OSCE SMM Spot Report 11/2020: Members of the armed formations continued to deny SMM patrols passage at checkpoints in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions
On 11, 12, and 13 April, members of the armed formations again denied SMM attempts to cross into non-government-controlled areas along official crossing routes: four times in Donetsk region and twice in Luhansk region, while a further attempt to cross into government-controlled areas in Luhansk region was also denied.
On 11, 12, and 13 April, at a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), members of the armed formations denied SMM patrols, travelling from government-controlled areas, passage into non-government-controlled areas, once providing no reason and twice referring to quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.
On 11, 12, and 13 April, at the checkpoint of the armed formations south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), members of the armed formations denied SMM patrols passage into non-government-controlled areas on two occasions and passage into government-controlled areas on one occasion, referring to quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.
On the morning of 12 April, at a checkpoint near Oleksandrivka (non-government-controlled, 20km south-west of Donetsk), members of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol, travelling from government-controlled areas, passage into 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). 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.