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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Spot report by the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk, 23 August 2014: Russian convoy returned from Ukraine and crossed into the Russian Federation at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point
Publishing date: 23 August 2014
Content type: Spot report
What we do: Border management, Conflict prevention and resolution
DONETSK CHECKPOINT, Russian Federation, 23 August 2014- On 23 August, between 10:00 and 14:15 (local time), a total number of 220 vehicles of the Russian convoy returned from Ukraine and crossed to the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). Already seven vehicles of the convoy had returned to the BCP on the evening of 22 August. The OSCE Observer Mission (OM) concludes that all 227 vehicles of the aid convoy, which had crossed the Donetsk BCP towards Ukraine on 22 August (see Spot Reports of 22 August 2014), have returned to the Russian Federation (RF).
Killing of Mykola Zelenc demonstrates urgent need to stop violent escalation in eastern Ukraine, says Swiss OSCE Permanent Council Chair
Publishing date: 23 August 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, Permanent Council
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
VIENNA, 23 August 2014 – On behalf of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship, Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Government of Lithuania and the family of Mykola Zelenec, the Honorary Consul of Lithuania, who was murdered by illegally armed groups in Luhansk. The perpetrators must be brought to justice, Greminger underlined, and condemned the tragic murder. This is another sad indicator that violence in the east of Ukraine must be ended and that all needs to be done to de-escalate the situation urgently in order to find back to meaningful dialogue, Greminger concluded.
With humanitarian aid urgently needed, OSCE Chairperson calls upon all sides to render convoy aid a co-operative endeavor again
Publishing date: 23 August 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
BERN, August 23, 2014 – Deploring that the agreement by Ukraine and the Russian Federation on the modalities of delivering the convoy aid was not implemented in good faith, Didier Burkhalter, Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any actions which could contribute to the further escalation of the situation. Stressing that humanitarian aid had to be delivered in accordance with humanitarian principles and in full respect of Ukrainian sovereignty, Burkhalter urged all sides to help transform this convoy aid into a cooperative endeavor again.
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 21 August 2014
Publishing date: 22 August 2014
Content type: Daily report
Where we are: OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (closed)
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
Further allegations of human rights abuses emerge in Donbas...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 20 August 2014
Publishing date: 21 August 2014
Content type: Daily report
Where we are: OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (closed)
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
Fighting in and around Donetsk continues, as living conditions deteriorate for the civilian population. The SMM met internally displaced persons (IDPs) leaving Luhansk. In Chernivtsi soldiers protest against mobilization...
Weekly update from the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk, for the period 13–19 August 2014
Publishing date: 20 August 2014
Content type: Weekly report
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKY, Russian Federation, 20 August 2014- The Observer Mission (OM) reached full operational capacity and almost completed the replacement of temporary mission members. Observation at the Border Crossing-Points is conducted every day in three eight-hour shifts. Cross-border traffic flow decreased at both Border Crossing-Points, predominantly into the Russian Federation. The OM received reports from people fleeing from Ukraine about the dire situation in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The report covers increased Russian military activity in the vicinity of the Border Crossing-Points...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 19 August 2014
Publishing date: 20 August 2014
Content type: Daily report
Where we are: OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (closed)
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
Fighting in the north-eastern part of the Donetsk region and south-eastern areas of the Luhansk region continued. The SMM monitored the situation of the civilian population in Donetsk...