News and press releases

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. In Donetsk region most ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-east of Mariupol. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The Mission saw multiple weapons in Donetsk and Luhansk cities, in violation of withdrawal lines. It monitored three border areas currently not under government control. The SMM followed up on a reported civilian casualty and assessed impact sites and damage to residential areas caused by shelling. Outside the security zone the Mission observed parades marking 9 May that largely passed off peacefully...

Noting that the 12 February 2017 presidential election in Turkmenistan took place in a strictly controlled political environment characterized by the lack of genuine opposition and meaningful pluralism, thus limiting voters’ choice, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

The first Olympiad on multilingualism in Central Asia that specifically focused on the mother tongues of the region, State and official languages, as well as foreign languages was held in Karaganda, Kazakhstan from 4 to 6 May 2017. Organized by Karaganda State University, in co-operation with the

KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, RUSSIAN FEDERATION. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs).

VIENNA, 10 May 2017- Consolidating international efforts is the only way to tackle current security threats at the global level, representatives of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) told the Forum for Security Co-operation in today’s session held under Russia’s Chairmanship. This is the first time that the SCO leadership addressed the OSCE within FSC’s Security Dialogue...

TASHKENT, 10 May 2017 – OSCE PA President Christine Muttonen concludes today a three-day visit to Uzbekistan, during which she has discussed the country’s ongoing reforms and potential areas for co-operation with the OSCE and the Parliamentary Assembly...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region but more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24-hour period – including the use of a multiple launch rocket system. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* An armed man discharged his weapon 50m from an SMM patrol in Sosnivske. The SMM monitored a border area currently not under government control. In Kharkiv, Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk and Odessa, the Mission observed gatherings marking “Reconciliation and Commemoration Day”...