LPR head bans OSCE Special Monitoring Mission's activity

LUHANSK. April 13 (Interfax) - Leonid Pasechnik, head of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), has banned the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission's (OSCE SMM) activities in the republic starting April 30, 2022.

"As head of a state recognized by the Russian Federation, I have decided to ban the OSCE SMM's activities in the Republic starting April 30 of this year," Pasechnik said in a statement on his Telegram channel.

While the mission's mandate had expired, the OSCE's team in Luhansk "decided unilaterally to continue its operations in the republic, forming a negative image of Russia, the LPR, and the DPR [Donetsk People's Republic] on European political platforms," he said.

"All mission employees working in the LPR must leave the Luhansk People's Republic before April 30. The relevant instructions have been issued to the republic's ministries and agencies," Pasechnik said.

The LPR state security ministry said on April 11 that an employee of the OSCE SMM team in Luhansk was detained on suspicion of high treason.