News and press releases

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of Measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements.” Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and security considerations*. The SMM observed that the number of ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport decreased. In Shyrokyne no ceasefire violations were observed. The repair at the water pipeline north-west of Horlivka was suspended due to ceasefire violations. The SMM in Kyiv as well as on the crash site in Hrabove observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims of the downing of Malaysian Airline Flight MH17.

KYIV, 17 July- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić visited the OSCE operations in Kyiv today, where he expressed his full support for their efforts aimed at addressing the crisis in and around Ukraine.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements.” Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and security considerations*. The level of violence around the destroyed “Donetsk People’s Republic”-controlled airport decreased. The SMM continued to facilitate ongoing repairs to the water-supply system between Horlivka and Maiorsk. The security situation in Luhansk region remained relatively calm. The SMM continued to observe throughout Ukraine several rallies by Right Sector activists albeit in smaller numbers than during the previous days.

Police and prosecutors from Ukraine discussed international standards on freedom of religion or belief and responses to hate crime at two seminars organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Vinnitsa on 13 and 14 July and in Odessa on 16 and 17 July 2015.

KYIV, 16 July – OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Chief Monitor Ertugrul Apakan will lead tomorrow a minute of silence in honour of the victims of flight MH17, downed over Ukraine one year ago.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of Measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements.” Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and security considerations*. The SMM observed that the number ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport decreased. The situation around Shyrokyne remained calm. The SMM continued to facilitate demining and repair work on a major water-supply system between Maiorsk and Horlivka, and on 14 July work at the first pipeline was completed.

Measures to make political parties in Ukraine and in the wider OSCE region more transparent and accountable were the focus of an expert workshop jointly organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the partners. They included the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the Ukrainian civil society organizations Agency for Legislative Initiatives (ALI) as well as the Civil Network “OPORA”. The event was hosted by the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Kyiv,on 14 and 15 July 2015.