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KIEV, Ukraine (CNN, April 27, 2014) – Discussions appeared to be under way Sunday aimed at securing the release of Western and Ukrainian military observers seized by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, shortly after several of them were paraded before the media.
At least seven of the inspectors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe appeared at the news conference staged by the self-declared mayor of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomarev — who referred to them as “prisoners of war.”
The observers said that although they have diplomatic status, they went along with the news conference because the mayor asked them to — the implication being that they may have been forced to make this appearance.
The OSCE inspectors, who were seized Friday outside Slavyansk, also said they agreed to the news conference so that their families could see them.
Axel Schneider, leader of the delegation, said, “We are held here; I cannot go home on my free decision … and it is logical in the eyes of the mayor, Ponomarev, that he can use us to present his positions.”
Schneider said the team, which includes eight Europeans and several Ukrainians, was being held in the cellar of a building. No indication was given of when, or if, the delegation will be released.
Holger Schmuck, one of four German members of the team, said the conditions in which they are being held had significantly improved in the past 24 hours.
He said they were always guarded by armed men but had not been threatened.
