COPENHAGEN, 5 September 2019 – Kyriakos Hadjiyianni, the Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee, today welcomed the completion of the dismantling of forward positions announced earlier this week and the progress made with the demining in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area.

Destroyed bridge and only point of passage for civilians, 1 June 2019Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (MP, Cyprus) and Margareta Kiener Nellen (MP, Switzerland), former Chair of OSCE PA human rights committee, visited the Stanytsia Luhanska Entry-Exit Checkpoint in June 2019. A report of this visit was issued during the Annual Session held in July in Luxembourg and the Declaration there adopted called for the implementation of specific measures to facilitate freedom of movement along the contact line.

An agreement was reached between the sides on 31 July for the repair of the precarious pedestrian bridge which is the only passage along the contact line in the entire Luhansk region, a territory comparable to the size of Belgium.

“I welcome the progresses made to facilitate the access of engineers and workers to the site but there is still much work to be done before a dignified crossing of the Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint is ensured for civilians. The rapid and effective completion of the repairs at the bridge and the opening of additional points of passage such as the Shchastia bridge near Luhansk or the Zolote checkpoint are urgently needed before harsh winter conditions are back once more in eastern Ukraine,” said Hadjiyianni. “Even a fast and simply constructed bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska would serve the purpose before the freezing winter comes as there is the Shchastia bridge near Luhansk at disposal.”

“Political leaders must take their responsibilities to solve the conflict and make sure that no more civilians die for simply exercising their right to freedom of movement. I welcome the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine’s professionalism in monitoring the situation,” stated Margareta Kiener Nellen. “The present situation which we visited at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge means factual torture for the persons who need to cross even to be able to receive their social benefits and old age pension.”