News and press releases

KYIV, 1 September 2016 – All sides should heed the ceasefire appeal ahead of the start of the new school year, the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Ertugrul Apakan said today...

BRUSSELS, 30 August 2016- Gernot Erler, Special Representative of the Federal Government of Germany for the OSCE Chairmanship, and Lamberto Zannier, Secretary General of the OSCE, today spoke about OSCE-EU co-operation during an address to the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs in Brussels...

VIENNA, 29 August 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called on Ukrainian authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the death of journalist Alexander Shchetinin...

ISSYK-KUL, Kyrgyzstan, 24 August 2016 – A two-day workshop organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek for 16 young and recently-recruited mobile doctors from Batken, Osh, Jalalabad and Talas provinces on health care and human rights protection in detention facilities started today in Sary-Oi, Issyk-Kul region...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with a significant increase in the number of explosions recorded in both regions on 14 August compared with the previous day. The SMM confirmed casualties and conducted crater analysis near Popasna, Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, Donetsk city, Yasynuvata, Mykolaivka, Zhovte and Kruta Hora. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone and monitored border areas not controlled by the Government on six occasions*. The Mission continued to monitor the situation at three crossing points at the administrative boundary line between the mainland and Crimea. The SMM faced 11 freedom-of-movement restrictions, most in areas not controlled by the Government...

VIENNA, 9 August 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed deep sorrow following the death of Željko Kopanja, journalist and owner of Nezavisne novine and Glas Srpske, who died on 8 August...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region on 1 August compared to both 30 and 31 July, particularly with regard to explosions. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations than on 30 and 31 July combined. The SMM followed up on reports of casualties and analysed craters on both sides of the contact line. The Mission noted mines and mine hazard signs. The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. The SMM facilitated repairs to essential infrastructure on both sides of the contact line in Shchastia, Krasnyi Lyman and Zolote. The SMM monitored two border areas not controlled by the Government and its access was restricted at one...