News and press releases

The SMM observed ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It faced restrictions to its freedom of movement, most of which were imposed by “DPR” members in areas north-east of Mariupol*. The Mission spoke to a “DPR” member and civilians at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Horlivka. In Lviv, some 200 coal miners held a peaceful protest over unpaid salaries. In Kyiv, it followed up on electricity supply problems affecting two centres for internally displaced persons...

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Turkish National Police Academy signed a memorandum of understanding in Ankara on 22 January 2016 to implement the Training Against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programme.

VIENNA, 22 January 2016 – 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 – welcome efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and are prepared to work cooperatively with those committed to a peaceful settlement.

COPENHAGEN, 22 January 2016 – The Chairperson of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions Committee, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today expressed concern about legislation proposed by the Danish government that would allow the authorities to seize the valuables of asylum-seekers to help cover the cost of their stay in the country. She called on Denmark's parliamentarians to reject the proposed amendments...

The SMM observed an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region as compared to the previous three days, mainly at and around Donetsk airport and Debaltseve. In Luhansk region, recorded ceasefire violations were training related. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on four occasions in areas not controlled by the Government.* The Mission followed up on media reports about damage to a World War II monument in Kharkiv and an alleged seizure of a church in Rivne. In Kyiv, the Mission observed a public gathering by groups commemorating the beginning of the confrontations on Maidan in 2014 and its victims...

The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Madina Jarbussynova on 21 January 2016 commended the Czech Republic for a number of moves to intensify anti-trafficking efforts...

VIENNA, 21 January 2016 – Remembering the Holocaust reminds us of our duty to speak out against the denial of these grave crimes and to work for tolerance and non-discrimination in our societies, said keynote speakers addressing the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council today, which was dedicated to commemorating the International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January...