Detained Military Observers in Ukraine Have Been Released

A group of international military observers who were detained last week by pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine have been released today, officials said.

Seven members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) were freed after they were taken into custody in the city of Sloviansk on April 25.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter said in news release that the situation in eastern and southern Ukraine is “at risk to deteriorate rapidly. Joint efforts to stop escalation and to find a way back to dialogue have to be undertaken.”

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) confirmed the release of a group of military observers who were detained last week by pro-Russia separatists.

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Axel Schneider, the leader of the detained group, told reporters on April 27 that they were in the country on behalf of the OSCE and were only there to do military verification work, and were not spies.

European military observers detained in Ukraine say they have not been mistreated.

But Vyacheslav Ponomarev, the self-appointed mayor of Sloviansk, said on April 27 that they would not be released.

“We are in a war situation here, will not simply release detained officers,” Ponomarev told reporters. “I wanted to reassure their families.”

The separatists did release one of the military observers earlier due to health reasons. Five detained Ukrainian assistants were also released today.

Ponomarev told the Associated Press that "they are not being released — they are leaving us, as we promised them."

“In this very tense situation, it was of utmost importance for all sides to act responsibly, exercise maximal restraint, to refrain from violence, and search for solutions through dialogue,” said Burkhalter.

The observers' release comes as violence erupted in Odessa between pro-unity and pro-Russia protesters Friday. At least 31 people died after they were chased into a building and a fire ignited during the clashes.