News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the period between the evenings of 1 and 2 January. The SMM followed up on a report of a shelling and observed an impact site. The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access remained restricted.* The SMM observed the placement of mine hazard signs on the non-government-controlled side of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line...

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs).

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 29 and 30 December and in the following 24 hours compared with the previous reporting period. More violations were recorded between the evenings of 31 December and 1 January. Fewer ceasefire violations were recorded from 1 January to 2 January. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations between the evenings of 29 and 30 December compared with the previous reporting period, followed by two days of consecutive increases from 30 December to 1 January. Between the evenings of 1 and 2 January the SMM did not record any ceasefire violations...

VIENNA, 1 January 2017 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, highlighted three key challenges facing the Organization and its participating States as Austria took over as the 2017 OSCE Chairmanship: deplorable and complex crises and conflicts in the OSCE area, a fundamental lack of mutual trust and confidence, and an alarming phenomenon of growing radicalization and violent extremism, especially among young people: “We must vigorously engage and address this situation. The OSCE is the right platform to do so,” said Kurz.

VIENNA, 1 January 2017- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Sebastian Kurz and Secretary General Lamberto Zannier today strongly condemned the horrible attack on the Reina nightclub in Istanbul on New Year’s Eve.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling in Troitske. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access was restricted by the continued presence of mines and unexploded ordnance.* The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The Mission monitored the situation of civilians living close to the contact line and the movement of civilians across the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs to essential infrastructure in Orikhove, Slovianoserbsk, and Myronivskyi. The SMM monitored three border crossing points currently not controlled by the Government.

The Icelandic authorities and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) signed a memorandum of understanding on 29 December 2016 under which Iceland commits to integrate ODIHR’s tailor-made hate crime training programmes into the existing national curricula for law