News and press releases

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region between the evenings of 31 August and 1 September, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 1 and 2 September, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. In Donetsk city, the SMM saw a gathering relating to the reported death of Aleksandr Zakharchenko and at least one hundred members of the armed formations securing the area. The SMM recorded a ceasefire violation inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in the disengagement area as well as near Yasynuvata.* The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Ozarianivka. The Mission observed anti-tank mines near Popasna. The SMM saw that the entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska was closed and observed that checkpoints in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region had been re-opened. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. The SMM’s observations were limited during the reporting period for security considerations.

JAHORINA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 September 2018 – More than 100 journalists and media professionals from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the region gathered to discuss media and terrorism at a conference organized by the OSCE Mission to BiH, which concluded yesterday in Jahorina...

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and the same number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. At 17:27 on 31 August, the Mission heard an undetermined explosion less than 200m north-north-east from its residence on Pushkina Boulevard in Donetsk city. A senior member of the armed formations told the SMM that in the explosion Aleksandr Zakharchenko had suffered fatal injuries, another member of the armed formations had been severely wounded and nine other people had sustained injuries. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Verkhnotoretske. It saw a trench that had been recently fortified and Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers inside the Zolote disengagement area, and heard ceasefire violations near the Petrivske and the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as near Luhanske and Shchastia.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Prychepylivka and Novoamvrosiivske. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining and repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region, at a gas distribution station in Krasnohorivka and the South Donbas water pipeline between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on reports of a protest outside the consulate of the Russian Federation on 30 August...

CHISINAU/TIRASPOL, 1 September 2018 – Two Vehicle Registration Offices were opened in the left-bank cities of Tiraspol and Ribnita today by the Chief Negotiators in the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, from Moldova and Transdniestria, respectively. This event marks the beginning of the implementation of the so-called “licence plate” agreement signed by the Sides on 24 April 2018 to establish a mechanism for allowing for access of vehicles from Transdniestria to international road traffic...

VIENNA- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir expressed serious concern today about arrests of two journalists and search of their property in Northern Ireland...

Following a recommitment to the ceasefire as of 00:01 on 29 August, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, however 85 per cent of violations in Donetsk region were attributed to training in non-government-controlled areas. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian fatality near Dokuchaievsk. It heard ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as again in Zaichenko and near Novoazovsk, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Horlivka, Starolaspa and Dokuchaievsk. The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining and repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region, at a gas distribution station in Krasnohorivka and the South Donbas water pipeline between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata. The SMM continued to see a fire near Berezove and noted that the entry-exit checkpoint near Novotroitske remained closed; it facilitated adherence to the ceasefire to enable firefighting activity near Berezove. In Kyiv the SMM monitored a gathering in front of the Embassy of the Russian Federation. The SMM monitored gatherings in commemoration of the “Ilovaisk battle” in Lviv and Chernivtsi...

Strengthening skills in recognizing and investigating hate crimes was at the centre of a train-the-trainer workshop for women police officers organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the European Network of Police Women (ENP) from 29 to 31 August

International human rights standards guaranteeing the freedom of peaceful assembly and good assembly policing practices were the focus of a train-the-trainer workshop for representatives of Ukrainian law enforcement training institutions and police, which took place in Kyiv from 27 to 31 August 2018. The training was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

A two-day train-the-trainers course for Kyrgyz government officials on countering terrorist financing was organized in Vienna on 30 and 31 August by the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime's Global Programme against Money Laundering (UNODC/GPML) and the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism (EAG)...

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo concluded a five-day ‘train-the-trainer’ course on identification of domestic violence for community policing units. The course was held from 27 to 31 August 2018 at the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety in Vushtrri/Vučitrn...

Following a recommitment to the ceasefire on the occasion of the beginning of the school year which began at 00:01 on 29 August 2018, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission heard ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as again in Zaichenko and near Novoazovsk, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Vasiukivka and Malynivka. The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region, at a gas distribution station in Krasnohorivka, the Bakhmut Agrarian Union’s pig farm in Novoluhanske and to residential houses in Avdiivka. The SMM saw a fire near Berezove and noted the closure of the entry-exit checkpoint near Novotroitske; it facilitated adherence to the ceasefire to enable firefighting activity near Berezove. In Kyiv and Dnipro, the SMM monitored gatherings in commemoration of the “Ilovaisk battle” and noted calm situations.

VIENNA, 30 August 2018- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today issued his strong condemnation of a shooting with automatic weaponry at the family home of News 24 TV channel journalist Klodiana Lala in Albania.

