First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukrainian representative in the humanitarian subgroup Iryna Gerashchenko has said that several convicts pardoned by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko will be handed over to ORDLO (separate areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions).

"I am very grateful to the president for this act of mercy, for his dedicated efforts to do everything possible to free the hostages. I recall that the Ukrainian side will release 15 previously convicted offenders from custody in the coming days as an act of humanism. Most of them have been pardoned by the president, among them - six women, elderly and sick persons," she wrote on her Facebook page expressing the expectation that the other side will demonstrate humanism on the eve of holidays and "the process of hostages' release will be unlocked."

Gerashchenko said the work of the humanitarian subgroup in Minsk on December 21 was fully devoted to the issue of hostage release. "I am saying with cautious optimism that we have a promise that the teenagers detained for 'subversive activities' will see the New Year with their families. They promised that to us and we will be happy that the children will be with their families," she said.

"We have discussed the names and the lists a thousand times to achieve a compromise. We suggested holding a Skype conference on Friday to get a result," Gerashchenko said.

According to earlier reports, nine convicts were pardoned under the Ukrainian president's decree dated December 20.