of legal act or political act is this? What is this, explain to me?.. I want to understand, if there are any legal claims against me, present them, if not, release them. And something so vague and incomprehensible, it will be a political decision - no, I don’t want that...
And now the secret of the trick. I left the building of the Court of Appeal on the 27th, having in my hands only an obligation to indicate my place of residence to the court, not to meet with a certain circle of people, since they take part in procedural actions, and to appear when first summoned to court. That is, nothing limited my movements at that moment.
I had a ticket to Moscow on the 28th. I was about to fly away. But the phone rang and I was asked to stay in Kyiv and fly away on the same plane that everyone else was on. Tatyana Nikolaevna Moskalkova called. She said: “You understand that the atmosphere of trust, to put it mildly, is very shaky. That we need to somehow strengthen it. So that you don’t suddenly have a crazy thought that you got on the plane, flew away, and then there’s nothing you can do, please stay late and arrive with everyone. So that this is some kind of sign that all obligations will be fulfilled,” said Vyshinsky.
The journalist also emphasized that he had not yet decided whether to return to Kyiv for the court hearings.
“The one who does not feel inner rightness is afraid. In this sense, I am not afraid. On the other hand, they are afraid for me. I’ll tell you honestly - the wife and mother set conditions. Not a foot yet. No trial has been scheduled. He has one of the approximate dates and I will make decisions, but not today for sure,” said the former prisoner.
He also added that he accepts the choice of the Crimeans and considers the peninsula to be the territory of the Russian Federation.
“One of the Ukrainian politicians said a phrase back in 14 that is etched in my memory. He said: “It’s not the territories that left us, it’s not Crimea, it’s the people that left us. And they just live in Crimea.” They made this decision. It is pointless to evaluate such a decision - whether it is right or wrong, because it is their choice, they made it. All. This is their historical choice, not just a personal one.
It seems fair to me for one reason - because I read a book in Kherson that was in my cell on the prison shelf. “The Favorite” by Valentin Pikul. The second part of this novel is devoted to the development of Novorossiya, when Crimea and Novorossiya were being developed by Russia.
Crimea was part of Ukraine de jure for a little over 60 years. Moreover, of these, they were purely part of Ukraine, directly independent - only 23 years old. Put 200 and 23 on the scales. Then the question of why these people decided this way, made such a choice, it will probably disappear on its own from a historical perspective. It was very difficult for me, since I spent my childhood in Crimea, it was very difficult to travel across borders to the places where I grew up. It was emotionally difficult.
On the other hand, I understood that if these people decided so, then what claims could I make against them? I clenched my inner discomfort into a fist and that’s it – it’s their choice, it deserves much more respect and weighs much more than all the other shouts: “Ours”, “not yours”, “whose?”... That’s it. He is Russian,” Vyshinsky summed up.
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