Militants obstruct free movement of OSCE monitors in Donbas - Hug

12:10, 18.12.2015 1 min read

Monitors of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM OSCE) are complaining about obstruction of their travel into the territories beyond Ukraine's control.

SMM OSCE monitors often face a situation, when people operating in the territories beyond Kyiv's control ask the monitors to present permits that are to be issued by Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

However, it is the responsibility of DPR to explain to everyone that there is no such requirement, and that the monitors possess freedom of travel, he said.

In most cases, observers are demanded to produce DPR permits at various checkpoints in the territories that are not controlled by Ukrainian authorities, he said.

The monitors have always faced such a problem, but it previously had only required a phone call to their leaders to solve the issue, he said. However, this week every attempt to speak with these people has failed, Hug said, adding that if this situation persists, OSCE SMM representatives will not be able to monitor weapons withdrawal or the ceasefire implementation.