News and press releases

30- this is the number of days civilian, international monitors of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine have been held captive in eastern Ukraine. Although four members of the Donetsk-based team were freed on 26 June, four members of the Luhansk-based monitoring team are still being held. 30- this is the number of days their families, friends and colleagues are waiting for them. We call for their immediate and unconditional release. For updates follow us on Facebook- facebook.com/oscesmmu and Twitter- twitter.com/OSCE_SMM

VIENNA, 24 June 2014 – Strengthening the OSCE’s role in existing conflicts – particularly Ukraine – tops the agenda at the Organization’s annual security review conference starting in Vienna today, with discussions also covering military stability and transparency, transnational threats and Afghanistan...

The situation across the country was calm, except parts of Donbas where tensions remained. Donetsk city remains outwardly calm, with no substantive change to the security situation. In a significant and positive development, the SMM has made contact with both the Donetsk team and the Luhansk team, which have been missing since 26 May and 29 May respectively.

VIENNA, 19 June 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today told participating States that events in Ukraine pose a great threat to media freedom and free expression across the OSCE region...

VIENNA, 17 June 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said she was deeply saddened by the death of Russian journalist Igor Kornelyuk in eastern Ukraine. Mijatović expressed her sincere condolences to Kornelyuk’s family and colleagues...

BERN, 14 June 2014 – Swiss Foreign Minister and Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Didier Burkhalter, expressed his deep concern about today’s escalation of tension in Ukraine and called on all those who may have an influence on the situation in the country to act with utmost restraint...

The situation in Ukraine was calm, except parts of Donbas where serious tensions remain. The SMM spoke to the opponents of unitary Ukraine, held in custody in Kharkiv. It also continues to receive reports from internally displaced people (IDPs) about alleged human rights violations. The SMM has not reestablished communication with the four monitors from the Donetsk team and four monitors from the Luhansk team with whom it lost contact on 26 May and 29 May respectively...