Instead of the Crimean Peninsula, International Arms Control Inspectors May Continue Their Activities in Eastern Ukraine

The unrecognized Crimean government set up five checkpoints along the border of the autonomous republic, which allow road access to the peninsula. Until Sunday, the observers had been turned back at four checkpoints, after which they decided on Monday not to make any further attempts.

The observers from OSCE member countries arrived in response to a request by Ukraine, which has partly been modified following the decision: the contingent has now been requested to continue its activities in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. Currently 11 OSCE member countries are supporting this request, and the total number of supporters will become clear on Tuesday, March 11.

The international observers’ mandate for their presence in Ukraine originally runs from March 6 to 12, but according to the decision, it is to be extended until March 16.

Chapter III of the Vienna Document – a 2011 OSCE agreement on Confidence and Security Building Measures (CSBM) – provides that the experts of the organization are allowed to visit any member country “to dispel concerns about unusual military activities". This is the first time that the OSCE member countries have been conducting such a mission under the terms of the agreement quoted above.