Donetsk, Oct 27 – DAN. The OSCE SMM members have misinterpreted the situation on Oktyabr checkpoint on October 25, as a scheduled rotation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs officers had been taking place there, said DPR representative at the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination (JCCC) Ruslan Yakubov.
"The OSCE SMM patrol consisting of two Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles and six staff members was crossing Oktyabr checkpoint on October 25 at 9:57 a.m., it was stopped by the Interior Ministry officers on duty at that time for an ordinary check. A scheduled rotation of the Ministry's officers was taking place at the moment, they were armed with standard weapons, which is in compliance with the Minsk Agreements," he said.
Yakubov emphasized that the pickup and transportation of weapons had not been aimed at restriction of the SMM movement and could not have compromised their safety. "As the check had been complited, the patrol proceeded further."
The SMM issued a spot report on October 25, saying that the patrol was stopped by armed men at a checkpoint near Oktyabr, who allegedly reloaded a heavy machine gun and pointed it directly at the first SMM patrol vehicle. The DPR has carried out an investigation into the case. *ot