“OSCE intends to turn to the Russian Foreign Ministry, with the request to increase the area of presence of the OSCE observers at the Ukraine-Russia border”, Schaller said during his meeting with governor of Rostov region Vadim Artemov. However, the Head of OSCE SMM never specified how much it wants to broaden the area and when respective appeal will be filed at the Russian foreign ministry.

Flavien Schaller was appointed Chief Observer of the OSCE on May 1. Prior to his appointment as Chief Observer of the OSCE Observer Mission, Schaller held a number of positions as a career officer in the Swiss Army. He has a varied experience, with posts as Commander of a Command and Support battalion, as Chief of staff of the 2nd Infantry Brigade and as a member of the operational training staff.

OSCE SMM’s monitors currently work at two checkpoints – Gukovo (Ukraine) and Donetsk (Russia). The Organization decided to send its observers to the Ukraine-Russia border back in July 2014. The mission includes 21 members from various countries.