All news

Russian citizen was in a group of observers detained in Ukraine, Churkin confirms

"We're seriously concerned over the incidents with two groups of OSCE observers", he says

MOSCOW, May 29 /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin has confirmed that a Russian citizen was with one of the groups of OSCE observers detained in Ukraine.

"We're seriously concerned over the incidents with two groups of OSCE observers. A Russian citizen was in one of them," Churkin told a session of the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

Ukrainian election was not free or democratic in true sense of the word, Churkin says. Russia hopes Ukrainian politicians don’t disappoint expectations of people, he added. 

He called for immediate involvement of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in the efforts to stop violence in eastern Ukraine.

"Why have we gathered her? If we are here for the Security Council's performing its political function, let's see how violence can be stopped," the diplomat said. He noted that Ukrainian Permanent Representative Yuri Sergeyev had welcomed in his speech Ban Ki-moon's mediating efforts.

The Russian envoy urged the UN SC members to call upon Kiev to "realize the need of taking into account the interests of all citizens of the country and immediately stopping the military operation in the southeast."

"Its residents are awaiting it; it is required of Kiev in accordance with its commitments under the Geneva statement" and the "road map" of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe," Churkin said.

He regretted that some UN SC members "continue to justify the use of force by Ukrainian authorities," and even sometimes "admire their restraint."

"I'm almost tempted to say: 'have a heart, gentlemen!' " he said.

Stopping the punitive operation in Ukraine's southeast will allow for starting a "true national dialogue" and coordination of the constitutional reform acceptable to all the society which is now not possible, he went on.

"Instead of a search for accord with fellow citizens, [Kiev] is putting insulting tags on them. It is trying to accuse Russia of all the existing problems," Churkin said.

Moscow is ready to help Kiev launch dialogue with southeastern Ukraine and develop economic cooperation for overcoming the country's problems, but this requires that the punitive operation is stopped. Churkin underlined that any talks between Russia and Ukrainian authorities "will be conducted with a broad agenda of bilateral relations" and not at Kiev's bidding.