The United States joins Ukraine and other participating States in expressing its deep concern over Russia’s continuing detention of Ukrainian hostages who were seized from Ukrainian territory.
The seizure and detention of Nadiya Savchenko, Oleg Sentsov, and others contradicts President Putin’s assurance that Russia remains committed to the Minsk agreements.
We draw particular attention to the case of Ukrainian parliament member and delegate to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Nadiya Savchenko, who has suffered greatly during her imprisonment and whose pre-trial detention has been further extended to June 30.
We call for Russia to honor its commitment under the Minsk agreements by releasing her immediately.
We call on Russia and the separatists it backs to uphold their Minsk commitments and to work with Ukraine and the OSCE through the Trilateral Contact Group’s working groups to secure the return of all hostages.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As delivered by Deputy Chief of Mission Kate Byrnes to the OSCE Permanent Council, Vienna
