The second phase of the prisoner exchange agreement signed between the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah and the Damascus administration has been postponed due to the latter’s refusal to release YPJ fighters.
On April 1, the Council of Sheikh Maqsoud (Şêxmeqsûd) and Ashrafiyah (Eşrefiyê) Neighborhoods and the Damascus Administration signed a 14-point agreement, including the promotion of coexistence, protection of residents, prevention of armed actions and regulation of internal security.
An article of the agreement envisaged both sides in Aleppo Governorate emptying their prisons and exchanging all prisoners captured during the conflict.
In accordance with the agreement, 146 members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) were released in exchange for 97 members of the Damascus government on April 3.
The second phase of the prisoner exchange agreement has been postponed due to Damascus' refusal to release fighters of the YPJ.
Under the agreement, 285 prisoners and 161 detainees were to be exchanged today. However, the committee responsible for implementing the agreement announced that the Damascus government had violated the terms of the agreement and, in particular, had failed to comply with the condition of emptying prisons.
The Co-Chair of the General Council, Hêvîn Silêman, said, “One of the most important points of the agreement was the complete evacuation of prisons holding prisoners. We were ready for this, but the Damascus administration refused to release YPJ fighters.”
Qehreman Bekir, head of the Internal Security Forces, said, “The first exchange was successful. However, the Damascus administration blocked the handover of the second group. We were ready to release all prisoners. We will not back down.”
Although the agreement signed between the parties is technically in force, its future remains uncertain due to the Damascus administration's stance.
