News and press releases

RIGA, 4 May 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today issued a joint declaration on “Freedom of Expression and Responses to Conflict Situations” together with special rapporteurs on free expression from the United Nations (UN), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights...

The OSCE Mission to Skopje in co-operation with the Turkish National Police will train ten police officers from Skopje at the Turkish Academy against Drugs and Organized Crime (TADOC) in Ankara, Turkey from 4 to 8 May 2015, on techniques for investigating organized crime...

BELGRADE, 03 May 2015 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić today condemned violations of the cease-fire along the line of contact in eastern Ukraine during the last few days, and expressed in particular serious concern over the use of proscribed heavy weapons as well as the increased fighting in and around Donetsk and Shyrokyne. He once again reiterated the call, supported in Belgrade last week by the ministerial OSCE Troika, to all sides to fully and unconditionally respect the cease-fire, end all hostilities and implement all provisions from the Minsk Agreements, including the withdrawal of heavy weapons.

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 3 May 2015 – Unfettered and professional media are key for democratic development of Kosovo, said Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, as he called on institutions to guarantee the freedom of expression and freedom of the media, and to provide for a safer working environment for journalists to inform the public timely and objectively...

On 1 May, the SMM was not allowed access to its observation post located 4km north-west of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) where members of the battalion on the ground took position (See SMM Daily Report 2 May, 2015).

KYIV, 2 May 2015- The Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, today expressed his deep concern about an increase in incidents over the past 36 hours, involving live fire near and at SMM patrols.

This report is for the media and public The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations* – observed ongoing fighting in and around Donetsk airport, in the environs of Shyrokyne, and – to a lesser extent – in a number of other places. The SMM observed military movement on both sides of the contact line. Azov volunteer battalion members occupied an SMM observation point near Shyrokyne. Numerous peaceful rallies were held throughout the country.