The co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Ukraine by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Dzhema Grozdanova (Bulgaria, EPP/CD) and Alfred Heer (Switzerland, ALDE), have expressed their serious concern at restrictions on the freedom of movement of OSCE monitors by illegally-armed formations in the Donbass region.

“These monitors are essential to secure the fragile ceasefire in this region of Ukraine and to avoid the unintentional escalation of tensions. The COVID-19 virus should not be used as a pretext to hinder the movements of these monitors. We therefore call on all parties involved to refrain from placing any undue restrictions on the movement of these monitors,” said the co-rapporteurs.