News and press releases

The SMM observed a decrease in the number of ceasefire violations on both 19 and 20 March compared with 18 March, and notably registered no violations overnight from 19-20 March in Donetsk region. The situation remained stable in Luhansk. The SMM followed up on allegations of shelling and conducted crater analysis. It facilitated the repair of essential infrastructure. The Mission monitored border areas not controlled by the Government and observed a calm situation. The SMM was restricted in its freedom of movement mainly in areas not controlled by the Government, including in border areas.* The Mission observed the Festival of Equality and violent counter-demonstrations in Lviv.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the heads of Europe’s main intergovernmental human rights institutions call for a strong response to xenophobic attacks against migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and call on governments and state authorities to uphold their international obligations in this regard...

SARAJEVO, 21 March 2016 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the Cantonal Associations of Social Workers today completed a series of events that marked the International Social Work Day...

Vienna/Berlin, 21 March 2016 –Special Representative of the German Government for the OSCE Chairmanship Gernot Erler, together with the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France, reiterated today their strong commitment to a negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

ASTANA, 21 March 2016 – The 20 March early parliamentary elections were efficiently organized, with some progress noted, but they indicated that Kazakhstan still has a considerable way to go in meeting its OSCE commitments for democratic elections, international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today. The legal framework restricts fundamental civil and political rights, and comprehensive reform is required. In a positive development, candidate registration was inclusive, and six parties contested the elections.

The SMM observed an increase in ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Small-arms shots were fired in close proximity to SMM monitors south-west of “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata. The Mission monitored border areas not controlled by the Government and observed a calm situation. The SMM was restricted in its freedom of movement mainly in areas not controlled by the Government*. The SMM observed actions related to the de-communization law.

WARSAW, 19 March 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, welcomed today the pardon of a number of human rights defenders, activists and journalists by President Ilham Aliyev.