News and press releases

MOSCOW, 30 November 2016 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) met with Russian Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matvienko and State Duma Deputy Chair Petr Tolstoy in Moscow this week for talks that focused on Russian involvement in the work of the OSCE PA, contribution of parliamentarians to the OSCE, and developments in and around Ukraine...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the evening of 27 and 28 November. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the evening of 27 and 28 November, with the majority having been recorded in areas along the contact line in the western part of the region. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.*

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations between the evenings of 25 and 26 November and fewer ceasefire violations between the evenings of 26 and 27 November, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded the majority of ceasefire violations in the area north-east of Mariupol and around the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. In Luhansk region the SMM observed ceasefire violations between the evenings of 25 and 26 November and the evenings of 26 and 27 November; it had observed none in the previous reporting period. All of the ceasefire violations were recorded in the western part of Luhansk region. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* It lost contact with a mini unmanned aerial vehicle north-east of Mariupol.* The Mission monitored three border areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM observed a public gathering near the Cabinet of Ministers in Kyiv...

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region as in the previous reporting period, with the majority concentrated in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area and areas north-east and east of Mariupol. In Luhansk region, the SMM did not record ceasefire violations. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas, including jamming of its unmanned aerial vehicle.* The Mission monitored a border area in an area under government control in Luhansk region and one in Odessa. The SMM observed long queues at the entry-exit checkpoints near Stanytsia Luhanska during the morning hours.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas, as well as on eight other occasions.* The Mission monitored a border area currently not under government-control. The SMM facilitated and monitored repair work on both sides of the contact line. In Kyiv the Mission continued to monitor public gatherings around the National Bank of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission recorded multiple rockets in flight in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. It continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and was restricted in its movement on three occasions.* The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on a further five instances. The SMM monitored three border areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM facilitated and monitored repair works on both sides of the contact line...

VIENNA, 23 November 2016 – On the 5th anniversary of the death of Azerbaijani writer and newspaper columnist Rafiq Tagi, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović reitirated her call to Azerbaijan and all other OSCE participating States to ensure journalists’ safety and end impunity for crimes against them...