Russia Lashes Out at OSCE Institutions, May Call for Change of Mandate

If OSCE's humanitarian structures fail to stop basing their work on "gaining maximum situational benefits from Western patrons," Russia will be forced to raise the issue of transforming their mandates.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian Foreign Ministry accused several institutions of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) of self-promotion on Friday.

"Unfortunately, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media continue to exist in a virtual reality, completely isolated from the pressing problems of OSCE member states," the ministry said in a statement.

"If OSCE's humanitarian structures fail to stop basing their work on self-promotion and gaining maximum situational benefits from Western patrons, and begin to focus on real humanitarian issues in the OSCE area, we will be forced to raise the issue of seriously transforming their mandates, organizational structure, and financing," the statement reads.