News and press releases

The SMM observed an increased level of violence in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions as compared to the previous reporting period. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and other hardware in the security zone. It continued to monitor the situation of civilians at checkpoints. The Mission facilitated adherence to the ceasefire and monitored the repair of essential infrastructure. Its freedom of movement was restricted three times in areas not controlled by the Government.*...

VIENNA / WARSAW, 25 May 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović and the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Michael Georg Link, today welcomed the release of the Azerbaijani journalist and human rights defender Khadija Ismayilova...

The SMM observed a marked decrease in the level of violence in Donetsk region as compared to the previous reporting period. Luhansk region remained relatively calm. The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission observed the full re-opening of the Olenivka crossing route, and learned that people had stayed overnight at the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint near Berezove. A man died from a heart attack while queuing at a checkpoint south of Stanytsia Luhanska. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted once, in an area not controlled by the Government...*

VIENNA, 24 May 2016 – OSCE Representative Dunja Mijatović today called on the authorities in Ukraine to conduct a swift investigation of the attack against Anatoly Ostapenko, journalist with Hromadske TV in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine...

The SMM observed a similar level of violence in Donetsk region both on 21 and 22 May as compared to 20 May and observed an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region on 21 May and fewer on 22 May- compared to 20 May. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis in government-controlled Avdiivka. Some 600 people gathered in front of the residence of SMM monitors in Donetsk city. It also monitored events on the occasion of the “Day of Heroes” in Lviv and a protest in Chernivtsi. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on eight occasions, exclusively in areas not controlled by the Government...

The SMM observed a slightly higher level of violence in Donbas compared to the previous day. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission monitored the situation affecting civilians living near the contact line. It also monitored a demonstration in Kyiv. The operation of the Mission’s ceasefire monitoring equipment was stopped by armed “DPR” members in Donetsk city and its activities were restricted on five other occasions, mainly in areas not controlled by the Government...

VIENNA, 21 May 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today criticized the recent mass detentions of members of the media in Kazakhstan...