News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Sides must respect ceasefire in order to reverse worsening security situation in Ukraine, say OSCE Chairmanship Special Representative and Chief Monitor
Publishing date: 28 April 2016
VIENNA, 28 April 2016 – The sides in eastern Ukraine must urgently and fully respect the ceasefire in order to reverse the worsening security situation, said the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group Martin Sajdik and the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Ertugrul Apakan in their addresses to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today.
Joint public outreach efforts discussed at OSCE-supported inter-agency Platform meeting on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings
Publishing date: 28 April 2016
The inter-agency Platform for Action on increasing co-operation in raising public awareness about the risks of trafficking in human beings, supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, in co-operation with the Kyrgyz State Service on Migration, held its first meeting in 2016 on 26 April 2016 in Bishkek...
Rebuilding security in Europe is only possible through a co-ordinated approach, says OSCE Secretary General
Publishing date: 28 April 2016
OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier attended the 5th Moscow Conference on International Security, which focused on combatting terrorism, from 27 to 28 April...
Spot Report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM): Shelling in Olenivka
Publishing date: 28 April 2016
Four civilians were killed close to a “DPR” checkpoint near Olenivka when shelling occurred in the early hours of 27 April...
Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 26 April 2016
Publishing date: 27 April 2016
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic increased at both BCPs...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 26 April 2016
Publishing date: 27 April 2016
In Donetsk region, the SMM observed a high level of violence, with more than 600 explosions recorded. In particular, the SMM noted a considerable increase of violence in the Yasynuvata area, with some 450 explosions recorded. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded ceasefire violations in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska on the night of 25 April. SMM noted a number of weapons missing from permanent storage sites and holding areas. It observed long queues at checkpoints along the contact line. Its freedom of movement was restricted on two occasions, in areas not controlled by the Government.* The SMM followed up on an explosion at a bank in Odessa...
Statement by spokesperson of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office on alleged plans for armed OSCE mission to eastern Ukraine
Publishing date: 27 April 2016
BERLIN, 27 April 2016- A spokesperson of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, holder of the 2016 OSCE Chairmanship, issued the following statement in Berlin today in response to reports on alleged plans for an armed OSCE mission to eastern Ukraine...