PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s ongoing detention of OSCE officials is unacceptable – UK Statement to the OSCE [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2023.

Ambassador Neil Holland says that Russia must immediately free the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission staff who have been held captive for over 500 days.

Thank you, Mr Chair. For over 500 days now, three OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) members have been wrongly held by the Russian authorities. This a flagrant injustice and a clear violation of their rights. We join our partners in strongly condemning Russia’s actions, and call for our OSCE colleagues’ release.

There is absolutely no justification for their detention – they were simply performing their official duties, duties mandated by all participating States of the OSCE. As such, all of us here today, including Russia, have a responsibility for their safety and wellbeing. It is reprehensible that Russia would betray its own colleagues in such a way. The terrible suffering that they and their loved ones are enduring remains a constant concern to us. To this end, we thank the Secretary General and the Chair in Office for their continued engagement.

And once more, we call for the immediate release of all SMM staff members. It is utterly shameful that Russia continues to detain them. They must be freed.