Invaders continue to restrict SMM’s freedom of movement in occupied Donbas

The SMM’s freedom of movement continues to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Verkhnoshyrokivske and Novoazovsk in southern Donetsk region.

The OSCE SMM said this in a report issued on March 4, based on information from the monitoring teams received as of 19:30 on March 3, 2020.

“At a checkpoint west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), an armed member of the armed formations allowed the SMM to proceed only after approximately 30 minutes of waiting,” reads the report.

At a checkpoint near Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 102km south-east of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations allowed the SMM passage only after opening a door of a vehicle and visibly inspecting a member of the patrol.

The sides continued to deny the SMM full access, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines, UXO and other obstacles.

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