News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 11 and 12 May compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 12 and 13 May, it recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty and damage to properties from gunfire in Dokuchaievsk and a residential area in Sakhanka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement areas and its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including again in Kozatske and at a location near the border with the Russian Federation.* It continued to facilitate access to the Donetsk Filtration Station for Voda Donbassa employees and heard ceasefire violations in the area, despite security guarantees being provided. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to power lines near Yuzhna-Lomuvatka. In Lviv, the SMM followed up on reports of an attack against members of the Roma community....

VIENNA, 14 May 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today raised concern over the assault against Khristo Geshov, a TV journalist from Cherven Bryag, in a letter to the Bulgarian authorities...

An OSCE-supported two-day regional workshop on promoting border management and security was held on 7 and 8 May 2018 in Ashgabat.

KRAMATORSK, 13 May 2018 – Following a two-day visit to areas close to the frontline in eastern Ukraine, a delegation of senior OSCE parliamentarians led by Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) called for urgent steps to alleviate the humanitarian situation of people impacted by the armed conflict.

The Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, Tuula Yrjölä, met with students of Gymnasium No. 74 in Dushanbe on 10 May 2018 together with representatives of the State Traffic Police Department to raise their awareness of traffic rules.

A one-day meeting of the informal Central Co-ordination Body resulted in putting together 14 recommendations aimed at finding solutions for issues that impede the advancement of women in Tajikistan. It was organized by the OSCE Programme Office on 4 May 2018 in Dushanbe.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Leonove near the border with the Russian Federation and at a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Avdiivka and Roty. The Mission continued to facilitate access to the Donetsk Filtration Station for Voda Donbassa water company employees; it heard ceasefire violations in the area despite security guarantees. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to high-voltage power lines near Almazna. In Kyiv, the SMM observed a group of people preventing a public discussion from taking place, and followed up on reports of vandalism to the office of a non-governmental organization. In Odessa, the SMM followed up on reports of an attack against a member of an anti-Maidan group and observed a gathering in front of the Russian Federation Consulate-General.