Ukraine: Separatists Seize Bus With OSCE Monitors

[Bosonic]

Last edited Fri Apr 25, 2014, 06:40 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Reuters

SLAVIANSK, Ukraine/MOSCOW, April 25 (Reuters) - The United States said it was working with allies to impose tougher sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine, where armed pro-Moscow separatists seized a bus carrying international mediators, escalating the two-month-old crisis.

The separatist self-declared mayor of Slaviansk told Reuters the mediators were being held because they were believed to have a spy amongst them from the pro-Western government in Kiev.

"People who come here as observers bringing with them a real spy: it's not appropriate," Vyacheslav Ponomaryov said in front of a security service building occupied by separatists where the Ukrainian government said the observers were being detained.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said 13 observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had been seized, including three members of the German armed forces, a German translator and a Danish national.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/25/ukraine-separatists-seize-monitors_n_5213336.html?utm_hp_ref=world

---

Armed separatists display 'observers' identity cards'

Pro-Russian separatists who claim to have seized unarmed OSCE observers in eastern Ukraine have released images of what appear to be the men's official identity cards.

The German-led group of mediators were travelling on a bus in Slaviansk, which has been under the control of militant separatists for two weeks, when they were said to have been detained at a checkpoint.

Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, the self-proclaimed mayor of the town, accused one of the members of the group of a being a spy for Kiev.

"People who come here as observers bringing with them a real spy: it's not appropriate," he told Reuters.

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-04-25/armed-separatists-display-seized-observers-id-cards/

Contact lost with OSCE mission members in Donetsk region, they could be abducted by terrorists – ministry

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said that contact has been lost with members of a military verification mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Donetsk region.

"In Donetsk region communication has been lost with members of the OSCE military verification mission ... According to preliminary reports, they could be captured by terrorists," the director of the ministry's information policy department, Yevhen Perebyinis, said at a briefing on Friday.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/202324.html

Kiev Loses Contact With OSCE Experts in Donetsk Region

KIEV, April 25 (RIA Novosti) - The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Friday it had lost contact with a group of military experts from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) operating in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk Region.

"We have received information that communication has been lost with the members of the OSCE military mission in the Donetsk Region, which is in Ukraine in accordance to the Vienna document," said Evgeniy Perebiynis, the director for the department of information policy for the ministry.

The ministry earlier said a multinational group of military observers led by Germany had arrived in the country's southeastern region on April 21, replacing a Dutch team that had been working there since April 12.

The OSCE teams are currently deployed in nine locations across Ukraine, including Luhansk and Donetsk, where pro-federalization protests have been on the rise.

http://en.ria.ru/world/20140425/189367150/Kiev-Loses-Contact-With-OSCE-Experts-in-Donetsk-Region.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Ukraine: separatists seize bus carrying international observers

Armed separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk seized a bus carrying international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on Friday, the interior ministry 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 in the city which has been occupied by pro-Russian separatists.

"Negotiations are going on for their release," a ministry statement said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-separatists-seize-bus-carrying-international-observers-1.2621560

[Bosonic]

2. Seven OSCE Observers Seized By Ukraine Rebels

Seven OSCE Observers Seized By Ukraine Rebels

Seven members of an observer mission in Ukraine have been seized by separatists and are being held, says the Kiev government.

The representatives from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe - an independent group which advises countries on governance - were taken in the eastern flashpoint town of Slavyansk, the interior ministry said.

The group were held on Thursday and had not been heard from for a day when the ministry made its announcement.

A separatist leader in Slayansnk said on Friday afternoon he believes the observers have a "spy" in their group.

http://news.sky.com/story/1249468/seven-osce-observers-seized-by-ukraine-rebels

[dipsydoodle]

8. edited : Mysteriously the number seems to have increased to 13.

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said 13 observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had been seized, including three members of the German armed forces, a German translator and a Danish national.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/04/25/uk-ukraine-crisis-idUKBREA3D0C420140425

Wasn't 13 observers as above :

The group was operating under the mandate of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and comprised four Germans, a Pole, a Dane, a Swede and a Czech officer. According to the Ukrainian interior ministry, they were being escorted by five members of the Ukrainian armed forces when their bus was seized by separatists.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/25/ukraine-pro-russian-separatists-european-observers-captive-slavyansk

[Bosonic]

9. no link, but

7 monitors, 5 accompanying ukr soldiers, 1 bus driver

[dipsydoodle]

10. I edited to clarify as you were writing

[dipsydoodle]

3. Sloviansk "people's mayor" confirms detention of bus with servicemen, civilians

"People's mayor" of Sloviansk in Ukraine's Donetsk region Viacheslav Ponomariov said he confirmed the information regarding the detention of a bus with Ukrainian servicemen and civilians and, according to his information, the bus had banned ammunition on board.

