News and press releases

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, including however, more explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations but fewer explosions compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed damage in the aftermath of an explosion near Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Dovzhanske near the border with the Russian Federation and in Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The Mission observed a surface-to-air missile system in violation of withdrawal lines near Vershyna and a helicopter inside the security zone in Marinka, both in government-controlled areas. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs to essential infrastructure in Horlivka, Naberezhne, Artema and Krasnyi Lyman. The SMM observed two gatherings in Lviv region...

VIENNA, 7 March 2018- Sound and constructive regional co-operation on military and defence matters can raise the effectiveness and efficiency of states’ capacities by pooling their resources and enhancing military research and development, said speakers at today’s OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation meeting in Vienna, held under Slovakia’s Chairmanship. The discussion focused on the work of the Visegrad Group (also known as the Visegrad Four (V4)), which, along with Slovakia, consists of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland...

PODGORICA, 7 March 2018 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 15 April presidential election in Montenegro. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the Montenegrin authorities...

A one-day roundtable discussion on opportunities and perspectives that the transition to digital broadcasting offers to Tajikistan concluded in Dushanbe on 2 March 2018. It was attended by more than 70 representatives from the government, parliament and civil society representatives.

Following a recommitment to the ceasefire, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. A man at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Kozatske pointed an assault rifle at the SMM and threatened to shoot. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Voznesenivka near the border with the Russian Federation and in Bila Kamianka.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs to power lines near Yasynuvata, the Petrivske pumping station in Artema and to a water pipeline near Krasnyi Lyman. In Uzhhorod, the SMM spoke with members of the population and representatives of the police and prosecutor’s office...

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...

The road to women’s increased political participation in Poland and ways to further strengthen women’s voices in politics and society were the focus of a conference on the history of women’s rights co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw on 6