Invaders continue to restrict SMM’s freedom of movement in eastern Ukraine

The OSCE SMM said this in a report issued on March 12, based on information from the monitoring teams received as of 19:30 on March 11, 2020.

“In non-government-controlled Donetsk city, a member of the armed formations again denied the SMM access to its regular observation post at the central railway station, citing “orders from superiors”,” reads the report.

At a checkpoint west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), four armed members of the armed formations denied the SMM passage, citing “subversive activities in the area”.

At a checkpoint north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 93km south of Donetsk), an armed member of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage towards Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 97km south of Donetsk) and Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 92km south of Donetsk), citing “ongoing demining activities.”

At a checkpoint near Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 102km south-east of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage to the settlement.

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

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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