UN envoy harassed by armed men, 'not kidnapped,' in Crimea

KIEV, Ukraine, March 5 (UPI) -- United Nations Special Envoy Robert Serry was in Crimea Wednesday for a fact-finding mission, when unidentified armed men surrounded his car and ordered him to go to the airport immediately and leave the region. Serry refused, and was unharmed.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson described the incident as "very regrettable" but noted that he had spoken with Serry, who reported he was "in good shape physically" and was "not kidnapped."

A group of 10 to 15 men surrounded Serry's car as he concluded a visit to a naval headquarters building in the Crimean capital city of Simferopol. When told to go directly to the airport, Serry refused, exited the vehicle, and walked back to his hotel.

[Washington Post]