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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Ukraine’s security service detains deputy popular mayor of Sloviansk

Ihor Perepechayenko is allegedly involved in staging mass riots in Donetsk region

Soldier of the Ukrainian army near Sloviansk AP Photo/Sergei Grits

Soldier of the Ukrainian army near Sloviansk

© AP Photo/Sergei Grits

KIEV, April 28. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine’s State Security Service (SBU) has detained the deputy of Sloviansk popular mayor Ihor Perepechayenko. Head of SBU press service Marina Ostapenko reported this at a briefing on Monday.

“Illegal actions of Ukrainian citizen Ihor Perepechayenko, known as deputy for the self-proclaimed Sloviansk mayor in Donetsk region, have been prevented,” she said, adding that he was being interrogated.

According to Ostapenko, Perepechayenko is involved in staging separatist actions and mass riots in Donetsk region.

Ostapenko also claimed that in Sloviansk, there are about 40 people including three SBU officers kept as prisoners by the protesters. She added that there were no reports about their fate. She also said that the invaders did not put forward any demands regarding the liberation of prisoners.

{article_photo:729707:'People’s militia fighters in Donetsk region capture three force officers from Kiev':'right':'50'}Detention of SBU officers in Donetsk region

Overnight to Sunday, April 27, representatives of self-defense forces of Donetsk People’s Republic captured three SBU special units’ officers, who arrived from Kiev to Horlivka.

“All three mentioned people are servicemen of A (Alpha) special task unit of Ukraine’s State Security Service — the group’s commander and officers (lieutenant colonel, major and captain). They were captured while fulfilling a combat task aimed at capturing members of self-defense forces of Donbass in Horlivka,” said Ihor Strelkov, head of self-defense forces in Sloviansk, where the detainees were convoyed from Horlivka. According to Strelkov, the detained SBU officers would be either exchanged for “militiamen that are captured and brought to Kiev, or they would stay with us until the situation is solved”.

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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