BERLIN, May 05. /ITAR-TASS/. German military observers that had been detained in Sloviansk had "certain connections" with the Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst, or BND), Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported on Monday.

According to the report, the German inspectors were not staff of the BND or Military Counter-Intelligence Service (Militaerischer Abschirmdienst, or MAD). The four observers are employed by the Bundeswehr Verification Center in Geilenkirchen (North Rhine-Westphalia). The center is tasked with monitoring the compliance with agreements on arms control signed by Germany with other states, including within the framework of the OSCE.

The center is supported by the BND, which, according to Suddeutsche Zeitung, has an office in Geilenkirchen. Germany's Federal Intelligence Service provides consultations for OSCE observers before their missions, shares information about the situation in the country and gives recommendations on the location of ceratin facilities.

Military observers from OSCE countries, detained in Sloviansk on April 25, were freed on May 3 with the help of Russia's Presidential Envoy Vladimir Lukin.