News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in the three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including in Olenivka, Kreminets and Novoamvrosiivske.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near non-government-controlled Ternove, Buhaivka, Novoamvrosiivske and Shymshynivka. The Mission saw three convoys of amphibious-crossing equipment and vehicles travelling north near Luhansk city. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure in Shchastia and Popasna. The SMM continued to monitor the situation of schools near the contact line on both sides. The Mission visited three border areas not under government control. In Odessa the SMM followed up on a report of an assault on a political party official...

A new OSCE capacity-building project aimed at developing and enhancing the responsiveness, professional knowledge and skills of criminal justice institutions in South-Eastern Europe was launched on 14 September 2017 in Podgorica, Montenegro. The project was developed to address common and new challenges in fighting cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime...

KYIV, 14 September 2017 – The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) will hold its regular news briefing on Friday, 15 September in Kyiv...

The Programme Office in Bishkek supported a two-day roundtable discussion on implementation issues of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in the context of Kyrgyzstan’s National Action Plan (NAP) on 7 and 8 September in Kosh-Kol village, Issyk-Kul region...

ASTANA, 14 September 2017 – An OSCE-supported analytical report, produced by the Human Rights Commission under the President, on the rights of migrant workers and human trafficking victims in Kazakhstan was presented today at the Foreign Ministry in Astana....

COPENHAGEN, 14 September 2017 – The Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee, Spanish parliamentarian Ignacio Sanchez Amor, today reiterated calls for clear, effective and transparent legal procedures in Turkey including for those dismissed or imprisoned following last year’s failed coup d’état. Today marks the last day on which people can appeal against their dismissal to a special government commission charged with their review....

BUDVA, Montenegro, 14 September 2017- Representatives of the Aarhus Centres network from 14 countries met today in Budva, Montenegro, on the occasion of the Sixth Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) and the Third Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs)....