News and press releases

Compared with the previous 24 hours, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM again saw damage from gunfire to a functioning school in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, and saw damage from shelling to residential houses in Khreshchatytske. It also observed damage to an agricultural building near Dokuchaievsk and craters in Prymorske and Sosnivske, as well as near Mykolaivka and Zaitseve. Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the Mission saw an anti-aircraft gun and a trench extension and recorded a ceasefire violation. The SMM spotted anti-tank mines near Nyzhnie Lozove and Vesela Hora. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement area and elsewhere...

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.

Some 30 young community activists from all seven provinces of Kyrgyzstan participated in an intensive three-day training workshop on the prevention of violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT). The event concluded on 18 June 2019 in Issyk-Kul, northern Kyrgyzstan.

Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 14 and 15 June the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Between the evenings of 15 and 16 June, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. Five civilians from one family were injured and their house damaged from shelling in Marinka; the SMM also saw damage from shelling to a house in Donetsk city and small-arms fire damage to a residential building in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area. Small-arms fire in the direction of an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near non-government-controlled Prymorske. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. The SMM saw long queues at checkpoints along the contact line. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. Its freedom of movement was also denied at a checkpoint near Novoazovsk and at a weapons storage site, both in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region...

VIENNA, 17 June 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today welcomed the release from custody of journalist Igor Rudnikov, the editor and founder of the Kaliningrad-based Noviye Kolyosa newspaper, and called on the authorities in the Russian Federation to drop all charges and fully acquit the journalist...

To raise awareness of the effect and consequences of gender-based violence and early marriages, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in partnership with the NGO Centre for Roma Initiatives, and supported by the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations and International Organizations in Vienna, organized a three one-day training courses for 48 professionals from police, prosecution, education and social welfare in Nikšić, Podgorica and Berane on 27 May, 3 and 10 June 2019...

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in partnership with the Montenegrin Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and the Department for Gender Equality, organized three training modules for gender equality focal points from seven Montenegrin municipalities to enhance their skills as trainers on gender equality in Podgorica...