OSCE SMM member released from militants’ captivity in eastern Ukraine

OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid announces the release of one of the four OSCE SMM members from militants’ captivity in eastern Ukraine.

“Very relieved about the release [from captivity] of one OSCE SMM national mission member,” Schmid posted on Twitter.

The official urged for the release of the three colleagues who remain in detention in Donetsk and Luhansk and noted that she would continue to work tirelessly for their immediate return to their loved ones.

On April 29, OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau and OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid stated that the OSCE would take immediate steps to close the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) began its work on March 21, 2014, on the basis of a request from the Government of Ukraine to the OSCE and a consensus decision of all 57 OSCE participating States.

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