News and press releases

VIENNA, 23 February 2017 – International terrorism, human rights and combating climate change are among the issues topping the agenda as some 250 members of parliament from more than 50 OSCE countries gather for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 16th Winter Meeting in Vienna...

The SMM recorded a similar number of explosions in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24-hour period. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties and shelling. The Mission saw weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. Its freedom of movement was restricted on both sides of the contact line.

VIENNA, 22 February 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the recent release of Khudayberdy Allashov, a contributor to Azatlyk, the Turkmen Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty...

VIENNA, 22 February 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the release in Uzbekistan of Muhammed Bekjanov, the former chief editor of the opposition newspaper Erk...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24-hour period. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, but more explosions compared with the previous 24-hour period. The SMM, in co-ordination with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), facilitated and monitored repair of power supply to the Donetsk Water Filtration station and Avdiivka. The Mission observed restoration of electricity in Avdiivka. In areas not under government control the SMM observed a number of weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines in Luhansk region. The Mission continued to observe the blockade of railway tracks near Hirske. In various cities the SMM observed generally peaceful demonstrations commemorating the events on Maidan in Kyiv three years ago. In Kharkiv, the SMM followed up on media reports of an alleged shooting incident on the night of 17 February...

VIENNA, 20 February 2017 – With regard to the 18 February presidential decree by the Russian Federation recognizing documents and license plates of vehicles issued to Ukraine’s citizens and stateless persons who reside in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, a spokesperson of Austria’s OSCE Chairmanship said today: “The OSCE Chairmanship expresses strong concern about this measure taken by the Russian Federation.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period in Donetsk region on both 18 and 19 February. In Luhansk region, the SMM observed more ceasefire violations on 18 February but fewer on 19 February. The SMM confirmed civilian casualties in Avdiivka and Trudivske and observed infrastructure damage as a result of shelling in Avdiivka, Trudivske, Pikuzy, Novooleksandrivka, and Zolote.