News and press releases

The second day of Easter passed quietly in the overwhelming majority of Ukrainian regions, including Odessa and Kherson. Huge tension remained in Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk districts) related to the activities of opponents of the Government, some of whom were armed, and due to the continued occupation of administrative buildings. The situation was cause for increased concern in Luhansk, where local separatists elected their own governor and called for a referendum on joining Russia.

VIENNA, 22 April 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed deep concern about new cases of detention and attacks on journalists in eastern Ukraine...

DONETSK, Ukraine, 22 April 2014 – A team from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine led by Mark Etherington, Deputy Chief Monitor, made a statement following their meetings in Donetsk today...

KYIV, 22 April 2014 – OSCE Chief Monitor in Ukraine Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan today called for the immediate release of the head of police of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, who was abducted by armed people yesterday night...

Bern, April 22, 2014- Swiss Foreign Minister and Chairperson-in-Office, Didier Burkhalter, commended first steps undertaken by the Ukrainian authorities to initiate the implementation of measures agreed upon in the Joint Statement on Ukraine of April 17, 2014.

Over the holiday weekend the situation in the western and central Ukraine was calm. Tensions remained in the Donbas- the separatists continued the occupation of the building of the state security service (SBU) in Luhansk as well as several other administrative buildings in Donetsk Oblast. Due to the proximity to this region, the situation in parts of southern and eastern Ukraine remains tense. Both proponents of the unitary Ukraine and separatists declared that their implementation of the Geneva statement depends on the mutual, synchronized disarmament and vacation of buildings.

OSCE supports senior Kyrgyz officials visit to international forum on anti-corruption OSCE Centre in Bishkek supported participation of eight representatives from the Economy Ministry of Kyrgyzstan, including Minister, at the 16th Anti-Corruption network steering group meeting in Paris, France on 16 to 18 April 2014.