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/sloviansk-peoples-mayor-confirms-detention-of-bus-with-servicemen-civilians-345193.html

[Bosonic]

4. OSCE Tweets

1/4 Comms with military observers in Donetsk region lost.Team not OSCE monitors but sent by States under Vienna Doc on military transparency

https://twitter.com/OSCE/status/459747578297716736

2/4 All members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and OSCE/ODIHR election observers are safe and accounted for

https://twitter.com/OSCE/status/459747682819772416

3/4 Military verification team - led by Germans – and composed of 8 members – 4 Germans, 1 Czech, 1 Danish, 1 Polish, 1 Swedish

https://twitter.com/OSCE/status/459747756631134208

4/4 Military verification team sent following invitation from Ukraine under terms of Vienna Document 2011

https://twitter.com/OSCE/status/459748009329582080

[dipsydoodle]

6. Separatist leader in Ukraine city says Kiev 'spy' is in detained OSCE group.

(Reuters) - The main separatist leader in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk said on Friday that a military "spy" for the Kiev government was in a group of international military observers who have been held by the rebels.

"It was reported to me that among them (the detained group) was an employee of the Kiev secret military staff," said Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, de facto mayor of the city which is controlled by pro-Russian separatists opposed to the central government.

"People who come here as observers for the European community bringing with them a real spy - that is inappropriate," Ponomaryov told reporters.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/25/us-ukraine-crisis-spy-idUSBREA3O1LQ20140425

[okaawhatever]

7. Bosonic, can you update your posting to show the latest info about their being held hostage? My info

came from Reuters/HuffPo. If so i'll delete my entry and we can have one with all the info. Thx

[dipsydoodle]

11. Reuters link you mention is at reply #8

.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Ukraine separatists open to swap for OSCE release

A leader for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine said Saturday that a group of foreign military observers who have been detained as suspected "NATO spies" could be released in exchange for jailed pro-Russian activists.

"They are officers from NATO member states," said Vyacheslav Ponomaryev, self-proclaimed mayor of the eastern city of Slovyansk. "As we found maps on them containing information about the location of our checkpoints, we get the impression that they are officers carrying out a certain spying mission."

The German-led, eight-member team was traveling under the auspices of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe when they were detained in Slovyansk.

Germany's Defense Ministry said it had had lost contact with the team, which it said also included five Ukrainians. Tim Guldimann, the OSCE's special envoy for Ukraine, told German public radio WDR on Saturday that "efforts are being made to solve this issue." He declined to elaborate.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/11312369

Thus proving they are hostages.

[karynnj]

13. Unless you accept that there is a new separate country - even though they control

only very small areas, this makes as little sense as Clive Bundy arguing that his ranch is not part of the US. Having maps of the road blocks - that they were suppose to check - is not secret information.

[Catherina]

14. Those aren't mediators. They're NATO military officers on a scouting mission for Kiev and NATO

OSCE ‏@OSCE 13h

1/4 Comms with military observers in Donetsk region lost.Team not OSCE monitors but sent by States under Vienna Doc on military transparency

https://twitter.com/OSCE/status/459747578297716736

OSCEVerified account ‏@OSCE

2/4 All members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and OSCE/ODIHR election observers are safe and accounted for

https://twitter.com/OSCE/statuses/459747682819772416

OSCE ‏@OSCE 13h

3/4 Military verification team - led by Germans – and composed of 8 members – 4 Germans, 1 Czech, 1 Danish, 1 Polish, 1 Swedish

https://twitter.com/OSCE/status/459747756631134208

OSCE ‏@OSCE 13h

4/4 Military verification team sent following invitation from Ukraine under terms of Vienna Document 2011

https://twitter.com/OSCE/status/459748009329582080

This bus was also carrying 5 Ukrainian soldiers, in addition to the "military observers" from Germany, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland and Sweden. It was a mission led by Germany – but was expressly not operating under the terms of the OSCE mission to Ukraine. They are not part of the OSCE mission and are not "working for the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)" as the article's author stated. They're in Ukraine, as a special team, at the invitation of the interim Coup-installed government in Kiev.


