Regardless of whether what he's saying is true, it could still in theory be coerced, which is why there is a general prohibition on allowing POWs to make public

Regardless of whether what he's saying is true, it could still in theory be coerced, which is why there is a general prohibition on allowing POWs to make public statements. And while in this case it does not appear as if he is being coerced, allowing him to make a public statement like this isn't a good precedent to set, as the Russians will start trotting out POWs as well.