News and press releases

The role of the EU and the OSCE in restoring co-operative security in Europe was the focus of a panel discussion organized by the OSCE and the Institute of International Affairs (IAI) in Rome on 8 March 2016. The debate revolved around priorities of the forthcoming EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy, relations between Europe and Russia as well as findings of the final report of the independent Panel of Eminent Persons on European Security.

The SMM observed ceasefire violations in Donetsk region at a level similar to the previous day. The situation remained stable in Luhansk. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It continued to facilitate demining and repair work to essential infrastructure. The Mission reached border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government in both Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The SMM encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions.* It monitored demonstrations in support of Nadiya Savchenko in Kramatorsk, Odessa, Kharkiv and Kyiv...

KYIV, 10 March 2016- The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Ukrainian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Inter-ethnic Relations co-organized a roundtable discussion in Kyiv today on strengthening the institutional framework with regard to inter-ethnic relations in Ukraine and in the context of decentralization...

COPENHAGEN, 9 March 2016 – OSCE parliamentarians will observe the upcoming early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan and provide leadership for the OSCE’s short-term observer mission...

BERLIN, 9 March 2016 – Gernot Erler, Special Representative of the German Government for the OSCE Chairmanship, expressed today great concern following reports concerning the health of Nadiya Savchenko, the Ukrainian pilot imprisoned in the Russian Federation.

The SMM observed an increase in ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous day. The situation remained stable in Luhansk. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM observed probable unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war. It continued to facilitate demining and repair work to essential infrastructure. The Mission reached border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government in both Luhansk and Donetsk regions, as well as government-controlled border crossing points. The SMM encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions. It monitored demonstrations in support of Nadiya Savchenko in front of the Russian Embassy in Kyiv and the General Consulate in Lviv...

The SMM observed a decrease in ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day. The situation remained stable in Luhansk. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It did not observe any live-fire exercises. The Mission facilitated and monitored demining and repair work on both sides of the contact line, and observed the fencing off of a mined area. The SMM encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions in areas not controlled by the Government.* It reached border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government in Donetsk region. The Mission engaged with women active in their communities throughout Ukraine on the occasion of International Women’s Day...