“The OSCE has our full support in the negotiations currently underway. In very close contact with the OSCE, we are continuing to make every effort to bring about a positive solution.

Today’s parading of OSCE observers and Ukrainian security forces as prisoners is abhorrent and a flagrant violation of their human dignity. This also violates every rule of proper behaviour and all the standards that were established for just such tense situations as these.

Russia has an obligation to use its influence with the separatists in order to convince them to release the members of the OSCE mission being held as quickly as possible.”