No: 173, 28 May 2014

We are deeply concerned about the detention, by unidentified persons on May 26 in the Donetsk region, of a group of four observers including a Turkish national, who serve in the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission established to contribute to finding a solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, headed by Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan, has been carrying out its work in an impartial and dedicated manner with the purpose of contributing to the security of the people of Ukraine and to the stability of the country. All parties must bear this in mind and must act with full respect towards Mission staff members.

Our representations for the immediate release of all the observers are underway. Our Embassy in Kiev, our Permanent Representation to the OSCE and Ambassador Apakan, the Head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, are engaged in necessary work in close collaboration with the Government of Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Davutoğlu brought up the issue with the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs in Moscow and also took it up with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, as there is also a Danish national in the team.