News and press releases

VIENNA, 12 January 2017 – Austria’s OSCE Chairmanship 2017 aims to make determined use of the OSCE’s instruments to work for greater security and stability in Europe by creating more confidence through more co-operation, more predictability and more concrete approaches, said Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz today in his inaugural address to the Permanent Council as the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office...

Fewer ceasefire violations were recorded in Donetsk region and in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines near “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata and near government-controlled Karlivka. The SMM was restricted in its movement in the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.* Civilians on both sides of the contact line told the SMM about water supply problems. The SMM monitored infrastructure repairs on both sides of the contact line. The Mission visited two border crossing points currently not under government control...

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...

An increase in ceasefire violations was recorded in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 9 and 10 January as compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on civilian casualties and damage to civilian homes. The SMM was restricted in its movement in the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.* The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and observed an anti-tank gun in violation of its respective withdrawal line. The SMM monitored the repair of critical infrastructure on both sides of the contact line in Luhansk region including to a 900mm water pipeline Artema. The SMM visited three border crossing points currently not under government control...

WARSAW, 11 January 2017 – On the 15th anniversary of the opening of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), reiterated the need for the United States to proceed with the closure of the facility without further delay...

VIENNA, 10 January 2017 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed her concern about the commencement of a legal provision in the United Kingdom which would only shield press defendants from costs in legal proceedings if they are members of an officially recognized press regulator. Discussions by the UK government on implementing Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 are in their last day of consultations...

Higher numbers of ceasefire violations were recorded in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 8 and 9 January than during the previous 24 hours. The SMM was restricted in its movement in the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.* The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. It observed a long queue of civilians at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM visited a border crossing point currently not under government control...