A militia loyal to eastern Ukrainian protesters has taken a busload of hostages today, including five Ukranian soldiers, a driver and seven monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The capture of the Ukrainian troops is unsurprising, as Ukraine’s Interior Ministry is openly talking up an invasion of the protesters’ cities to “liquidate” them, but the capture of the OSCE monitors took many by surprise.
The German-led OSCE monitors lost contact with their nation’s Defense Ministry earlier today, and are reportedly being held inside Slovyansk, along with the soldiers, at a former Ukrainian government security force building.
Slovyansk’s pro-protester mayor defended the capture, saying they had found “forbidden ammunition” on board the bus. He also claimed one of the soldiers was “an employee of Kiev’s secret military staff.”
Talks are ongoing to secure the release of the monitors, though Ukraine’s interim government claimed the protesters were refusing to release anyone until they have spoken to Russian officials.
The "seven monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)" may really be that, but Americans routinely abuse such status as "cover." They've done it with aid workers, even vaccination programs. They did it with non-proliferation inspections.
Therefore, it is reasonable to check before releasing them. This is the price for lies.
They're not OSCE monitors, They are NATO military observers there at the invitation of the Ukraine putscists. It is the media and no doubt the State Department et al. who are being economical with the truth or who have created their own version of reality.
That's what I've been hearing; that organization says that all OSCE monitors are present and accounted for and that this group is fake and put together by America and it's poodles.
Yeah, the IAEA is full of US/Israeli spies when it deals with Iran.
And why should special consideration be given to a "German led" monitoring organization, given the slave nature of the puppet Merkel government and her recent exhortations to Putin to "do more" to promote stability. Might we hear such encouragements to her imperialist brethren in the West.? The peace-loving people of the East Ukrainian Peoples' Republics need no instruction in how to protect themselves from a nascent fascism. Perhaps a public trial of the operative of the Kiev military staff might be instructive.
Angela Merkel has no self respect. She is following the rotten government which was just exposed as listening in on her phone calls, bugging the EU, among other crimes. Now Germany is allowing the US to drag it and the rest of Europe into a war with Russia over issues which neither the US nor Germany have any business.
Like that Ernst Thalmann user name. He is truly an unsung hero.
Yes, how much self respect does it require to lick the boot of an overseer who has just inserted a spy-glass into ones rump. Such colonoscopies would almost seem comforting to the obsequious leadership of the EU, Merkel especially.
Thalmann knew fascism at its origins and, since, few have understood it as well as he. Self respecting Germans should form a second Ernst Thalmann Brigade and volunteer with the brave soldiers of the Donetsk Peoples' Republic.
How independant are the OSCE observers when they are being accompanied by Pro Kiev soldiers?
If they were independent and unbiased they would carry out their duties free of pressure from EITHER side.
With the Ukraine Interior Ministry boasting that he would "liquidate" the pro Russian militia its no wonder that this busload of "spies" and "terrorists" was "taken" by the FREE Ukranians.
Great post Andron…and kudos too for pointing out the OSCE observers are MMMM-Bedded……….. Ukraine is having a terrible time accomplishing ANYTHING outside of Kiev………….. It sounds like they are going to really need some help from outside, and I don't mean Russia…!!!!!
EU governing body, the OSCE, the Swedish, Danish, Norwegian far right and Neo fascism from all over Europe considering the non existence Kiev government as a legitimate governing body of Ukraine, non of these far right, aristocrats or Neo European fascism are independent from anything that vulture capitalism throw at them, they been elected by their elites of Europeans and American vulture culture, so don't count on them to do or be able doing something about Ukraine, the only undisputed power in Ukraine is the people uprising, those whom have put their life on the line, fighting for their freedom from Neo fascism.
It's amazing how stupid this coup government is. If they were saying things like, "we need to stabilize Eastern Ukraine in order to hold an election," and "we just need those protesters to cooperate while we get voting organized" they'd have cover to send in security and claim to be the good guys. Instead, they declare "they're terrorists and we're on our way to kill them all."
Their language demonstrates how deeply rooted the old authoritarian habits are in this part of the world. There are no democrats there, and no good guys. It's infantile to pretend there are any. And we have people like Brennan, Nuland, and Kerry egging them on down this idiotic path.
Ukraine’s interim government? What Ukraine interim government? There is no Ukraine legitimate interim government. it was a coup and still is one. Criminal government .
It worked in Egypt and now they try to replicate it in Ukraine.
It is not a team of OSCE monitors, but a "military verification team on invitation by Ukraine". It is military personel from various NATO-states, lead by german Bundeswehr.
A militia? Since when do "peaceful protestors" have militias? And, of course, the capture of the OSCE monitors, following the same people being fired on when they tried to visit Crimea, is another political blunder. Once again, Putin has been wrongfooted, although possibly not by his own choice.
Just like those Maidan morons had snipers. Tit for tat MR. Kenney.
Mama Mia. What is kind of mainstream propaganda in Canada and USA. It is unbelievable. It is even stronger than we had back during USSA era. Were is an professionalism of mainstream midia reporters? They are like prostitutes ready to do everything for the money.
They lied during Georgia war. They lie now. They name people who do not want to support junta in Kiev as terrorists and terrorists who actually have kicked legitimate president, as peace keepers.
I would like to see a reaction of Mr. Obama and Harper if this peace keepers will start attacking the White House.
It is luck for the people who can read in different language.They can dig up the truth. But what about the rest.
At this point I would just nuke Kiev and get it over with. The world would be shitting their pants if Putin did that. Putin could get on TV and just say you want some more of this? He should then totally cut Europe off from gas and see how they do for about a year or two. That will get these Western politicians to get real. Europe is a dying continent anyway, it might as well be flushed down the toilet.
I expect the Russian equivalents of John McCain are saying exactly that. Fortunately Russian foreign policy seems to be determined by people who are not certifiably insane.