UKRAINE: A pro-Russian separatist representative in the rebel-held eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk says OSCE military observers will remain in custody as an investigation into their activities continues

Record ID: 450874

  • Title: UKRAINE: A pro-Russian separatist representative in the rebel-held eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk says OSCE military observers will remain in custody as an investigation into their activities continues
  • Date: 26th April 2014
  • Summary: SLAVIANSK, UKRAINE (APRIL 26, 2014) (REUTERS) BARRICADE IN FRONT OF SECURITY BUILDING OCCUPIED BY PRO-RUSSIAN SEPARATISTS TANK SEEN THROUGH AN OPENING IN BARRICADE PEOPLE BY BARRICADE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) YEVGENY GORBIK, PRO-RUSSIAN SEPARATISTS' REPRESENTATIVE, SAYING: "A Bulgarian officer had a notebook on him with notes in Russian confirming his secret activities, meetings with secret agents, and conducting spy activities both against Ukraine and Russia." REPORTER ASKING: "What are the Germans accused of?" GORBIK ANSWERING: "Of nothing so far, they were simply detained. They happened to be in a group of people the legitimacy of whose activities is a cause of suspicion." BARRICADE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) YEVGENY GORBIK, SEPARATISTS' REPRESENTATIVE, SAYING: REPORTER ASKING: "Have you released the observers?' GORBIK ANSWERING: " No. They are not observers, they are spies. We have information confirming that. The information confirming their spying activities was in their papers." REPORTER ASKING: "Are they there? (referring to Security building) GORBIK ANSWERING: "They are not here, trust me. They are not there in that particular building. REPORTER ASKING: "Where are they?" GORBIK ANSWERING: 'How would I know?" TANK BY BARRICADES (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) YEVGENY GORBIK, SEPARATISTS' REPRESENTATIVE, SAYING: "We are just investigating their activities - what were they doing and where." REPORTER ASKING: "What will you do with them if you prove they are really spies?" GORBIK ANSWERING: "I don't know. It's not up to me to decide. I've just delivered information to you. But people at the top will decide, our leadership." REPORTER ASKING: "Where at the top, your administration?" GORBIK ANSWERING: "That's correct." VARIOUS BARRICADES
  • Embargoed: 11th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2YRI0Z7FC0YNQUQJBFUPEKBAW
  • Story Text: Pro-Russian separatists holding personnel from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in eastern Ukraine insisted the military observers were spies on Saturday (April 26) whilst Ukraine's state security service said the detention was planned and coordinated by a Russian special service operative.
    Speaking to media in the eastern Ukraine city of Slaviansk, one of the separatists, Yevgeny Gorbik, said he had proof one of the people detained was a spy adding this undermined the OSCE mission altogether.

    "A Bulgarian officer had a notebook on him with notes in Russian confirming his secret activities, meetings with secret agents, and conducting spy activities both against Ukraine and Russia," he said Asked what the German nationals were accused of Gorbik said:
    "Of nothing so far, they were simply detained. They happened to be in a group of people the legitimacy of whose activities is a cause of suspicion."

    "They are not observers, they are spies. We have information confirming that. The information confirming their spying activities was in their papers," Gorbik added.
    He also said the observers were not being held in the Security Services building.
    Russia, which denies that it has any of its troops or agents in eastern Ukraine, said on Saturday that it was doing what it could to resolve the situation involving the detention of the observers.
    In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said Russia was "taking measures to resolve the situation within the framework of existing possibilities". It gave no details about what it was doing.
    Ukraine's state security service said on Saturday in a written statement on their website that one of the international observers needed urgent medical care adding that they believed they were being held in inhuman conditions in the basement of the separatist headquarters.

    "Among those detained is a person who needs immediate medical help." The statement said Ukrainian security services were ready to provide medical assistance, but the separatists had rejected this offer. The statement added: "the terrorists plan to use the hostages as a human shield."
    It said the detention of the observers was planned and coordinated by a Russian citizen who Kiev says is a Russian special service operative.
    A German government source said an OSCE negotiating team was on its way to the region to try to secure the release of the observers.
    Meanwhile Ukraine Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, in Rome for the canonisation ceremonies on Sunday for John Paull II and John XXIII said in a statement that he would return home a day earlier than planned without giving further details.
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