KIEV, April 28 (RIA Novosti) – Nearly 40 people are being held hostage by self-defense forces controlling the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said Monday.
People's Mayor Vyacheslav Ponomaryov said last week the activists had detained 11 members of a military mission under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), including eight Europeans and three Ukrainians, who are suspected of “espionage.” The driver of the OSCE bus, a citizen of Ukraine, has been released.
“We are taking steps to release them,” SBU spokeswoman Marina Ostapenko told journalists at a briefing. She said the self-defense forces had not announced any demands for the release of those detained, adding that she had not been informed of the conditions of a possible swap deal.
Ponomaryov said earlier Monday OSCE military observers being held as prisoners of war in Slaviansk could be freed in exchange for the release of federalization supporters taken hostage by Kiev.
Eastern Ukraine has been hit by pro-federalization protests in mainly Russian-speaking regions. The Ukrainian government earlier announced a special operation to crack down on the unrest.
