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Russian OSCE ambassador says Mariupol shelling is used to toughen anti-Russian sanctions

The official says the Canadians and the Americans never tried to understand what had happened there seeking only to make a new ‘case’ against Russia
OSCE observers in Mariupol Danil Bodrov/TASS
OSCE observers in Mariupol
© Danil Bodrov/TASS

VIENNA, January 26. /TASS/. Russian Permanent Representative at the OSCE Andrey Kelin says the shelling of the outskirts of Ukraine’s city of Mariupol is being used to make a “case” against Russia with an eye of toughening anti-Russian sanctions.

“The Canadians and the Americans never tried to understand what had happened there seeking only to make a new ‘case’ against Russia and use this case to toughen anti-Russian sanctions, or to keep the European partners in leash,” he said after an extraordinary meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council that was called on Monday over the aggravation of the situation in Ukraine.

Kelin said that hasty conclusions about the Mariupol shelling made by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission inspire no confidence.

“There has been no investigation, they just examined the territory, not using any instruments, gauges and other equipment,” Kelin said after an extraordinary meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council that was called on Monday over the aggravation of the situation in Ukraine. “Taking into account that there is a lot of contradictory reports, such conclusions inspire no confidence.”

“We have said that the mission should be more cautious because today any conclusion has a high political price,” he added.