Invaders continue to restrict freedom of movement of OSCE observers in Donbas

The OSCE SMM said this in a report issued on February 25, based on information from the monitoring teams received as of 19:30 on February 24, 2020.

“At a checkpoint on the eastern edge of Shcherbak (non-government-controlled, 92km south of Donetsk), two members of the armed formations (one of them armed) denied the SMM passage, citing “orders from their superiors”. While positioned at the checkpoint, the SMM saw three civilian vehicles passing through it in both directions,” reads the report.

At a checkpoint east of Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 102km south-east of Donetsk), two armed members of the armed formations denied the SMM passage, citing “ongoing military exercises”.

At a border crossing point near Izvaryne (non-government-controlled, 52km southeast of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations asked the SMM to leave the area.

At a border crossing point near Sievernyi (non-government-controlled, 50km southeast of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations asked the SMM to leave the area.

In addition, at a checkpoint west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), on two occasions, armed members of the armed formations allowed the SMM passage only after about 25 and 40 minutes, respectively.

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