News and press releases

VIENNA, 7 March 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today released a comparative study “Defamation and Insult Laws in the OSCE Region” which says criminal law remains an instrument to excessively limit media freedom...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 3 and 4 March compared with the previous reporting period, and fewer ceasefire violations between the evenings of 4 and 5 March compared with the previous 24-hour period. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations between the evenings of 3 and 4 March compared with the previous reporting period, and fewer ceasefire violations the evenings of 4 and 5 March compared with the previous 24-hour period. It observed damage from shelling in Avdiivka, Popasna, Dachne, Oleksandrivka, Dokuchaievsk, Loskutivka, and Pikuzy. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote but its access remained restricted.* It recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas. The Mission, in co-ordination with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), facilitated and monitored demining activities in areas of the Donetsk Water Filtration station. The Mission monitored the blockade of routes crossing the contact line in three locations. The SMM visited one border area currently not under the government control in Sievernyi, and armed men prevented the SMM from proceeding to another border area currently not under the government control in Leonove...

VIENNA/WARSAW, 6 March 2017 – Dunja Mijatović, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today condemned the sentencing of Azerbaijani blogger and chair of the media NGO Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety Mehman Huseynov and called on authorities to release him...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. It followed up on a civilian casualty in Zolote-4 and observed damage from gunfire and shelling in Kalynove, Donetskyi and Avdiivka (at a site where an SMM camera is positioned). The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote but its access remained restricted.* It recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including more than twice as many explosions compared with the previous reporting period. It followed up on casualties in Kurakhove and Popasna and observed damage from shelling on both sides of the contact line in Zolote. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote but its access remained restricted.* The Mission heard artillery explosions and heavy-machine-gun fire near the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission monitored the blockade of routes crossing the contact line in four locations. It visited two border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored a protest in Chernivtsi...

VIENNA, 3 March 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called on Georgian authorities to ensure media independence and pluralism following a Supreme Court ruling ordering a change of ownership of the Rustavi 2 television channel...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including more than twice as many explosions compared with the previous reporting period. It observed damage from shelling on both sides of the contact line. The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire and facilitated dialogue in order to repair essential infrastructure in the area of Svitlodarsk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote but its access remained restricted.* The Mission heard artillery explosions and heavy-machine-gun fire inside and near the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska revealed five ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area on 27 February. The SMM noted unexploded ordnance in Lyman, Shchastia, Kalynove and near Donetsk airport. The Mission monitored the blockade of routes crossing the contact line in four locations. It visited a border area not under government control...