11:05
26.4.2014
Now Latvia complains of Russian agents at work Latvia says Russia trying to use 'provocateurs' in Baltic state http://t.co/NWHP2PWBed
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) April 26, 2014
From the Reuters report:
RIGA (Reuters) - Latvia's defence minister said on Friday Russia was trying to stir unrest in the Baltic state by using "specially-trained, professional provocateurs" in the wake of its intervention in Ukraine.
The Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, now NATO and EU member states, were once part of the Soviet Union and have substantial Russian-speaking minorities, like Ukraine.
"There are risks that Russia might try to destabilise the situation in the region," Raimonds Vejonis, Latvia's defence minister, told Reuters in an interview.
"We see it very clearly in Ukraine's case, where they have acted and are still trying to escalate the situation in different ways," the minister added.
"They are trying to increase negative sentiment in society through certain specially-trained, professional provocateurs."
As an example, he mentioned comments by Aleksandr Gaponenko, an activist for non-citizens' rights in Latvia, to Norwegian television that Latvia's government intended "to suppress protests with the power of army".
The Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, now NATO and EU member states, were once part of the Soviet Union and have substantial Russian-speaking minorities, like Ukraine.
"There are risks that Russia might try to destabilise the situation in the region," Raimonds Vejonis, Latvia's defence minister, told Reuters in an interview.
"We see it very clearly in Ukraine's case, where they have acted and are still trying to escalate the situation in different ways," the minister added.
"They are trying to increase negative sentiment in society through certain specially-trained, professional provocateurs."
As an example, he mentioned comments by Aleksandr Gaponenko, an activist for non-citizens' rights in Latvia, to Norwegian television that Latvia's government intended "to suppress protests with the power of army".
11:12
26.4.2014
Via Reuters:
EU to add new names to Russian sanctions list in coming days-source
BRUSSELS, April 26 (Reuters) - The European Union is poised to add new names to its list of Russians subject to sanctions over the coming days and will hold emergency talks on Monday, EU sources said.
Leaders of the Group of Seven major economies agreed on Saturday to impose extra sanctions on Russia over its intervention in Ukraine, where armed pro-Moscow separatists detained a group of international observers and accused them of being NATO spies.
"The sanctions that will come on the European side in the next days will be the addition of new names to the list of individuals subject to asset freezes and a travel ban," a European Commission source said on condition of anonymity.
BRUSSELS, April 26 (Reuters) - The European Union is poised to add new names to its list of Russians subject to sanctions over the coming days and will hold emergency talks on Monday, EU sources said.
Leaders of the Group of Seven major economies agreed on Saturday to impose extra sanctions on Russia over its intervention in Ukraine, where armed pro-Moscow separatists detained a group of international observers and accused them of being NATO spies.
"The sanctions that will come on the European side in the next days will be the addition of new names to the list of individuals subject to asset freezes and a travel ban," a European Commission source said on condition of anonymity.
11:14
26.4.2014
Some news agencies reporting that Russia is calling for the release of detained OSCE observers. Via AFP:
Russia on Saturday called for the release of an OSCE mission detained in Ukraine and vowed to do everything in its power to see them freed.
"We believe that these people should be released as soon as possible," the country's envoy to the pan-European security body, Andrei Kelin, told the state RIA Novosti news agency.
"As an OSCE member, Russia will take all possible steps in this case."
"We are unaware of what has happened to them or where they are at the moment. But like other OSCE members, we are very worried by what has happened."
Kelin added that responsibility for what happened lay with the Ukrainian authorities who had invited the mission.
"We believe that these people should be released as soon as possible," the country's envoy to the pan-European security body, Andrei Kelin, told the state RIA Novosti news agency.
"As an OSCE member, Russia will take all possible steps in this case."
"We are unaware of what has happened to them or where they are at the moment. But like other OSCE members, we are very worried by what has happened."
Kelin added that responsibility for what happened lay with the Ukrainian authorities who had invited the mission.
11:21
26.4.2014
"Ukrainska pravda" reporting that another journalist has been seized in eastern Ukraine, bringing the total to 18 since the beginning of April.
Сепаратисти захопили ще одного журналіста. З початку квітня - вісімнадцятий | Українська правда http://t.co/w7d9ewHwvH
— Українська правда (@ukrpravda_news) April 26, 2014
11:23
26.4.2014
Some informed speculation from the always insightful Leonid Ragozin on why Strelkov went public:
Guess Strelkov went public because Ponomaryov was a major liability. Now the real commander has good chances of becoming a rebel icon.
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) April 26, 2014
11:49
26.4.2014
Some reactions to Ukraine cutting off Crimea's water supply:
Possible consequences of cutting off Crimea's water range from losing sympathy of residents, to retaliatory gas cutoff by Russia, to war.
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 26, 2014
Cutting off water to the civilian population of Crimea, whatever the politics, is not something I would have advised.
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 26, 2014
Blocking water supplies to Crimea alienates people Ukraine regards as citizens and gives Putin excuse to invade east on humanitarian grounds
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) April 26, 2014
11:50
26.4.2014
Via Reuters:
Ukraine says one of detained int'l observers needs medical care
One of the international observers being held by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk needs urgent medical care, Ukraine's state security service said on Saturday.
"Today the official representatives of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) are being held in inhuman conditions," the service said in a statement on its Internet site.
"Among those detained is a person who needs immediate medical help." The statement said Ukrainian security services were ready to provide medical assistance, but the separatists had rejected this offer.
"The terrorists plan to use the hostages as a human shield," the statement said.
It said the detention of the observers was planned and coordinated by a Russian citizen who Kiev says is a Russian special service operative. Russia denies that it has any of its troops or agents in eastern Ukraine.
One of the international observers being held by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk needs urgent medical care, Ukraine's state security service said on Saturday.
"Today the official representatives of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) are being held in inhuman conditions," the service said in a statement on its Internet site.
"Among those detained is a person who needs immediate medical help." The statement said Ukrainian security services were ready to provide medical assistance, but the separatists had rejected this offer.
"The terrorists plan to use the hostages as a human shield," the statement said.
It said the detention of the observers was planned and coordinated by a Russian citizen who Kiev says is a Russian special service operative. Russia denies that it has any of its troops or agents in eastern Ukraine.
11:53
26.4.2014
Channel 5's report on Ukraine cutting off water supply to Crimea:
Україна перекрила Криму воду http://t.co/jOrE849beF #Крим #братУворот
— 5 канал (@5channel) April 26, 2014
11:57
26.4.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service has more on latest journalist detained in eastern Ukraine -- ZIK Television correspondent Yuriy Lelyavskiy
У #словянськ'у захопили кореспондента телеканалу ZIK Юрія Лелявського http://t.co/tOyzsdcapg
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) April 26, 2014
11:57
26.4.2014
Helicopter is landing at block post near #Slovyansk #Ukraine http://t.co/V7X2oJXnjO
— Paweł Pieniążek (@p_pieniazek) April 26, 2014