Following is the text of a statement released by the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to mark the birthday of Nadiya Savchenko.
Today, May 11, marks the 34th birthday of Ukrainian hostage Nadiya Savchenko, who has been illegally detained for the past 11 months.
Ms. Savchenko was seized by Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine in June 2014, and was illegally moved across the border and transferred to Russian custody.
The continued detention of Ms. Savchenko defies the provisions of the Minsk agreements.
While imprisoned, Ms. Savchenko has been forced to suffer “psychiatric evaluation,” solitary confinement, restricted access to Ukrainian consular officials and isolation from her family.
In the Minsk Protocol, signed on September 5, 2014, by Russia’s ambassador to Ukraine, Russia agreed to the “immediate release of all hostages and illegally detained persons.”
In the Package of Measures agreed in Minsk on February 12, 2015, Russia again agreed to “provide release and exchange of all hostages and illegally held persons.”
Despite these agreements, Russia continues to hold Nadiya Savchenko, an elected member of Ukraine’s Parliament, hostage.
We once again reiterate our call on Russia and the separatists it backs to uphold their Minsk commitments and release without any further delay all detained Ukrainian hostages, including Ms. Savchenko.