News and press releases

VIENNA/PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 27 March 2018- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu, expressed deep concern today for the safety of journalists reporting on the police intervention in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North on 26 March.

VIENNA, 28 March 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today wrote to Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Sirodjidin Aslov, calling for the removal of 14 journalists’ names from a “list of people wanted for serious crimes, including connections with terrorists”.

VIENNA, 27 March 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, in a letter to the authorities of Turkmenistan recently presented a commentary on the national law “On Television and Radio Broadcasting”, which was adopted on 5 January...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number in Luhansk region between the evenings of 23 and 24 March, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 24 and 25 March, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24 hours and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded an explosion inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and seven projectiles in flight inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including, again, near Izvaryne, an area close to the border with the Russian Federation, and at a checkpoint near Kreminets.* The SMM observed demining activities near Sartana. The Mission continued to facilitate access for workers to and from the Donetsk Filtration Station. The SMM followed up on reports of water shortages in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region...

MINSK, 26 March 2018 – The Trilateral Contact Group today issued the following statement:...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. Small arms were fired near an SMM patrol in Pikuzy. The Mission observed damage to civilian properties caused by shelling in Sakhanka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed an explosion near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including, again, in border areas near Izvaryne, Sievernyi and Voznesenivka (near the border with the Russian Federation), and at a checkpoint near Donetsk city. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Poltavka. The Mission continued to facilitate access for workers to and from the Donetsk Filtration Station. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a court hearing. In Kharkiv, the Mission followed up on the situation of internally displaced persons...

ROME / VIENNA, 23 March 2018 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Italy’s Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger condemned today’s terrorist attacks in Carcassonne and Trèbes, France. They offered their heartfelt condolences to the families of victims and wished swift recovery to those wounded...