"In Ukraine, there is no consensus on the issue of liberation": Venediktov - about the meeting with Cyril Vyshinsky

- Whose idea was to write such a letter?

- I think that the idea to write a letter to mother Kirill Vyshinsky belonged to mother. But since she, the family, the wife, had no contacts, they came to me through mutual friends. They asked if I could fly to Kiev. I said: of course, for this I can fly.

- Are you familiar with the content of the letter?

- I read this letter after I gave it to President Zelensky. I took a copy of the letter that I had in the envelope to the SIZO and gave it to Cyril. He did not read with me either. But after all this, one of the representatives of the office of the president gave me the opportunity to read the letter. Because he knew that they would ask.

The most surprising thing about this letter, is surprising, in fact, was that there was no request for help or for release. Did not have. Mom, Larisa Romanovna, told the story of her family. Which is there, in Ukraine, in the south. And it all went through this. Now the part is there, the part is here. Cyril's father is there, the mother is here, they are divorced. Wife and daughter here, Cyril there. And this is the story of many families. Of course, piercing letter. And I think I understand what impression it made on President Zelensky.

• Kiev remand prison №13
• RIA News

- Have you used any personal connections?

- I used personal connections. I was like an absolutely private person. Moreover, I had neither the authority nor the instructions. Naturally, it was necessary to grope for new people in the team of the new president of Zelensky, I had no connections there. And I had to fly to Europe first, establish contacts with them. And only then, during the week, they gave me such a trip. I understood that I needed this letter to fall into the hands of the addressee. And the only thing I demanded is a guarantee that an hour after I deliver this letter - it doesn't matter to whom - I will be confirmed that it will be in the hands of President Zelensky.

- So you personally did not meet with Zelensky, but transferred through a trusted person?

- This is one of his closest assistants. I read his biography and realized that it was him. I compared the photos (I'm a suspicious person) - it was him. We talked with him for two and a half hours. And he took Zelensky. He had a tight schedule, he traveled to Chernobyl.

And an hour later came otvetka, I was told to be on the phone. I thought: what can they answer me? The same court must decide. And they offered me a meeting with Cyril in the SIZO. This meant that the letter was accepted, read and received.

- In what conditions is Cyril now?

- He lives in a quadruple cell. It is quite large, very light. TV works there, all Ukrainian channels are on. He sits with former law enforcement officers. That is, the former prosecutor, the former investigator ... This is such a special unit ... There prison life - unpleasant, uncomfortable, but tolerable, in terms of what I expected to see.

- Cyril is healthy, does not complain?

- Well, listen, the prison does not paint anyone. He is pale yellow.

I never knew him before and did not see him, we did not know each other. And we have completely different political views. Even when I entered, he was so surprised. He did not know that I would come. He may have thought that I came to provoke him ... I do not know.

At first there was such a surprise. But then ... We talked for more than 40 minutes in the presence of the Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova, who, in fact, had the right to lead me there. And then we were left, at my request, and we, probably, had already spoken for about 17 minutes already. And he did not seem sick to me. But it is clear that he is very tense and dejected.

• Kiev remand prison No. 13 (Lukyanovskiy SIZO) in Kiev, which contains Cyril Vyshinsky
• RIA News

- Do you think there are prospects for exchanging it for someone?

- There was no talk about any exchange at all. These are insinuations of people who do not understand how this works. If we are talking about Cyril, we are talking about an absolutely humanitarian act. First - the trial, which we are waiting for on Monday. Of course, in the conversations all the time there were sailors, other people who were sitting on both sides of the warring territories. But it was talk that talked about the problem, not the exchange.

This (the situation with Cyril Vyshinsky. - RT ) is an absolutely unique story, but which, in my opinion, can begin this discharge through mutual liberation. The Ukrainian side does not want to talk about the exchange - in any way. Including the most senior people. And the Russian side does not want to talk about the exchange. And by the way, I am very grateful to Dmitry Peskov, who, at that moment when I was sitting with decision-makers there (in Ukraine. - RT ), spoke out and said that it was not about exchanges, in general

en is not discussed ... I must say that I have informed both the presidential administration and the press secretary that I am going there (to Kiev. - RT ). In order not to interfere - maybe there are still some negotiations ... Here they knew what I was going with. But I did not get any assignments.

They (Ukrainian interlocutors. - RT ) said: “Ah, are you the one who fit in with Golunov? Listen, you are good at taking people out of prison. ” I say: “Well, see, it means that I am not in vain here. So I’ll hope you heard me. ” It should be noted one important detail. There is no consensus around this issue in Ukraine. And there is no consensus surrounded by President Zelensky around the liberation of Cyril.

I think that Zelensky overcomes resistance not only within the Ukrainian elite (there are opponents, there are nationalists, there are people who believe that he should be sitting), but also inside his entourage, who says: this is weakness, if we contribute to so that Vyshinsky left ...

• Cyril Vyshinsky and his lawyer Andrei Domansky at a meeting of the Podolsky District Court of Kiev
• RIA News

I asked Cyril a direct question: you are a Ukrainian citizen, and you are a Russian citizen; if they let you out, change the measure of restraint, - there is such an opportunity, the court will discuss this on Monday - what decision will you take?

He said: I remain a Ukrainian citizen, I retain Ukrainian citizenship. And I do not want any pardon. I want this trial to continue. I want to be justified - as a Ukrainian citizen by a Ukrainian court. The first thing I will do, he said when I get out, is to jump into the plane and go to my mother and wife, to my daughter ... They have this possibility (change the measure of restraint and leave the SIZO. - RT ) - the so-called bail.

- That is, he does not consider the option of exchange for himself?

- In no case. That's the whole story. Neither he does not consider, nor the Russian authorities do not consider. I spoke this morning with Tatiana Moskalkova, with the ombudsman, who also does this. The Ukrainian government also does not consider. And I did not carry anything on the sailors. I drove only on Cyril. But all around for some reason they say the word "exchange". It is not right. And, perhaps, this is exactly what inhibits what we call exchange here. If now the Ukrainian government makes a gesture, we know that President Putin is also capable of a gesture, and they will start making gestures to each other - maybe as a result people will be free.

I was given an assurance that there would be no obstacles if Kirill wanted to cross the border, go to his mother, go to his wife, be here (in Russia - RT ), - if the court decides to change the preventive measure.

- And who can vouch for him?

- There are three forms. First, there may be house arrest. The second form - he can vouch for himself. That is, he takes the commitment. The third form is when someone vouches for it. Cyril said: "I will vouch for myself that I will be there to draw some people into this?" And the fourth form is cash deposit. But then you have to wait for the bank receipt to come ... If the court decides on a surety - Vyshinsky is immediately released in the courtroom.