Ukraine will hold a public discussion about the amnesty of individuals in certain areas of Donbas (ORDLO), but this process is possible only after the end of the active phase of the conflict, First Deputy Chairwoman of the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Gerashchenko, who represents Ukraine in the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), has said.

"Amnesty is carried out in the name of Ukraine, Ukrainian courts and in the liberated territory. It will not be carried out by Zakharchenko and other terrorists, it will be carried out by Ukraine. Therefore, amnesty is not possible under conditions when the armed conflict is in its active phase," she said in an interview with the Censor.Net media outlet, which was published on Tuesday, February 20.

According to her, when discussing the issue of the release of Ukrainian hostages as part of the TCG in Minsk, opponents also raise the issue of amnesty.

"In September 2014, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted for the law on amnesty, but it did not come into force due to the destructive position of the Russian Federation and ORDLO, where they held fake elections according to the Kremlin's scenario," Gerashchenko said, adding that she paid attention to this during negotiations in Minsk.

The politician added that there was still a serious public debate about the amnesty.

"Amnesty will be conducted only when Russian troops leave the occupied territory," she said.