News and press releases

VIENNA, 5 September 2018 – Transparency and openness will be the main theme of Sweden’s Chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security C-operation (FSC), said the State Secretary to the Swedish Minister of Defence, Jan Salestrand.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. Following the explosion on Pushkina Boulevard in Donetsk city on 31 August, the Mission continued to observe a calm situation in the city centre. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area as well as near Topolyne and Pryvilne.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines near Kremenivka. It continued to monitor the situation at the closed entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska and to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. The SMM’s observations remained limited due to security considerations.

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

VIENNA, 4 September 2018- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today condemned continued targeted attacks by extremists against journalists covering protests in Chemnitz, Germany. The condemnation follows the latest attacks during an anti-migrant demonstration on 1 September.

A three-day training course on juvenile justice aimed at raising awareness about the rights of children in contact with the criminal justice system concluded on 31 August 2018 in Romit, Tajikistan (40 km north-east of Dushanbe). The course was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe...

The Sixth Annual Anti-Terrorism Expert Meeting organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek in close co-operation with the Secretariat’s Action against Terrorism Unit and with the direct support of the Kyrgyz State Committee on National Security’s Anti-Terrorist Centre took place from 3 to 4 September 2018 in Issyk-Kul...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region between the evenings of 31 August and 1 September, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 1 and 2 September, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. In Donetsk city, the SMM saw a gathering relating to the reported death of Aleksandr Zakharchenko and at least one hundred members of the armed formations securing the area. The SMM recorded a ceasefire violation inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in the disengagement area as well as near Yasynuvata.* The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Ozarianivka. The Mission observed anti-tank mines near Popasna. The SMM saw that the entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska was closed and observed that checkpoints in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region had been re-opened. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. The SMM’s observations were limited during the reporting period for security considerations.