- Title: UKRAINE: Separatist leader in Slaviansk says Kiev "spy" is in detained OSCE group
- Date: 25th April 2014
- Summary: SLAVIANSK, UKRAINE (APRIL 25, 2014) (REUTERS) LENIN MONUMENT IN FRONT OF ADMINISTRATION BUILDING MEN BY SANDBAG BARRICADE IN FRONT OF ENTRANCE TO ADMINISTRATION BUILDING DONETSK REPUBLIC AND DONETSK SELF-DEFENCE UNIT FLAGS BY ENTRANCE SELF-PROCLAIMED MAYOR OF SLAVIANSK, VYACHESLAV PONOMARYOV, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SELF-PROCLAIMED MAYOR OF SLAVIANSK, VYACHESLAV PONOMARYOV, SAYING: "There was an agreement that once they've arrive here they would call and tell they are at the checkpoint and they would be let in. What's happened there, how it happened - I don't know to be honest." MAN IN CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM AND HELMET WITH SIGN IN RUSSIAN "I SPEAK RUSSIAN" (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SELF-PROCLAIMED MAYOR OF SLAVIANSK, VYACHESLAV PONOMARYOV, SAYING: "I've heard, I got reports that there was somebody there from the military headquarters. It is already doesn't look good. People who come here as observers from the European Union bring a real spy with them, it doesn't look good at all. This is an example of the policy of double-standards." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SELF-PROCLAIMED MAYOR OF SLAVIANSK, VYACHESLAV PONOMARYOV, SAYING: "A simple plan is being carried out (by Kiev): to block all entrances into the city and then use special forces to carry out cleansing operation." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AND PIGEONS ON SQUARE
- Embargoed: 10th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA22198YTJMOUN8WMLKZ9NR1JX2
- Story Text: The main separatist leader in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk said on Friday (April 25) that a military "spy" for the Kiev government was in a group of international military observers who have been held by the rebels.
Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, self proclaimed mayor of Slaviansk, told reporters he believed a problem had arisen when the OSCE observers arrived at a checkpoint on the edge of the city manned by separatist fighters.
"There was an agreement that once they've arrive here they would call and tell they are at the checkpoint and they would be let in. What's happened there, how it happened - I don't know to be honest," said Ponomaryov, de facto mayor of the city which is controlled by pro-Russian separatists opposed to the central government.
"I've heard, I got reports that there was somebody there from the military headquarters. It is already doesn't look good. People who come here as observers from the European Union bring a real spy with them, it doesn't look good at all. This is an example of the policy of double-standards."
The interior ministry in Kiev said the group, which included seven OSCE representatives and five members of the Ukrainian armed forces, was being held in the building of the state security agency (SBU) in the city which has been occupied by pro-Russian separatists.
"Negotiations are going on for their release," a ministry statement said.
Ponomaryov also talked about the new tactics which he thinks Kiev is going to use against separatists.
"A simple plan is being carried out (by Kiev): to block all entrances into the city and then use special forces to carry out cleansing operation," said Ponomaryov.
Slaviansk, a city of around 130,000, has been for two weeks under the control of separatists who, like similar groups elsewhere in eastern Ukraine, oppose the central government in Kiev after the overthrow of a Kremlin-backed president. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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