News and press releases

VIENNA, 8 February 2016 – The perpetrators of the attack against Greek journalist Demitrios Perros must be swiftly brought to justice, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said today...

The SMM observed a significant number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and one in Luhansk region. It monitored the withdrawal of weapons. The Mission facilitated and monitored de-mining and repair works on both sides of the contact line. The SMM encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions, the majority in areas not under government control. The Mission followed up on an explosion in Kherson that damaged the exterior of a Crimean Tatar Majlis office.

The SMM observed a significant number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and several in Luhansk region. It continued to visit heavy weapons holding areas and permanent storage sites. The Mission encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions, the majority in areas not under government control. Residents and Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM that the Maiorsk checkpoint had been closed for pedestrians and traffic...

While finding that Canada’s 2015 parliamentary elections demonstrated the credibility of the election process in the country, the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) also calls for amendments to electoral legislation...

The SMM observed a relatively low number of ceasefire violations in Donbas. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The Mission encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions, the majority in areas not under government control.* Zaitseve residents told the SMM that the nearby crossing point was closed to vehicular traffic. The SMM learned that a large number of people crossed the contact line near Stanytsia Luhanska...

The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on Armenia’s 6 December 2015 Constitutional Referendum concluded that the legal framework generally provides a solid basis for the conduct of referenda, but further steps should be taken to bring legislation closer in line with OSCE commitments...

VIENNA, 5 February 2016 – “On 25 July 2013, I got my first rape threat. That was a Thursday. By Sunday, police had collected 300 A4 pages of threats that had been made against me.”- Journalist Caroline Criado-Perez, on her experience with online abuse.