News and press releases

WARSAW, 11 September 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the release of prominent Azerbaijani journalist and media expert Mehman Aliyev...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 8 and 9 September compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 9 and 10 September the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. It followed up on a report of a casualty in Yasynuvata. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in non-government-controlled Michurine.* The Mission saw a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near government-controlled Mykolaivka. The SMM observed long queues at checkpoints on the contact line. It visited a border area outside government control in Luhansk region. It monitored gatherings in Lviv region connected to the announced return of Mikhail Saakashvili to Ukraine...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It facilitated and monitored mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance, co-ordinated by the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), enabling the SMM to pass along the M03 road between Svitlodarsk and Debaltseve. The Mission monitored and facilitated a transfer of funds from non-government to government-controlled areas in Luhansk region. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure in Shchastia and to the Artema-Petrivske pumping station. The SMM visited one border area not under government control.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, where it noted calm situations. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Metalist and Marinka.* An SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Popasna. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to the thermal power plant in Shchastia and a water well near Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints and at schools near the contact line on both sides. The Mission monitored three gatherings in Kyiv....

VIENNA, 7 September 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the release of Zhanbolat Mamay, acting Chief Editor of the newspaper Sayasi Kalam Tribuna in Kazakhstan, but voiced concern about the imposition of a ban on practicing the profession of journalism...

Women’s full and equal political participation, the role of political parties and the contribution of the women’s movement to women’s political empowerment were the focus of discussions during the International Forum on Women’s Political Empowerment in Budapest on 7 September 2017. The Forum was

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission again asked armed forces and formations about the recommitment to cease fire, as well as instructions on interaction with the SMM. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including in Verkhnoshyrokivske, Novolaspa and Svitle.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Shymshynivka and Buhaivka. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to the Horlivka-Toretsk pipeline and the thermal power plant in Shchastia. The Mission continued to monitor the situation at schools near the contact line on both sides. It visited two border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored two protests in Kyiv....