Russia's OSCE envoy advises against jumping to conclusions over Volnovakha bus attack
MOSCOW. Jan 16 (Interfax) - Moscow condemns the January 13 shelling of a passenger bus near Volnovakha, eastern Ukraine, and demands an objective inquiry into it, Russia's Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Andrei Kelin, has said.
"We resolutely condemn all instances of shelling and attacks that result in civilian deaths. This also fully concerns the tragedy with a passenger bus near the village of Volnovakha in the Donetsk region," Kelin said at a session of the OSCE Permanent Council on January 15.
The full version of Kelin's speech was published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website on Friday.
Different theories behind this incident are being considered, he said.
"But an objective investigation of this tragedy should be conducted before one can draw any conclusions. We support the idea of carrying out such an investigation under the auspices of the joint commission for control and coordination," the Russian envoy said.
Kelin also reiterated the need for a proper inquiry into the deadly shelling of a Donetsk school on November 5, 2014.
Clashes have recently intensified in south-eastern Ukraine, Kelin said, adding that this circumstance may "deliver a serious blow to all efforts aimed at securing a peaceful settlement of this crisis."
"All this resembles a desperate attempt to again seek to apply a military solution to this situation," he said.