News and press releases

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 23 December 2016- Substantial progress has been made in the development and implementation of the legal and policy framework for the reintegration of repatriated persons in Kosovo, concludes a report published by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo today...

WARSAW, 23 December 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today criticized that the human rights group International Historical, Educational, Charitable and Human Rights Society “Memorial” has been confirmed a “foreign agent” by a district court in the Russian Federation...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, including nearly 1,600 explosions in Donetsk region and 169 explosions in Luhansk region. The majority of ceasefire violations, including the use of tank, artillery and mortar fire continued to be recorded in the Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve area. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access to these areas was again restricted.* The Mission observed proscribed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM followed up on reports of an incident at a Jewish gravesite in Uman...

MINSK, 21 December – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Martin Sajdik made the following press statement after the meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups in Minsk on 21 December 2016.

BERLIN, 21 December 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today welcomed the declaration of the Trilateral Contact Group in which the sides recommitted to a comprehensive, sustainable and durable ceasefire starting from 24 December 2016 and reconfirmed their will to implement the Minsk agreements and to continue the Minsk process effectively in the year 2017.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, while recording some 730 explosions in Donetsk region. The majority of ceasefire violations, including the use of multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery and mortar, were concentrated in the Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve-Horlivka area. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling in Sakhanka and Kalynove. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access was again restricted.* The Mission observed proscribed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM monitored a border crossing point currently not under government control in Luhansk region. In Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk the SMM observed peaceful gatherings...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the period between the evenings of 18 and 19 December. The SMM observed damage from fighting on 18 December, and followed up on reports of shelling and civilian casualties. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access was again restricted.* The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs to essential infrastructure in Horlivka, Zolote, Orikhove and Krasnyi Lyman. It continued to observe long queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line.