News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, including more explosions, and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage caused by shelling, including to civilian properties and essential infrastructure, in Zaitseve and Zolote-5. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Siedove close to the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission facilitated and monitored repair works and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Zolote and Berezove and in Olenivka.

OTTAWA, 28 February 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, yesterday shared a legal review with the Turkish authorities on elements of a bill that, if adopted, could restrict online broadcasting and further limit media pluralism in the country.

KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week. On 22 February 2018 the seventy-second Russian convoy crossed into Ukraine and returned back into the Russian Federation...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. Small arms were fired towards an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region. The Mission observed fresh damage caused by weapons, including to civilian property, in Pidlisne and Trokhizbenka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed calm situations. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including again at the Chervona Mohyla railway station near Voznesenivka and at a border crossing point at the border with the Russian Federation in an area not under government control in Luhansk region, where the SMM has been restricted constantly since 15 February.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs to a water pumping station near Artema and to a water pipeline between Zolote and Popasna. The SMM monitored a religious procession in Zaporizhzhia and a gathering in Kyiv, which marked the fourth anniversary of the events in Crimea...

OTTAWA, 27 February 2018- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed concern about a recent court decision in Cyprus prohibiting the daily Politis from publishing documents regarding the state attorney and the questioning by the police of several journalists of the daily newspapers Politis and Phileleftheros...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region between the evenings of 23 and 24 February, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 24 and 25 February, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM heard explosions from its forward patrol base in Popasna. The Mission followed up on reports of damage caused by weapons in Yasynuvata, Pidlisne and Molodizhne. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed ceasefire violations inside Zolote disengagement area.

COPENHAGEN, 26 February 2017 – Following the recent reported death of Archil Tatunashvili in South Ossetia, Georgia, OSCE PA human rights chair Ignacio Sanchez Amor stressed the need for close cooperation and a transparent investigation into the events leading to the death. Sanchez Amor expressed his sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Tatunashvili...