News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Spot Report by OSCE Observer Mission:eighteenth Russian convoy of 24 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned back through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point
Publishing date: 14 March 2015
On 13 March 2015 at 15:14hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 24 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. The Observer Mission (OM) was not aware of this convoy coming as it was not announced in advance. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 00:02hrs on 14 March.
OSCE Chief Monitor in Ukraine welcomes extension to the Special Monitoring Mission’s mandate
Publishing date: 13 March 2015
The Head of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, thanked all 57 OSCE participating States for their continued support for the Mission, following their consensus decision of 12 March 2015 to extend the Mission’s mandate to 31 March 2016.
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 12 March 2015
Publishing date: 13 March 2015
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 that fighting continued in areas around the Donetsk airport and in Shyrokyne, east of Mariupol...
OSCE Representative condemns repressive actions against journalists in Crimea, Ukraine; calls for immediate release of journalist
Publishing date: 13 March 2015
Collections: Statements from OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media on media freedom situation in Crimea, Ukraine
VIENNA, 13 March 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović condemned the intimidation of independent journalists in Crimea following the detention today of Natalya Kokorina, a journalist and editor with the news portal Crimean Centre for Investigative Journalism...
OSCE Chairperson welcomes extension of Ukraine Mission mandate, calls for unfettered access
Publishing date: 12 March 2015
BELGRADE, 12 March 2015 – Today’s decision by the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna to extend the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) and allocate necessary resources confirms the support and commitment of all 57 participating States to implementing the Minsk agreements and to the Mission, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 11 March 2015
Publishing date: 12 March 2015
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 that fighting continued in areas in and around the Donetsk airport and in areas to the east of Mariupol...
Weekly update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 10:00 (Moscow time), 11 March 2015
Publishing date: 11 March 2015
Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both BCPs. The overall cross-border traffic increased at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs) confirming OM’s predicted return of movement into Ukraine. The OM also observed an increase of the number of persons in military-style clothing crossing the border in both directions...