OSCE observers released thanks to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s appeal

Members of the OSCE mission detained in the Donetsk region have been released through mediation of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s observers, including citizens of Switzerland, Estonia and Turkey, and a subject of Denmark, were detained in the end of May and released on 27 June 2014.

According to Alexander Borodai, the international observers were released unconditionally ‘thanks to the Patriarch’s appeal and people’s good will.’

In his appeal, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill requested to promote the release of the observers detained in south east Ukraine and underscored that ‘the release of these persons will become another manifestation of good will and desire to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.’