And at least one them, ole Johny Boy Christensen was rolling the streets of Ukraine since November 19 even though the Vienna 2011 cover didn't kick in until late March. They'll be released soon, minus their flash drives and other electronic equipment, in exchange for some people Kiev abducted but we never read about in the Western press. Kiev already received the names on the exchange list. Well, they'll be released unless Kiev decides it's more advantageous to milk all the propaganda they can out of this.

But"Mediators" LOL!





There's a lot more about this but what the hell. DU's no longer the place to rock the propaganda machine. The source of the article in the OP is Thomas Groves, a US reporter currently working for Reuters. The quote below applies:

"Indeed, in my four-plus decades in journalism, I have never seen a more thoroughly biased and misleading performance by the major U.S. news media. Even during the days of Ronald Reagan – when much of the government’s modern propaganda structure was created – there was more independence in major news outlets. There were media stampedes off the reality cliff during George H.W. Bush’s Persian Gulf War and George W. Bush’s Iraq War, both of which were marked by demonstrably false claims that were readily swallowed by the big U.S. news outlets.

But there is something utterly Orwellian in the current coverage of the Ukraine crisis, including accusing others of “propaganda” when their accounts – though surely not perfect – are much more honest and more accurate than what the U.S. press corps has been producing.

There’s also the added risk that this latest failure by the U.S. press corps is occurring on the border of Russia, a nuclear-armed state that – along with the United States – could exterminate all life on the planet. The biased U.S. news coverage is now feeding into political demands to send U.S. military aid to Ukraine’s coup regime.

The casualness of this propaganda – as it spreads across the U.S. media spectrum from Fox News to MSNBC, from the Washington Post to the New York Times – is not just wretched journalism but it is reckless malfeasance jeopardizing the lives of many Ukrainians and the future of the planet."

Robert Parry, Ukraine, Through the US Looking Glass, April 16, 2014

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/04/16-6

[Catherina]

15. and.. German FM Steinmeier asking Sergey Lavrov to help

On Friday, Kiev authorities launched the “second stage” of the so-called “anti-terrorist operation” in the city of Slavyansk, which has been one of the strongholds of anti-government activists in the Donetsk region. In the previous stage of the operation Thursday, five activists were reported killed in checkpoints raids, including a 22-year-old man. Slavyansk activists claim the victims were unarmed and stood guard at the checkpoints only to check the IDs of the drivers and to prevent the troops and Right Sector radicals from covertly entering the city.

Inside Slavyansk, stopping vehicles and checking of IDs by armed self-defense activists has recently become frequent amid a tense atmosphere and reports of forces loyal to Kiev infiltrating the defiant city. Protest leader Ponomaryov on Friday claimed that groups of Right Sector members armed with sniper rifles and night vision equipment have been trying to get into Slavyansk under the guise of the city’s blockade by the Ukrainian troops.

http://rt.com/news/154948-eastern-ukraine-osce-detained/

All very true too about those snipers. Pictures of the new Pravy Sektor "National Guard" in their sniper locations are all over twitter.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said four Germans were in the group - three members of the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, and an interpreter.

Von der Leyen said contact had been made with the families of the four Germans, and that it was "important we now use all diplomatic channels so the team is released immediately and unharmed."

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov by phone on Friday, according to the news agency DPA. Steinmeier reportedly called for Moscow to help secure the release of the OSCE observers.

The main separatist leader and de facto mayor in Slovyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, has alleged that one of those detained was a military "spy" for the government in Kyiv.

http://www.dw.de/osce-observers-seized-by-separatists-in-ukraines-east-kyiv-says/a-17592723

Oh the irony of having to ask Moscow for their "help" and so shortly after the White House release the G7 More-Sanctions-Coming letter!

By the way, here's that Dmitri Yarosh recruiting for that "National Guard". Kiev's newly-formed Donbas Anti-Terrorist Battalion (not to be confused with "Activists of the self-defense forces of Donbas" in your post) is only one of his units.

Appeal Of The Right Sector Leader Dmytro Yarosh To The People Of Ukraine, April 12, 2014

In these moments, in the east of Ukraine, in particular in the cities of Donetsk and Sloviansk, a repeat of the Crimean scenario is transpiring.

Criminal groups encouraged by Moscow have been seizing governmental security and law-enforcement buildings, take police hostage, force security and law-enforcement officials to resign.

This anti-Ukrainian insurgency is supported by some local government officials and because of total inactivity of central authorities (in Kyiv), especially the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVS).

The Kremlin is expecting to occupy eastern regions of Ukraine without minimal resistance from the authorities in Kyiv.

