The occupation authorities in Donetsk have weakened the blockade of the work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. This was reported by OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid in her Twitter.

«I welcome the lifting of some restrictions on the SMM's freedom of movement in non-government-controlled Donetsk,» Schmid wrote.

Helga Schmid also stressed that unrestricted access for the SMM is crucial for the fulfillment of its mandate in the occupied territories.

We recall that since the morning of October 15, protests against the detention of LNR fighter Andre Kosiak began in front of a hotel in occupied Donetsk, where members of the OSCE mission reside.

The protesters prevented any movement of OSCE patrols. The organization partially stopped its observation mission in Donbas.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Anne Linde and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid expressed deep concern over the suspension of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in the occupied territories of Donbas and called for a conflict settlement. The statement was published on the OSCE website.