News and press releases

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission confirmed a civilian casualty in Donetsk city. Small arms were fired in areas where SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were flying near Novoselivka and near Shevchenko. The SMM long-range UAV experienced jamming. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and recorded ceasefire violations near, but outside, the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and at a border crossing point near Dovzhanske near the border with the Russian Federation in Luhansk region, outside government control.* The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Oknyne in Luhansk region, as well as weapons beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and a water pipeline near Zaitseve. In Kyiv, the Mission monitored a gathering in front of the Ombudsperson’s office. The SMM followed up on reports of an incident at a church building in Rivne region and of a robbery at a church building in Kadiivka.

VIENNA, 5 April 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today criticized the temporary detention of journalists and editors from Ratel.kz and Forbes Kazakhstan, and the blocking of the Ratel.kz webpage in Kazakhstan...

COPENHAGEN, 5 April 2018 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is deploying a mission of observers to Azerbaijan next week for the presidential election on 11 April. Nilza de Sena (MP, Portugal) will serve as Special Co-ordinator and leader of the 300-plus short-term OSCE observer mission, while Margret Kiener Nellen (MP, Switzerland) will serve as head of the OSCE PA delegation of some 40 members of parliament from more than 20 countries.

MINSK, 5 April 2018 – 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 4 April 2018:...

An OSCE-supported two-day workshop on the temporary admission of goods under Istanbul’s 1990 Convention and the practical application of the Carnet ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) system concluded on 5 April 2018 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

KYIV, 4 April 2018 – The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) will hold its regular news briefing on Thursday, 5 April, in Kyiv.

KYIV, 4 April 2018 – Today, as the world marks International Mine Awareness Day, the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Vaidotas Verba, highlighted the importance of mine action in eastern Ukraine...