Due to the unfolding situation, I order full mobilization for all structures of the Right Sector and prepare for decisive actions in defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

I call on all Ukrainian security and law-enforcement agencies to not only stop averting our activities, but also help the Right Sector restore lawful order on the Ukrainian land.

There is a great danger that the current authorities (in Kyiv) will continue the policy of collaboration.

Due to this, I appeal to all citizens of Ukraine to be ready to put pressure on the current government through protests, assemblies, etc.

In the war time, governments should not be criticized. That is right. But it is also important to remember that in the war time, traitors are executed.

All of the Ukrainian society now must show the greatest unanimity.

Panic, pacifism, hysteria about avoiding provocations, and the need to finding peaceful solution to the situation plays only into the hands of our enemies.

Say Yes to national unity, say Yes to readiness of the decisive resistance to the invaders.

Say No to pacifism and capitulation.

Citizens, organize self-defense units, connect with the Right Sector representatives in the regions and join our forces. Together we will suppress anti-Ukrainian insurgency and renew territorial integrity of our motherland.

Glory to Ukraine!

[The Magistrate]

17. Since Russian Stooges Hold Them, Ma'am, Asking Lavrov For Their Release Is The Logical Move

[Catherina]

16. "Russia will take all possible steps to free captive OSCE monitors in Ukraine"

Russia had welcomed the plan for OSCE observers

doubtless based on them being the real McCoy - not bluff ones.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014788712#post10

Yes indeed, back then, before the wild accusations from the West, though this was a little off as you can tell from the lack of immediate and loud belligerence. Finding proof that at least 1 of them was there for months is unsettling.

The good news is this

Sky News Newsdesk @SkyNewsBreak

Reuters: Russian news agency says Russia will take all possible steps to free captive OSCE monitors in #Ukraine

Kiev and the West got those observers in with a new mechanism that had never been used before. I don't think Russia has any confidence in the OSCE anymore. Nor does anyone

The decision to send observers to Ukraine was made by Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey, the United States, Finland, France, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Estonia. They were later joined by Austria, Iceland and Italy.

Under the Vienna Document on confidence-building measures and security, each country can send no more than two experts. No mandate of the OSCE Permanent Council is need for forming a group of observers.

The visit is taking place under Chapter III of the Vienna Document 2011, which allows for voluntary hosting of visits to dispel concerns about unusual military activities. Ukraine has requested all OSCE participating States to send military representatives from March 5 to March 12, 2014, starting in Odessa. This is the first time this mechanism has been activated, the OSCE said.

The Vienna Document 2011 is one of the main confidence-building measures developed by the OSCE. Under this document, all participating States are required to share information on their military forces, equipment and defense planning. The Document also provides for inspections and evaluation visits that can be conducted on the territory of any participating State that has armed forces.

http://en.itar-tass.com/world/722463

[Catherina]

18. Pushilin says they can be traded only for Pavel Gubarev and 10 other separatists held in Ki

Last edited Sun Apr 27, 2014, 02:41 AM - Edit history (3)

Ponomarjow: OSCE-Mission? No, that's not so, they are military personnel, they are spies...

The observers did not wear uniforms "and they told us lies, said they came for sightseeing"

They pretended to be the OSCE monitoring convoy (even had OSCE label on the bus), that's a big issue here. They also found recording devices.

(Very short English captions start at 1:21 but you have to turn them on)

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. As your other post shows, the Vienna Document is an OSCE agreement

and these observers (not all from NATO - Sweden is not a member) were there under OSCE auspices. Which is why the OSCE has sent a team to get them freed:

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe has dispatched a negotiating team to try to secure the release of OSCE observers being held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, a German government source said on Saturday.

"A negotiating team from the OSCE is on the way to the region," said the source, declining to give further details.

A spokeswoman for the OSCE in Vienna confirmed the team was on its way to the eastern city of Slaviansk, a flashpoint between the separatists and Ukrainian forces who are trying to regain control of the city.

"They are part of the larger OSCE family and of course we are doing everything we can," she said, adding that the OSCE had been in contact with "all sides" since late on Friday but had had no direct contact with the eight observers being held.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/26/ukraine-crisis-osce-germany-idUSL6N0NI0EA20140426

[The Magistrate]

20. Why Get In The Way, Sir? Like Mr. Blutarsky, She Is On A Roll....

The large fact here is that accredited observers from foreign countries have been seized by a rebel gang acting without a shred of legal authority and known to torture its captives. This rebel gang is controlled by the Russian government, and acting as its cat's-paw in attempting to prepare the ground for a Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine.