OSCE observers held in Ukraine being released

Mass anti-government protests in the center of Kiev. Barricades in the conflict zone on Hrushevskoho St. (Jan 25, 2014) Mykhaylo Palinchak / Shutterstock

SLOVYANSK, Ukraine — The leader of pro-Russia insurgents in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk says the military observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe who were held for more than a week have been released.

An Associated Press reporter on Saturday saw one of the observers, German Col. Axel Schneider, and his Ukrainian translator walk free.

Insurgent leader Vyacheslav Ponomarev told The AP that all seven observers and their five Ukrainian assistants were free.

Insurgents in Slovyansk, the epicenter of eastern Ukraine, seized the observer team on April 25.