Armed members of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People`s Republic (DPR) have threatened to detain and handcuff monitors of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine.
”Armed `DPR` members threatened to `detain` handcuff SMM monitors near Staromykhailivka. [The] OSCE SMM [is] ready/able to monitor, but prevented,” the OSCE SMM tweeted on Friday.
Armed “DPR” members threatened to “detain” & handcuff SMM monitors near Staromykhailivka. #OSCE SMM ready/able to monitor, but prevented
— OSCE SMM Ukraine (@OSCE_SMM) September 23, 2016
The OSCE SMM also said it had been denied access near the villages of Bila Kamyanka and Novolaspa in Donetsk region.
”[The] OSCE SMM [is] ready and able to monitor, but restricted: [the] SMM was not allowed to proceed without `DPR` escort between Bila Kamyanka & Novolaspa,” it tweeted.
#OSCE SMM ready/able to monitor but prevented: concrete blocks on the road in “LPR”-ctrl area near Zolote – violation of SMM mandate & Minsk
— OSCE SMM Ukraine (@OSCE_SMM) September 23, 2016
OSCE observers also said that the Ukrainian side did not let them patrol near the checkpoint of Bohdanivka for security reasons, as land mines might be planted in the area.
”No secure guarantees (possible mines) – SMM mandate & Minsk violation,” the tweet said.
SMM ready/able 2 monitor but prevented @ Ukr Armed Forces CP in Bohdanivka: NO secur guarantees (possible mines)–SMM mandate&Minsk violation
— OSCE SMM Ukraine (@OSCE_SMM) September 23, 2016
The OSCE SMM also mentioned concrete blocks on the road near the town of Zolote controlled by the other self-proclaimed republic in Donbas – the Luhansk People`s Republic. The OSCE SMM said this had prevented them from monitoring, thus violated the SMM mandate & Minsk agreements.
