News and press releases

KYIV, 3 February 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic today called for all sides in the conflict-affected area in Ukraine to increase their efforts to ensure safety of journalists.

VIENNA, 24 January 2017 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called the United States’ authorities to ensure that constitutional and international legal protections on freedom of the press are upheld in the case of two journalists who were arrested while covering the protests around the inauguration of Donald Trump on 20 January in Washington D.C...

VIENNA, 24 January 2017 – Following the latest Report of the Chief Monitor of the Special Monitoring Mission to the OSCE Permanent Council, the Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned the continued deterioration of media freedom and safety of journalists in conflict-affected parts of Ukraine...

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations between the evenings of 20 and 21 January and the previous reporting period, and more from the evenings of 21 to 22 January. The Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region from the evening of 20 to 21 January compared with the previous reporting period and more from the evenings of 21 to 22 January. The SMM observed damage caused by shelling to an apartment building in Yasynuvata. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted...

While stating that the 8 November 2016 elections were highly competitive and demonstrated commitment to fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly and association...

The SMM recorded fewer, but still a high number, of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region from the evenings of 22 to 23 December compared with the previous reporting period, including 1,150 explosions, mainly in the Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve area. The SMM evacuated its forward patrol base in government-controlled Svitlodarsk on 24 December due to the proximity of shelling on the evening of 23 December. While the SMM recorded a high number of explosions west of Horlivka on the night of 23 December, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations after a renewed commitment to the ceasefire starting on 24 December. The SMM returned to its forward patrol base in Svitlodarsk on 26 December...

The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 18 September 2016 State Duma elections in the Russian Federation recommends that national legislation concerning the freedoms of association, assembly and expression be aligned with international