News and press releases

VIENNA, 24 July 2017 – The start of the trial against journalists and board members of the daily newspaper Cumhuriyet today highlights the urgent need to protect journalism and improve media freedom in Turkey, Harlem Désir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media stated...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. On two occasions the Mission interrupted unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights due to ceasefire violations near them, assessed at least on one occasion as aimed at the UAV.* The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties and damage to civilian properties caused by shelling in Kashtanove and in Donetsk city.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. In the Trudovskyi area of Petrovskyi district in Donetsk city, an armed man told the Mission not to fly an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); the SMM then heard small-arms fire near the area where it was flying the UAV.* The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties and damage to civilian properties caused by shelling in Donetsk city.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission confirmed reports of civilian casualties in Avdiivka and Staromykhailivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement areas, and an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted tracks of an armoured combat vehicle and a crater in the Petrivske disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Popasna and Novoazovsk.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Shchastia, Bakhmut and Nikishyne. It facilitated and monitored mine and unexploded ordnance clearance, co-ordinated by the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination, along the M03 road between Svitlodarsk and Debaltseve, and observed clearance activities in Pryshyb, Nikishyne, and Pyshchevyk. The Mission continued to observe mines and unexploded ordnance, as well as mine hazard signs, on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated repairs to four pieces of critical infrastructure in Luhansk region. It visited two border areas not under government control...

VIENNA, 20 July 2017 – Recognizing that shared challenges require common solutions, Italy’s Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2018 will work to capture the ‘authentic spirit of Helsinki’ and encourage a sense of responsibility and solidarity on the part of each of the OSCE’s 57 participating States to address the multitude of security threats facing the region, Italy’s Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said today as he addressed the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on the upcoming Chairmanship’s priorities.

VIENNA, 20 July 2017 – On the first anniversary of the murder of journalist Pavel Sheremet in Ukraine, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today called on the national authorities in all OSCE participating States to do their utmost to end impunity for attacks and murders of journalists...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, however more explosions in Donetsk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission confirmed a report of a civilian fatality from Staromykhailivka. It observed multiple impact sites in Zolote-4/Rodina. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Shchastia where the SMM was again denied access and its unmanned aerial vehicle spotted anti-tank mines.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Berkhivka. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Mykhailivka-Shchastia Thermal Power Plant high-voltage power lines near Berdianka. It also facilitated and monitored repair works to water pumps in Yashchykove and Krasnyi Lyman. The SMM visited two border areas not under government control in Uspenka and Marynivka. The Mission monitored an ongoing protest in Kherson...