The situation of human rights defenders in Montenegro was the main topic of discussion during a roundtable event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 30 August 2018 in Podgorica. The event brought together 37 participants (23 women and 14 men) from

VIENNA, 30 August 2018 – In his first address to the OSCE Permanent Council since his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation on 1 June 2018, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Enzo Moavero Milanesi reaffirmed the strong commitment of his Government to enhance the organization’s role as a forum for political dialogue.

Representatives of government institutions and public organizations discussed topical issues of migration and the role of the OSCE in migration governance at an OSCE-organized roundtable discussion that took place in Ashgabat from 29 to 30 August 2018...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Khrystove and another SMM mini-UAV experienced jamming near Muratove. The Mission saw fresh damage from shelling to a civilian property in Kriakivka. The SMM heard ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area, including 200-500m from the SMM. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including in Novolaspa, as well as again in Zaichenko, Bezimenne, and near Novoazovsk and Izvaryne, both near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region and repairs to residential houses in Avdiivka. The Mission also facilitated dialogue for repair work assessments at the gas distribution station in Krasnohorivka, South Donbas water pipeline between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata and the Bakhmut Agrarian Union pig farm in Novoluhanske...

A two-day seminar organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat on how to develop a module on freedom of expression for journalism faculties in Turkmenistan concluded on 29 August 2018. It brought together journalism instructors, representatives of national media and officials from relevant institutions

SKOPJE, 29 August 2018 – The OSCE Mission to Skopje’s first interim report on the activities and cases of the Special Prosecutor’s Office provides a detailed analysis of, and recommendations for the work of the Office, highlighting the challenges encountered and the successes achieved...

An OSCE-supported two-day regional workshop on operating Special Economic Zones (SEZs) concluded in Aktau, Kazakhstan on 29 August 2018.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission confirmed three civilian casualties in Zaitseve and Horlivka. It saw fresh damage from gunfire to a civilian property in a residential area of Staromykhailivka. The SMM saw a new position and trench inside the Zolote disengagement area, assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It heard ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as again in Zaichenko and near Novoazovsk, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Vodiane. The Mission observed that the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk remained closed. The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region as well as repairs to residential houses in Avdiivka.

An OSCE-supported two-day training seminar on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) concluded on 28 August 2018 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Twenty domestic violence care professionals from Transdniestria and Gagauzia learned how to break the cycle of abuse in a co-dependent relationship at an OSCE-supported workshop in the left-bank city of Tiraspol from 23 to 25 August 2018...

SARAJEVO, 28 August 2018 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 7 October general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the country’s authorities.

An OSCE-supported training seminar on improving efficiency and combating corruption in public procurement concluded on 28 August in Astana.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 24 and 25 August, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 25 and 26 August, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on a civilian casualty in Vrubivka. The Mission saw fresh damage caused by shelling to civilian properties in residential areas of Vrubivka and Staromykhailivka. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske disengagement areas. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as in Marinka, Zaichenko, Yasne and close to Novoazovsk, Izvaryne and Voznesenivka near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed that the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk remained closed. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure near Pervomaisk and Zolote, repairs to residential houses in Avdiivka, as well as demining in Berezove.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek staff members have undergone a rigorous gender training course conducted by the Kyrgyzstani non-governmental organization Women Support Center, from 19 to 24 August 2018 in Bishkek...

SKOPJE, 27 August 2018 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened a referendum observation mission (ROM) for the 30 September referendum in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the country’s authorities.

VIENNA, 27 August 2018- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir and Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Bruce G. Berton strongly condemned the severe beating of journalist Vladimir Kovačević that took place in Banja Luka, BiH, on the evening of 26 August.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission saw fresh damage caused by small-arms fire to the administration office at the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and Shchastia, as well as again in Zaichenko and Novoazovsk, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Zhelanne Druhe. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure near Pervomaisk and demining in Berezove. The SMM monitored gatherings on the occasion of National Flag Day and Ukrainian Independence Day in several locations, which took place without incidents.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. It heard at least 500 explosions assessed as both outgoing artillery rounds and impacts thereof 4-15km north-east of Kadiivka. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and it was again restricted in Zaichenko and Novoazovsk, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region on both sides of the contact line, and of residential houses in Avdiivka. In Kherson, the SMM monitored an appeal court hearing on an acid attack case during which the court acquitted a suspect. In Kyiv, Lviv and Chernivtsi, the SMM monitored gatherings on the occasion of National Flag Day.

Belarusian education policymakers trained in integrating human rights into education system

From 9 to 24 August 2018, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe conducted three workshops aimed at enhancing communication between police and the general public and media. The workshops were held in Romit, Guliston and Nurek districts of Tajikistan.

