News and press releases

PODGORICA, 17 October 2016 – Montenegro’s 16 October parliamentary elections were held in a competitive environment and fundamental freedoms were generally respected in a campaign characterized by a lack of distinct domestic policy alternatives and permeated by personal attacks, international observers said in a statement issued today. While pluralistic, the media lacked editorial independence...

PODGORICA, 17 October 2016 – Montenegro’s 16 October parliamentary elections were held in a competitive environment and fundamental freedoms were generally respected in a campaign characterized by a lack of distinct domestic policy alternatives and permeated by personal attacks, international observers said in a statement issued today. While pluralistic, the media lacked editorial independence...

The SMM recorded a significant increase in ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the day before, the vast majority of which occurred in areas north-east of Mariupol. In Luhansk region more explosions were recorded compared with the day before. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; the SMM was restricted in its freedom of movement in all three areas.* It followed up on reports of civilian casualties. The SMM observed the presence and movement of multiple armoured vehicles in government-controlled parts of Luhansk region. An unknown person threw an explosive device at the building housing the SMM office in Ivano-Frankivsk. The SMM observed a number of marches and events across Ukraine marking the “Day of the Defender”.

STRASBOURG, France, 14 October 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in an address on Thursday to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council in Europe in Strasbourg, underlined the important role that the Council of Europe plays in addressing many of the serious security challenges in Europe, thus highlighting the strong potential for dialogue and co-operation between the OSCE and the Council of Europe...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, with most concentrated in areas north-east and east of Mariupol and in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata area...

KYIV, 14 October 2016 – Ending a four-day visit to Kyiv, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the commitment by the authorities, the media community and civil society to strengthen media freedom in Ukraine. She also called on the authorities to intensify their efforts to end impunity for crimes committed against journalists...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, with most concentrated in areas north-east and east of Mariupol and in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata area...