News and press releases

KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

COPENHAGEN, 27 March 2018 – In response to the police shooting of unarmed 22-year-old Stephon Clark on 18 March in Sacramento, California, the Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee, Ignacio Sanchez Amor (MP, Spain), called for greater accountability and policing reform in the United States...

KYIV, 27 March 2018- Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Ertugrul Apakan today welcomed the renewed commitment to the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number in Luhansk region between the evenings of 23 and 24 March, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 24 and 25 March, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24 hours and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded an explosion inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and seven projectiles in flight inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including, again, near Izvaryne, an area close to the border with the Russian Federation, and at a checkpoint near Kreminets.* The SMM observed demining activities near Sartana. The Mission continued to facilitate access for workers to and from the Donetsk Filtration Station. The SMM followed up on reports of water shortages in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region...

The OSCE Gender Section organized a workshop in Yerevan on 22 and 23 March 2018 to support Armenia’s ongoing process of drafting a national action plan to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security...

MINSK, 26 March 2018 – The Trilateral Contact Group today issued the following statement:...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. Small arms were fired near an SMM patrol in Pikuzy. The Mission observed damage to civilian properties caused by shelling in Sakhanka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed an explosion near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including, again, in border areas near Izvaryne, Sievernyi and Voznesenivka (near the border with the Russian Federation), and at a checkpoint near Donetsk city. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Poltavka. The Mission continued to facilitate access for workers to and from the Donetsk Filtration Station. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a court hearing. In Kharkiv, the Mission followed up on the situation of internally displaced persons...