News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. It continued to observe armed men and armoured personnel carriers in Luhansk city centre. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it heard an explosion near the Stanytsia Luhansk disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including near Kreminets. The SMM observed shelling damage in a residential area of Dokuchaievsk. In Luhansk the SMM observed a convoy of 16 cargo trucks marked with “Humanitarian help from the Russian Federation”. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure in Betmanove. The SMM observed a calm situation in Kherson region along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. It observed groups of parishioners shout at one another outside a church in Ivano-Frankivsk...

The methodology and initial results of a study on unreported hate crimes against members of selected communities in Poland were explored by representatives of civil society, the national administration and international organizations during a meeting in Warsaw on 24 November 2017.

COPENHAGEN, 24 November 2017 – In his first address as OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President, Georgian parliamentarian George Tsereteli spoke today at the Standing Committee meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Copenhagen. Noting the role that the OSCE and Council of Europe have historically played in the transformation of Europe, President Tsereteli urged continued dialogue and a creative approach to strengthen international co-operation...

PODGORICA, 24 November 2017- On the occasion of tomorrow’s International Day to End Violence against Women, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Montenegrin Ministry for Human and Minority Rights issued a joint statement condemning all instances of gender-based violence:...

KYIV, 24 November 2017 – As the world is set to mark tomorrow’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, it is vitally important to recognize the link between violence against women and armed conflict, said Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, and Ambassador Vaidotas Verba, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, today in Kyiv.

The responsibility of others in protecting children’s physical, moral and mental development, as well as children’s upbringing to guard them against the harmful media and internet content s was the focus of the first day of the two-day Western Balkans Regional Conference – Protect and Respect – Safeguarding Human Rights. The Conference is organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in partnership with Agency for Electronic Media and Office for the Protection of Human Rights of Montenegro, on 23 and 24 November 2017 in Podgorica.

The SMM continued to see the presence of at least 100 armed persons as well as of vehicles, including armoured personnel carriers, in Luhansk city centre. The Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded a ceasefire violation inside the Petrivske disengagement area, outside the reporting period. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including again near Kreminets and in Luhansk city.* The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs of power lines in Betmanove. The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians travelling across the contact line. It visited a border area not under government control in Donetsk region. The SMM monitored a gathering in Kyiv....