You're reading: OSCE mission reports restrictions for its monitors in Ukraine

Monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM) were restricted in access and freedom of movement in eastern Ukraine five times on April 1, including three times by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and two times by representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk people's republic, the OSCE SMM said in a report on Wednesday.

“Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel manning a checkpoint in the vicinity of government-controlled Raihorodka (34km north-west of Luhansk) insisted to be informed about the nationalities of SMM monitors in the vehicle. The SMM was stopped for 15mins and allowed to pass the checkpoint after informing about the nationalities of the monitors,” it said.

Monitors were also stopped at a checkpoint in government-controlled Volnovakha “where it was asked by Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers about citizenships of patrol members,” it said.

OSCE monitors were also stopped by Ukrainian government servicemen near Luhanske “and were not allowed to pass.

“The initial reason given was ongoing repair work on the bridge ahead, but it was later confirmed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel were under orders not to let vehicles through. The SMM did not use alternative routes due to security concerns and were therefore unable to access Luhanske,” it said.

Also upon reaching Shyrokyne, SMM members were “temporarily delayed by 25 minutes” at a DPR checkpoint. Monitors also had to wait for permission to inspect the militia’s heavy weapons storage site, it said.