Observers Kidnapped to Pressure Kyiv to Negotiations, Says Kross
Security expert Eerik-Niiles Kross said the four OSCE observers, including one Estonian, that were captured by separatists Monday evening were grabbed in order to force the Ukrainian government into negotiations.
Speaking on ETV's “Välisilm” program on Tuesday, Estonian journalists and experts expressed their views on the reasons behind the kidnapping, with Delfi's Krister Paris saying the bandits have gotten out of control and do not want journalists or observers reporting on the situation in the conflict areas.
ETV's Astrid Kannel said the motivation is to exchange the observers for prisoners. Kaarel Kaas, head of Diplomaatia magazine, said no one is in charge in eastern Ukraine - not the separatists, Moscow or Kyiv.
The latest news from Ukraine seems to be a debate over the confirmation of the capture by separatists, with Michael Bociurkiw, a spokesman for the OSCE, saying this has not been confirmed, while Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Danish officials saying the men are being held by armed separatists.