Fifty seven teachers from vocational schools throughout Moldova successfully completed a training-of-trainers workshop on gender equality organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova. The event was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research and the NGO “Gender-Centru” from 21 to 24 August, 2018 in Chisinau. The aim of the training was to improve the teachers’ skills in promoting gender equality and contribute to enlarging the pool of teachers able to challenge gender stereotypes and create a gender-sensitive educational environment.

VIENNA, 23 August – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today called for the immediate release of Ukrainian journalist, writer and blogger Stanislav Aseev (Vasin), who appeared on a Russia-24 tv report on 17 August for the first time since the beginning of his detention.

On 23 August at 06:45 (Moscow time), the seventy-eighth Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 21 vehicles were checked by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers prior to their crossing into Ukraine. All 21 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 15:34 on 23 August.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and it was also restricted in Styla, Staromykhailivka and again in Zaichenko, as well as near Novoazovsk, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region on both sides of the contact line. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to residential houses in Avdiivka.

MINSK, 22 August 2018 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups in Minsk on 22 August 2018:

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on a civilian casualty as a result of unexploded ordnance in Khartsyzk. The Mission observed fresh mortar round impacts in the Zolote disengagement area and an explosion near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as in Verkhnoshyrokivske and Sosnivske.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure in Pervomaisk and Stanytsia Luhanska; however, repairs to residential houses in Avdiivka and water infrastructure in Novotoshkivske were cancelled due to ceasefire violations in the area. In Kyiv and Lviv, the SMM monitored public gatherings in support of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov.

VIENNA, 22 August 2018- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the release of Khayrullo Mirsaidov on appeal by decision of the Sughd regional court. “I am relieved that the court decided to set Mirsaidov free today. While this is a welcome step forward, I very much hope that the remaining charges against him are finally dropped,” Désir said.

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 increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian fatality as a result of an explosion in Pionerske. The Mission observed fresh impacts in the Zolote disengagement area and ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as at a heavy weapons holding area in non-government-controlled parts of Donetsk region, in Markyne, and again in Bezimenne.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Kostiantynivka and Khrustalnyi. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs of residential houses in Avdiivka and water infrastructure in Nyzhnoteple, Novotoshkivske, Pervomaisk and Stanytsia Luhanska.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) launched its Guiding Principles on Human Rights in the Return of Trafficked Persons in the Ukrainian language at an event in Kyiv on 21 August 2018.

COPENHAGEN, 21 August 2018 – In observance of International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, Makis Voridis (Greece), Chair of the OSCE PA’s Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism, issued the following statement...

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) office in Turkmenistan and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized a workshop from 16 to 17 August on how to set up an Advance Passenger Information (API) system in Turkmenistan. The event was part of wider efforts to prevent the movement of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and enhance aviation security.

Ukrainian judges who were trained by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator to apply the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the European Court in their decisions, increased their use of these instruments in their work by more than one third. Moreover, eight out of ten justices who never referred to the Convention in their practice started doing so after the training. Between 2014 and 2017, more than 6000 judges participated in training workshops organized by the OSCE in partnership with the National School of Judges.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 17 and 18 August, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 18 and 19 August, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on reports of recent damage caused by shelling and gunfire in a residential area of Yasynuvata. The Mission observed a ceasefire violation and recently dug trenches inside the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Kostiantynivka and Krasnohorivka, as well as in Mariupol. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs of residential houses in Avdiivka and firefighting activity south of the Zolote disengagement area. In Odessa, the SMM observed an “Odessa Pride March”.

COPENHAGEN, 20 August 2018 – In response to a decision by the Republika Srpska National Assembly (RSNA) requesting the annulment of the 2004 Report of the Commission for Investigation of the Events in and around Srebrenica in July 1995 which acknowledged the mass killing of Bosniaks by Serb forces, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Special Representative on South East Europe, Mark Pritchard (United Kingdom), today issued the following statement:

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, compared with the previous reporting period in Donetsk region. It recorded no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The SMM observed fresh impact sites in residential areas of Dokuchaievsk and Holmivskyi. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas; it saw a man wearing military-style clothing entering the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as at a checkpoint near non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Kostiantynivka and Sopyne. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, as well as repairs and maintenance works to critical water infrastructure in Luhansk region on both sides of the contact line.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM heard explosions and small-arms fire 100-500m from their location in Holmivskyi, including two shots assessed as flying overhead. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as in Horlivka and Mykolaivka, and near Kreminets*. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Ocheretyne, Sopyne and Sofiivka. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, as well as repairs and maintenance works to critical water infrastructure in Luhansk region.

An OSCE-supported training seminar on the judicial application of the national environmental legislation and the Aarhus Convention principles took place on 17 August 2018 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.