News and press releases

MINSK, 29 April 2016 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, today announced that the TCG, and participants from certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, welcomed the determination of all participants of the Minsk process to provide for full respect of the ceasefire starting with the upcoming Easter and May holidays as of 30 April 2016, 00.00 hrs...

The SMM continued to record a high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It continued to follow up on civilian fatalities sustained by shelling in Olenivka and reports on people wounded in the incident. The Mission found no information to confirm media reports about casualties resulting from a trip wire explosion in Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM observed the presence of numerous weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It also monitored several public gatherings in Kyiv...

VIENNA, 29 April 2016 – Recent amendments to anti-terrorism measures in Uzbekistan should not be used to limit journalists’ access to information, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said today...

VIENNA, 28 April 2016 – The sentencing of two journalists in Turkey for republishing a cartoon is deeply worrying and another serious setback for freedom of expression in Turkey, OSCE media freedom representative Dunja Mijatović said today...

In Donetsk region, the SMM observed a high level of violence, with more than 600 explosions recorded. In particular, the SMM noted a considerable increase of violence in the Yasynuvata area, with some 450 explosions recorded. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded ceasefire violations in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska on the night of 25 April. SMM noted a number of weapons missing from permanent storage sites and holding areas. It observed long queues at checkpoints along the contact line. Its freedom of movement was restricted on two occasions, in areas not controlled by the Government.* The SMM followed up on an explosion at a bank in Odessa...

In Donetsk region, the SMM continued to observe a high level of violence. Luhansk region remained relatively calm, with the exception of Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM conducted crater analysis. SMM-facilitated and-monitored repair work was suspended in Marinka due to nearby violence. Large numbers of people were observed crossing the contact line. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on two occasions, one on each side of the contact line.

VIENNA, 26 April 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern about the obstruction of the work of Savik Shuster, journalist, producer and host of the “Shuster Live” television show in Ukraine...