News and press releases

KYIV, 17 January 2017- Members of the Youth Contact Group, established by the OSCE to promote inter-regional dialogue in Ukraine, today shared their visions of the future with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz during a walking tour of Kyiv today...

MINSK, 17 January 2017 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Martin Sajdik made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its working groups in Minsk on 16 January 2017:

The security situation remained tense both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions over the weekend. The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 13 and 14 January compared with the previous reporting period. On 15 January the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in each region.

The SMM recorded an increase in the overall number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, noting, however, a similar number involving mortar, artillery and tank fire compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period, but a similar number of explosions. The SMM assessed an impact site in Debaltseve. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of respective withdrawal lines and continued to monitor weapons withdrawal. The SMM monitored repair of electricity lines in Debaltseve and resumption of water supply from Artema pumping station in areas of Luhansk region. The Mission visited one border crossing point currently not under government control. The SMM monitored the situation of IDPs in Ivano-Frankivsk...

The SMM recorded a similar overall number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region but more mortar and artillery explosions compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period, with half the number of explosions assessed as live-fire exercises. The SMM assessed impacts sites in Kalynove, Molodizhne and Stanytsia Luhanska, and followed up on reports of a civilian casualty. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* The SMM monitored the restart of water pumping operations in Artema, and the water supply situation in Avdiivka. The Mission visited two border crossing points currently not under government control...

VIENNA, 13 January 2017 – The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Austrian parliamentarian Christine Muttonen, today called for the immediate agreement on the extension of mandates of OSCE field operations, some of which are currently being held up by representatives of OSCE countries...

The Estonian Academy of Security Sciences and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) signed an agreement on 13 January 2017 to strengthen the ability of Estonian law enforcement officers across the country to recognize, understand and investigate hate crimes. “Police