The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), calls for the immediate release of its imprisoned members, from Special Monitoring Mission (SMM).

Four officials have been detained in non-governmental areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Zbigniew Rau, OSCE’s Chairman-in-Office and Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that the detention of national mission members is unacceptable.

He added, “We call for their immediate release.”

The OSCE hasn’t confirmed whoever is responsible for their detention.

However, the non-government areas of Donetsk and Luhansk are controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

A spokesperson for OSCE told that they were working for the secure release for their detained members.

The SMM observes and reports on conflict zones. It has maintained its presence from 2014 in Ukraine.

The OSCE SMM’s mandate in Ukraine expired on March 31, because Russia refused to renew it.

However, the SMM has continued to function in Ukraine in an administrative capacity.

According to Helga Maria Schmid, OSCE Secretary General, the staff had been subjected to “intimidation, harassment and hostile public rhetoric.”

“I condemn the deplorable acts of intimidation, harassment, and hostile public rhetoric against the SMM and mission staff in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk,” Schmid said.

“All our national mission members remain OSCE officials and should be afforded functional immunity, including during this period when the mandate has lapsed,” she continued.