OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Chief Monitor calls for safe and unhindered freedom of movement for SMM

KYIV, 6 September 2017 – The Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, today called on the sides involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine to respect the freedom of movement of the OSCE SMM monitors.

Apakan said that SMM freedom of movement was critical to the execution of its mandate and the fulfilment of its role in support of the implementation of the Minsk agreements. “Restrictions and impediments undermine efforts to foster peace, stability and security in Ukraine,” he said.

Citing the thematic report Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement and other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate, just released by the OSCE SMM, the Chief Monitor pointed out that the Mission, in the first half of 2017, had encountered about 480 restrictions and impediments, 75 per cent of which occurred in areas not controlled by the Government.

Apakan highlighted the violent nature of many of these restrictions and impediments. In the first six months of the year, there were 13 incidents involving violence, all of which occurred in non-government-controlled areas. By contrast, there was only one such incident during the period from July to December 2016.”  Violence and threats of violence must end,” said Apakan.

One of these serious incidents, on 23 April 2017, resulted in the tragic death of a member of an SMM patrol due to an explosion which destroyed an SMM vehicle. “Landmines and unexploded ordnance must be removed, fenced off or marked. They pose a daily threat to SMM monitors and indeed to the prospects of a permanent peace,” the Chief Monitor underlined.