As delivered by Ambassador Daniel B. Baer to the Permanent Council
Vienna | September 18, 2014
The United States joins the European Union, Canada, and Ukraine in expressing concern over the continued detention of Ukrainian citizens in Russia. At a time when signatories of the Minsk Protocol should be implementing their commitments, Russia continues to disregard its obligations by detaining Ukrainian citizens such as service member Nadia Savchenko and film producer Oleg Sentsov.
The United States is extremely concerned by recent reports that bail for Ms. Savchenko was denied again by a Russian court. Her abduction by separatists, her smuggling across Ukraine’s border into Russia, and her detention and treatment in Russia are unacceptable. We also condemn the detention of Crimean film director and pro-Maidan activist Oleg Sentsov, who has been detained since May 11 on trumped-up charges in Moscow.
We again call on Russia to release these Ukrainian citizens immediately.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
