Russia on Friday accused OSCE monitors of siding with the Ukrainian authorities, saying their attitude undermined trust in the international security organisation. "Some aspects of the recent work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine are a cause for concern," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has a team of international observers in Ukraine monitoring a nominal cease-fire signed in September.
"We get the impression that its efforts are directed at helping and supporting only one side in the conflict, the official authorities in Kiev," the Russian foreign ministry said. "Such policies from the mission's leadership undermine trust in its work." Moscow accused the international mission - which includes Russia's representatives - of turning a blind eye to what it said were numerous violations by the Ukrainian military of peace accords and international humanitarian law. "Instances of pressure on OSCE monitors by Ukraine's law enforcement structures are being hushed up," the foreign ministry said.
It complained that monitors were reporting rebel movements but information on the Ukrainian military was "ignored." Moscow urged the pan-European security watchdog to cooperate with rebels representing the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic.
"As we far as we know, the rebels are open for such co-operation," the ministry said. Moscow said that the mission's main goal was to "facilitate easing tensions and peace, stability and security." "Unfortunately, it has not been possible to achieve this goal in nearly eight months."
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