News and press releases

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region between the evenings of 23 and 24 February, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 24 and 25 February, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM heard explosions from its forward patrol base in Popasna. The Mission followed up on reports of damage caused by weapons in Yasynuvata, Pidlisne and Molodizhne. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed ceasefire violations inside Zolote disengagement area.

COPENHAGEN, 26 February 2017 – Following the recent reported death of Archil Tatunashvili in South Ossetia, Georgia, OSCE PA human rights chair Ignacio Sanchez Amor stressed the need for close cooperation and a transparent investigation into the events leading to the death. Sanchez Amor expressed his sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Tatunashvili...

VIENNA, BRUSSELS, GENEVA, 26 February 2018- The Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions have taken note with strong concern of reports of the death in custody in Tskhinvali on 22 February of Mr Archil Tatunashvili, and express their condolences to the family of the deceased. They also note that, according to reports, a post-mortem examination has already taken place, and therefore call on the authorities in control in Tskhinvali to hand over the body of Mr Tatunashvili to his family without delay.

OTTAWA, 26 February 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed his shock and condemnation following the murder of investigative reporter Ján Kuciak and his fiancé in their home in Slovakia, and urged the authorities to pursue a full, transparent and swift investigation.

A bilateral meeting between the Secretary Generals of the Parliament of Montenegro and the Albanian Assembly, supported by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, took place on 23 February in Podgorica.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of fresh damage caused by weapons to civilian properties in Dovhe and Holmivskyi. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including, once again, near Kreminets.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission facilitated the clearance of unexploded ordnance in Molodizhne. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to a water pumping station in Artema and to a water pipe system in Novotoshkivske, and it heard that the latter was completed. The Mission visited a border area outside government control. The SMM monitored gatherings in Odessa and Dnipro.

In the evening of 23 February, while at its forward patrol base on the northern edge of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard continuous ceasefire violations, the majority of which were 3-4km south-east. At around 21:14, the SMM heard ten explosions assessed as outgoing 120mm mortar rounds about 500m north.