News and press releases

VIENNA, 23 September 2017 – “Brutal killing of an American-Syrian journalist and her mother, both reporting about the situation in Syria, highlights the dangers that critical journalists face in their work,” said today OSCE Media Freedom Representative Harlem Désir...

VIENNA, 22 September 2017 –The release from house arrest of Mykola Semena, a journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has been noted by OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir, who however condemned the conviction and imposition of a ban on “public activities”.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period and more in Luhansk region. The Mission observed damage to residences in Chervonyi Yar in Luhansk region and Bohdanivka in Donetsk region due to shelling. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske, and recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. Staff in schools near the contact line in non-government-controlled areas told the SMM they had been ordered not to speak with the SMM. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia, Zolote, Artema, Krasnyi Lyman, and Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM visited a border area not under government control. The Mission monitored two gatherings in Kyiv and followed up on reports of an explosion in Uman...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period and fewer in Luhansk region. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Pervomaiske.* The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia, Zolote, Artema, Krasnyi Lyman and Luhanske.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty and observed fresh damage to residential areas in Donetsk city. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations near the three disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia and Artema. The SMM observed long queues of civilians at the Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint. The Mission visited a border area not under government control in Donetsk region. In Odessa the SMM followed up on an alleged violent incident and detention after a trial in relation to events in Odessa on 2 May 2014.The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty and observed fresh damage to residential areas in Donetsk city. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations near the three disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia and Artema. The SMM observed long queues of civilians at the Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint. The Mission visited a border area not under government control in Donetsk region. In Odessa the SMM followed up on an alleged violent incident and detention after a trial in relation to events in Odessa on 2 May 2014.

PODGORICA, 20 September 2017 – The contract of co-operation, which is being developed between Radio-Television of Montenegro and the Government of Montenegro with respect to public services, was the focus of yesterday's roundtable discussion organized by OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in co-operation with Radio-Television Montenegro (PBS RTCG)...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty from Dmytrivka. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefires violation near the Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Mykolaivka.* It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia, Zolote and Slovianoserbsk. The Mission continued to monitor the situation of schools near the contact line. The SMM visited two border areas not under government control. The Mission followed up on reports that a member of a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Kharkiv had been attacked. It monitored the closing session of a trial in relation to events in Odessa on 2 May 2014 and continued to follow up on reports of a fire at a children’s camp in Odessa...