Ukraine insists on OSCE’s presence in Azov Sea area

First Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Gerashchenko informed this on Facebook on the results of a meeting with the Chair of the OSCE PA General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Margareta Nellen.

"On Monday, I met with the Chair of the OSCE PA General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Margareta Nellen, and colleagues from the Assembly... We insist on the presence of the OSCE SMM in the area of the Sea of Azov. The OSCE’s mandate extends to the whole territory of Ukraine. Therefore, it is important to begin enhanced monitoring of the Azov Sea area and adjacent territories, where there should be no heavy weapons and equipment in accordance with the Minsk agreements. Russia is the only country that blocks this," she noted.

Gerashchenko called on the OSCE PA to pay special attention to this issue and hold a special debate at the next OSCE session regarding militarization of the Azov area and the captured Ukrainian prisoners of war.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the escalation of Russian aggression in the Sea of Azov, a peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas in accordance with the principles and commitments of the OSCE, the first vice speaker stressed.

As reported, on November 25, Russian border ships committed aggressive actions against Ukrainian vessels that set sail from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol. Russian special forces fired on and captured three Ukrainian vessels and 24 sailors in the Kerch Strait.

On November 26, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a law approving the decree of the President of Ukraine on the imposition of the martial law for 30 days in 10 regions of Ukraine in connection with the aggression of Russia.

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