MOSCOW, June 20. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia will tightly suppress state border violation by Ukrainian military, Russia’s permanent envoy at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Andrei Kelin said on Friday.

“We’re registering facts of violation of the Russian border by Ukrainian armed forces,” Kelin told an OSCE session. The text of his speech was posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website on Friday.

“If the Ukrainian side continues violating the state border regime, all the necessary measures will be taken to tightly suppress such instances,” Russia’s OSCE envoy said.

“The Kiev authorities’ inaction during an assault on the Russian embassy is simply outrageous,” Kelin said.

The Russian embassy in Ukraine’s capital Kiev came under a violent attack on Saturday, June 14, with embassy cars overturned, the Russian flag torn down and the premises pelted with eggs, smoke barrels and firecrackers. Ukrainian police did nothing to stop the attack.

“The [Ukrainian] law-enforcers were present on the scene and Interior Minister Arsen Avakov talked to the crowd but gave no orders to cut short absolutely unlawful actions,” Russia’s OSCE envoy said.

“We expect official Kiev to take all necessary measures to ensure security of the Russian embassy, as well as the general consulates in Odessa, Kharkiv and Lviv to provide for their normal work,” Kelin said.

“The responsibility for these measures is fully borne by the Ukrainian authorities,” the Russian envoy said.

 

Russia urges OSCE to step up its role in Ukraine crisis settlement

Russia urged the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to intensify its role in crisis settlement in Ukraine. At the same time Moscow demanded Kiev authorities should release OSCE observers immediately.

The OSCE “can and should use all its potential to promote settlement in Ukraine,” Andrey Kelin said in a statement at the Foreign Ministry’s official website on Friday. “We expect that the work of special envoys appointed by the Swiss OSCE Chairperson-in-Office will be fruitful and will not be opposed by Kiev,” he noted.

“We recall once again about our proposal to accept the OSCE Permanent Council’s decision to support the roadmap plan developed by the Swiss presidency. This document lays a good basis to settle current crisis in political ways,” the permanent representative said.

“We as well as others are increasingly more concerned over captured OSCE observers,” he noted, adding that “We repeat the demand for their unconditional and immediate release. We are taking all possible steps in this issue to support the special monitoring mission.”