News and press releases

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on a civilian casualty in Pokrovsk and observed damage to civilian property and infrastructure in Zolote, Kruta Hora, Irmino and Luhanske. The SMM monitored the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access remained restricted.* The SMM camera recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission directly observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas. The SMM observed increased military and police presence at seven checkpoints in government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM, in co-ordination with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), facilitated demining efforts and repair works at and around the Donetsk Water Filtration Station. The Mission continued to monitor the blockade of routes crossing the contact line. It continued monitoring a protest outside a bank office in Kyiv...

MINSK, 16 March 2017 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its working groups in Minsk on 15 March 2017:...

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier briefed the 60th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on 14 March 2017 in Vienna, highlighting the OSCE’s activities in tackling the world drug problem...

The OSCE Mission and the Association of Kosovo Police Women organized a five-day training course on operational commanders’ duties for senior female police officers. The training course, attended by 14 officers, including lieutenants and sergeants – heads of different units within the Kosovo Police- was held from 13 to 17 March 2017 at the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS) in Vushtrri/Vučitrn...

ASHGABAT, 17 March 2017 – A one-week course on diplomacy for teaching staff and students of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the International University for Humanities and Development, supported by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, concluded today in Ashgabat...

WARSAW, 17 March 2017 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today expressed concern over the reported fining and detention of dozens of protestors and human rights activists in Belarus over the last week for their participation in peaceful public assemblies...

While concluding that the 4 December 2016 repeat second round of the Austrian presidential election was professionally and efficiently administered and the legal framework provided a sound basis for the conduct of democratic elections, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights