OSCE monitor says Ukraine separatists man checkpoints with children
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 11 June 2015 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, OSCE monitor says Ukraine separatists man checkpoints with children, 11 June 2015, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/558bc50253.html [accessed 27 December 2015] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 11, 2015
Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for the OSCE's Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine
A spokesman for the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has said that pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country use children to man some checkpoints, and some of them carry weapons.
Michael Bociurkiw told a news conference in Kyiv on June 11 that it was the second time recently that OSCE monitors saw children, this time during a visit to the village of Shyrokyne.
"During that most recent visit our monitors did spot what appear to be underage children as well at the checkpoints, and if my memory serves me correctly, this is the second time in recent times that we've seen children and some of them with arms," Bociurkiw said.
He added that, despite assertions to the contrary, neither the Ukrainian forces nor the separatists completed the withdrawal of heavy weapons as agreed during truce talks in February in Minsk.
Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax
Link to original story on RFE/RL website