News and press releases

Elections experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) undertook a mid-term review visit to Kyiv from 7 to 9 February 2018 to collaboratively assess the status of follow-up on ODIHR’s electoral recommendations.

WASHINGTON, 9 February 2018 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli (Georgia) and Secretary General Roberto Montella are wrapping up a visit to Washington, where they met this week with Members of Congress and officials from the U.S. National Security Council and State Department. In discussions, Tsereteli and Montella have noted the essential role of the OSCE as a forum for dialogue and stressed the importance of continued U.S. engagement in the Organization...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of three children injured by the explosion of unexploded ordnance in Krasnohorivka. The SMM observed damage caused by gunfire to civilian properties in a residential area of Dokuchaievsk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works to essential infrastructure near Artema, Kadiivka and Maiorsk. The SMM monitored a transfer of pre-conflict detainees from non-government- to government-controlled areas in Donetsk region; it also monitored the transport of mortal remains from government- to non-government-controlled areas in Luhansk region. The Mission visited a border area not under government control. In Kyiv, in front of the Parliament building the SMM saw about 500 people carrying flags and banners demanding higher pensions...

WASHINGTON, 8 February 2018 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli and Secretary General Roberto Montella are in Washington this week, where they participated in a forum on geopolitics in South East Europe on Tuesday. The event at the U.S. Senate featured remarks from prime ministers and members of parliament, who addressed challenges facing the region of South East Europe, as well as members of the U.S. Congress...

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier visited Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region from 5 to 7 February 2018 to assess inter-ethnic relations in the region. His visit to this western region of Ukraine was a follow-up to his trip to Kyiv in December 2017...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and while present in Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote it observed calm situations. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Manuilivka and to a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled part of Donetsk region.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Makiivka and Novoamvrosiivske. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repair and maintenance works to essential civilian infrastructure near Vasylivka, Artema and Kadiivka. The Mission visited a border area not under government control. The SMM observed a gathering at the Polish consulate in Lviv...

VIENNA, 7 February 2018 – The work of international actors, including the OSCE’s contribution, in supporting the implementation of the 2004 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 on preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons was explored at today’s OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) meeting in Vienna, held under Slovakia’s Chairmanship...