OSCE Observers Acknowledge Transparency of Russian Military Activities

OSCE monitors noted Russian Armed Forces' compliance with Vienna Document on military transparency, following a scheduled inspection, Russian Defense Ministry said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) noted Russian Armed Forces' compliance with Vienna Document on military transparency, following a scheduled inspection, Russian Defense Ministry said.

"As a result of this inspection, foreign observers noted that the Russian Federation fully complies with 2011 Vienna Document requirements and demonstrates a high level of transparency in relation to the military activities conducted by the Russian Armed Forces," Sergei Ryzhkov, head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center said in a statement issued on September 22.

According to Ryzhkov, the visit of OSCE observers to the Western Military District took place on September 19-23 and included the inspection of an airbase and a military unit.

The Vienna Document requires participating nations to accept inspections by international monitors, which usually occur every five years, as well as to disclose information on their armed forces, military budget and defense plans.