Donetsk, Oct 18 – DAN.  The idleness of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission following the abduction of an LPR observer of the JCCC Andrei Kosyak is a massive threat to security in Donbass, the DPR Head Denis Pushilin said.

On October 13, the Ukrainian army captured a member of the LPR Mission to the JCCC. The armed attack took place during the cleaning of the road at the Pervomaisk-Zolotoye checkpoint, previously coordinated with the Ukrainian side in the JCCC.

The incident sparked protests against OSCE inaction and rallies at the SMM headquarters in Donetsk and Gorlovka. Protesters demand that the organization talks Kiev into immediate release of the observer.

“The OSCE SMM does not even care that the trust in the authority and commitment of this organization on the part of the Donbass residents, already very fragile, is now significantly undermined. The situation poses a risk of an even greater escalation of Kiev's actions, and a colossal threat in many aspects: in particular, the possibility of carrying out repair and restoration work at the critical infrastructure facilities,” the statement reads.

Pushilin pointed out that the arguments used by the OSCE to justify their passivity are completely inappropriate in the context of an armed conflict. The main function of the Mission is clearly defined in the Minsk Agreements, as well as in the mandate of the OSCE SMM: monitoring and verification of violations of the agreements reached, moreover, bases on impartial and unbiased attitude.

“However, when a flagrant act of aggression occurs, such as the kidnapping of a person who has an inviolable observer status, the OSCE declares that if their employees did not personally witness this incident, then it cannot be reflected in reports, meaning they can pretend that nothing happened. This is an absolutely unacceptable position," the DPR Head emphasised.

He drew attention to the fact that Kosyak was not just kidnapped, but "he is tortured, interrogated with the use of physical and psychological violence, accused of crimes he did not commit, and the versions of these crimes are constantly changing".

“I emphasise once again: the above-mentioned international organization must as soon as possible take an active and tough stance in this situation, and use all available tools to influence Kiev into immediate release of officer Kosyak to Lugansk, and prevent similar incidents in future,” Pushilin said. *ot