OSCE SMM Spot Report 18/2020: Members of the armed formations continued to deny SMM patrols passage at checkpoints in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions

On 25, 26, and 27 April, members of the armed formations again denied SMM attempts to cross into non-government-controlled areas along official crossing routes: three times in Donetsk region and twice in Luhansk region, while further attempts to cross into government-controlled areas were also denied, once in Donetsk region and once in Luhansk region.

On 25 April, at a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol passage towards government-controlled areas, stating that the SMM did not have permission to pass. At the same checkpoint, members of the armed formations denied another SMM patrol passage towards non-government-controlled areas, providing no explanation.

On 26 April, at a checkpoint near Oleksandrivka (non-government-controlled, 20km south-west of Donetsk), an SMM patrol was unable to proceed towards non-government-controlled areas due to the presence of anti-tank barriers and tires laid across the road. Members of the armed formations were present but did not remove the obstacles or provide an explanation for the obstruction.

On 25, 26, and 27 April, at the checkpoint of the armed formations south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), members of the armed formations twice denied SMM patrols passage towards non-government-controlled areas and once denied passage towards government-controlled areas, referring to the closure of the checkpoint due to COVID-19.

On 27 April, at a checkpoint 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol passage towards non-government-controlled areas, referring to quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.

The Mission began facing repeated denials when attempting to cross into non-government-controlled areas at checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk region on 21 March, and Luhansk region on 23 March (see SMM Spot Reports 2/2020, 3/2020, 4/2020, 5/2020, 6/2020, 7/2020, 8/2020, 9/2020, 10/2020, 11/2020, 13/2020, 14/2020, 15/2020, 16/2020, 17/2020).They restrict the SMM’s freedom of movement across the contact line, thus impeding the implementation of its mandate throughout the country.

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With regard to COVID-19, the SMM has introduced a number of stringent mitigation measures into its operational procedures. These include strict adherence to social distancing rules both internally and with external interlocutors, daily temperature checks, use of PPE, and minimizing the number of personnel in vehicles.