News and press releases

VIENNA, 18 November 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović warned today that the United Kingdom’s Investigative Powers Bill could severely threaten the confidentiality of journalists’ sources and investigative reporting when it becomes law...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period; most of them were concentrated in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata Donetsk airport area. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with none recorded in the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling and civilian casualties. 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.* It observed long queues at the entry-exit checkpoints near Stanytsia Luhanska during the morning hours. In Kyiv, the Mission observed peaceful public gatherings outside the National Bank of Ukraine, the Parliament and the Ministry of Infrastructure with a total of some 1,500 people in attendance...

BRUSSELS, 17 November 2016 – Following steps in Azerbaijan to expand criminal insult provisions, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today reiterated her call on the authorities to reform the country’s defamation legislation...

WARSAW, 16 November 2016 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on today’s International Day for Tolerance released its hate crime data for 2015 on its dedicated website.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, most of which were concentrated in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata Donetsk airport area and areas north-east and east of Mariupol. In Luhansk region, the SMM did not record any ceasefire violations. 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.*. The Mission observed long queues at the entry-exit checkpoints near Stanytsia Luhanska during the morning hours. In Kyiv, the Mission observed peaceful public gatherings around the National Bank of Ukraine and the Parliament with a total of some 5,000 people attending, overseen by some 2,000 law enforcement officers...

PARIS, 16 November 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today urged members of the parliament in the Czech Republic to abolish an amendment making defamation of the country’s president a criminal offence...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with 13 November. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with 13 November. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling and civilian casualties on both sides of the contact line. 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. The SMM’s freedom of movement was further restricted on two occasions in “DPR”-controlled areas north-east of Mariupol and once at a Ukrainian Armed Forces compound.* The SMM observed weapons regulated by the Memorandum in violation of the withdrawal lines in Serednoteple and Trokhizbenka. The Mission observed long queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line near Stanytsia Luhanska and Horlivka. In Luhansk region the SMM visited two border areas currently not under government control. In Kyiv, the Mission observed a public gathering outside the National Bank of Ukraine...