OSCE SMM Spot Report 4/2020: Members of the armed formations continued to deny SMM patrols passage at one checkpoint in Donetsk region and a second checkpoint in Luhansk region

On 25 March, members of the armed formations again denied an attempt of the SMM to cross into non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, while a further attempt to cross into non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region, both along official crossing routes, was also denied.

At about 9:50 at a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), three members of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol – comprising two vehicles and five members travelling from Mariupol (government-controlled, 102km south of Donetsk) – passage into non-government-controlled areas, citing “the closure of the checkpoint due to quarantine”.

At around the same time, at the checkpoint of the armed formations south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations denied an SMM foot patrol – comprising three members walking from government-controlled areas – passage into non-government-controlled areas, citing “orders from superiors”.

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 and 3/2020 and Daily Report 71/2020). These restrictions to the SMM’s freedom of movement across the contact line are an impediment to the implementation of its mandate throughout the country.