News and press releases

Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 2 June 2016, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors described country engagement and highlighted the disturbing increase in hate speech. The statement covered the High Commissioner’s activities since her last statement to the

VIENNA, 2 June 2016 – Noting the investigation launched in Kyiv today, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, reiterated her call for a swift and transparent judicial procedure to identify those responsible of the disclosure of personal data of journalists accredited in the east of Ukraine...

The SMM observed a similar level of violence in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous day. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and noted heavy weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM also noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continue to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected.* The Mission observed a peaceful protest in Ivano-Frankivsk, organized by family members of soldiers...

The SMM observed a high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, although fewer than on the previous day. In Luhansk region, the Mission observed more ceasefire violations- all overnight – than on the previous day. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and shooting in Yasne and Stanytsia Luhanska. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. In Lviv, the SMM monitored protests in front of the regional council. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted several times, both in areas controlled and not controlled by the Government...

VIENNA, 31 May 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today repeated her urgent call on authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) regarding the country’s public broadcasting system, following a decision by the Steering Board of the BiH Radio and Television (BHRT) to suspend all programmes as of 30 June 2016...

The SMM observed a high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, similar to the level observed on the previous day. With the exception of Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk region remained largely calm. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted several times, mostly in areas not controlled by the Government, and once at a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site...

ASTANA, 31 May 2016 – Expressing a strong belief in the role of inter-parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative for Central and Eastern Asia, Austrian parliamentarian Christine Muttonen, today called for greater unity and co-operation across the OSCE area in countering violent extremism...