UKRAINE: Colonel Axel Schneider, one of the international observers detained by separatists in the east Ukrainian city of Slaviansk, says the group, "have not been touched" and are healthy

Record ID: 450875

  • Title: UKRAINE: Colonel Axel Schneider, one of the international observers detained by separatists in the east Ukrainian city of Slaviansk, says the group, "have not been touched" and are healthy
  • Date: 27th April 2014
  • Summary: SLAVIANSK, UKRAINE (APRIL 27, 2014) (REUTERS) PEOPLE SEATED BEFORE NEWS CONFERENCE COLONEL AXEL SCHNEIDER (CHECKED SHIRT) MOVING TO SEAT IN FRONT OF MICROPHONES AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) COLONEL AXEL SCHNEIDER, SAYING: "And I can tell you that the word of the mayor is a word of honour. We have not been touched and we have been treated as the maximum extent which is possible under these circumstances." SCHNEIDER SEATED NEXT TO TRANSLATOR (RED SHIRT) AT NEWS CONFERENCE, WITH SEPARATIST DE FACTOR MAYOR OF SLAVIANSK, VYACHESLAV PONOMARYOV (BLACK ZIPPED JACKET), STANDING TO SIDE (SOUNDBITE) (English) COLONEL AXEL SCHNEIDER, SAYING: "The word of the Mayor of this city remains, as long as we stay here in this city and in this region, no harm will be given to the officers and the interpreter." TRANSLATOR SEATED NEXT TO PONOMARYOV DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) COLONEL AXEL SCHNEIDER, SAYING: "We are not prisoners of war. We are the guests of Mayor Ponomaryov, and being treated as such." (SCHNEIDER WAITS FOR RUSSIAN TRANSLATION) JOURNALIST ASKING: "And have you been given any indication as to when you will be released or as to what it would take for you to be released?" SCHNEIDER SAYING: "We have no indication when we will be sent home to our countries and to see our families." (SCHNEIDER WAITS FOR RUSSIAN TRANSLATION) SCHNEIDER SAYING: "The conditions you asked ma'am are not clear to us. It is not us to determine the decisions, we rely on the diplomats from our nations and capitals, who should closely cooperate with the Mayor, Mr. Ponomaryov." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) COLONEL AXEL SCHNEIDER, SAYING: "All officials and our interpreter are healthy." SCHNEIDER LISTENING TO TRANSLATIONS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) COLONEL AXEL SCHNEIDER, SAYING: "And we expect and we wish from the bottom of our hearts to come back to our nations as soon, as quick, as possible." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) COLONEL AXEL SCHNEIDER, SAYING: "And I clearly state the Vienna document diplomats come to the nation without arms, without ammunition. We are not fighters. We are diplomats in uniform." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 12th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA8UGDMUWOXORZD0NF9AFU8LTG9
  • Story Text: The leader of the international observers detained by pro-Russian separatists in the east Ukrainian city of Slaviansk said on Sunday (April 27) all the group were in good health, but they were anxious to be allowed to go home soon.
    Appearing in public for the first time since they were held three days ago, seven officers from the observer team and their translator were brought into a room of waiting journalists in the separatist-held city administration building.
    Separatist de factor mayor of Slaviansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, appeared alongside the detained men, as journalists spoke to the observers, who were in Ukraine under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
    German national Colonel Axel Schneider, who was leading the observer mission, told reporters he had "not been touched," and that there had been no physical mistreatment of the group.
    He said Ponomaryov had guaranteed the group's safety and that he believed the mayor's promise as "the word of the mayor is a word of honour".
    When asked by a journalist if it was his understanding that the group were being held as prisoners of war, Schneider replied:
    "We are not prisoners of war. We are the guests of Mayor Ponomaryov, and being treated as such."
    The journalist continued, "and have you been given any indication as to when you will be released or as to what it would take for you to be released?"

    "We have no indication when we will be sent home to our countries and to see our families," Schneider replied. "It is not us to determine the decisions, we rely on the diplomats from our nations and capitals, who should closely cooperate with the Mayor, Mr. Ponomaryov."
    The group sat side by side at a long table in front of the reporters, looking sombre and serious, but otherwise well.

    "All officials and our interpreter are healthy," Schneider said.

    "We wish from the bottom of our hearts to come back to our nations as soon, as quick, as possible," he added.
    He said the group came to Slaviansk without weapons and were there strictly in line with their mandate under OSCE rules, to carry out military verification work.

    "And I clearly state the Vienna document diplomats come to the nation without arms, without ammunition. We are not fighters. We are diplomats in uniform," he stated.
    During the news conference Schneider also described what happened after the group were seized, explaining how the group had been accommodated in a cellar but that since yesterday they had been in a more comfortable room with heating, daylight and an air conditioner.
    Mediators from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe who are seeking the release of the detained observers arrived in the city on Sunday, according to de facto mayor Ponomaryov.
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