News and press releases

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Dokuchaievsk. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, where it observed calm situations. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs of essential infrastructure in Krasnyi Lyman...

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 compared to the previous week....

MINSK, 24 January 2018 – Concluding three days of meetings in Belarus, Kent Harstedt (MP, Sweden), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Eastern Europe, called for increased efforts on reforms within the country while welcoming the active engagement of the country in international affairs and mediation...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near a compound in Donetsk city’s Leninskyi district.* The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Artema and in Krasnyi Lyman. It visited three border areas outside of government control.

New ways to effectively co-operate in countering hate crimes were the focus of a training course for 25 police officers and prosecutors from Bulgaria, including 13 women and 12 men, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Sofia on 22 and 23 January 2018.

Between the evenings of 19 and 20 January, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 20 and 21 January, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM saw two men with bullet wounds near a bus station close to a checkpoint near Olenivka. It continued to monitor the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations assessed as inside the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. Near non-government-controlled Sakhanka, the SMM was verbally assaulted by a visibly intoxicated.* The SMM saw weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM visited three border areas outside of government control.

VIENNA, 22 January 2018 – The role of digital economy as a driver for innovation, competitiveness and growth are the focus of this year’s first Preparatory Meeting of the 26th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum, which opened today in Vienna.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a heavy weapons holding area outside of government control.* The SMM saw weapons in violations of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission again facilitated and monitored repairs to a fibre optic cable near Shchastia; as a result, mobile telecommunications services were restored in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region. The SMM visited a border area outside of government control. In Dnipro, it followed up on reports of damage to the office building of a political party.

MINSK, 18 January 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 18 January 2018:...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. It followed up on reports of the deaths of two persons in Donetsk city. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it saw an armoured personnel carrier near the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The Mission again facilitated and monitored repairs to a fibre optic cable near Shchastia. In Khartsyzk, it continued to monitor the situation of internally displaced persons. The SMM followed up on reports of flooding in Chihari due to a leaking water pipeline. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control. It monitored the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea and noted a calm situation.

KYIV, 19 January 2018 – Concluding a two-day visit to Kyiv today, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) reiterated the steadfast support of the Parliamentary Assembly for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, within its internationally-recognized borders, and renewed calls to reach a sustained ceasefire...

KYIV, 19 January 2018 – The Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Alexander Hug will be in eastern Ukraine from 21 to 25 January 2018. He will assess the security situation along the contact line and its impact on civilians, engage with communities on the ground and visit sites of repair projects for critical infrastructure which the Mission has been facilitating...

In its final report on the October 2017 municipal elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) recommends further review of the legal framework. The report, published on 19 January 2018, adds that such a review should be

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a checkpoint near Staromykhailivka and near Olenivka.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Vodiane and Bohoiavlenka. It facilitated and monitored repairs to a fiber optic cable near Shchastia. The SMM visited a border area not under government control. The Mission monitored public gatherings in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

KRAKOW, 18 January 2018- The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America), together with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, met with Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian on 17 January and Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov on 18 January. The Co- Chairs met jointly with the two Foreign Ministers on 18 January.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Svobodne. It followed up on reports of power outages in Betmanove and Slovianoserbsk. The SMM visited two border areas not under government control. The Mission monitored public gatherings in Kyiv.

VIENNA, 17 January 2018- A spirit of inclusiveness, transparency and co-operation will guide the work of Slovakia’s Chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation, said State Secretary of the country’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Lukáš Parízek at the Forum in Vienna today...

A team of election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report of the ODIHR limited election observation mission for the two-round presidential election in Mongolia, on 26 June and 7 July 2017, during a visit to Ulaanbaatar on 16 and 17 January 2018.

VIENNA, 17 January 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today, in a letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, called on the Turkish authorities to ensure that the Constitutional Court decision in the cases of imprisoned journalists Mehmet Altan and Şahin Alpay is implemented and that the journalists are released without any further delay...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24 hours and one ceasefire violation in Luhansk region. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a checkpoint near Horlivka. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Ternove. The Mission observed newly extended trenches close to a water pumping station near Vasylivka. The SMM monitored the situation at a school and a kindergarten near Novoluhanske. The Mission visited a border area not under government control...

COPENHAGEN, 16 January 2018- OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia), and OSCE PA Special Representative on South East Europe Roberto Battelli (MP, Slovenia), upon hearing of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic, released the following statement:...

ROME / VIENNA, 16 January 2018 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Italy’s Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger expressed today their outrage at the murder of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanović and offered their heartfelt condolences to his family and friends...

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 a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region between the evenings of 12 and 13 January compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region between the evenings of 13 and 14 January compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission saw damage to civilian properties due to shelling and gunfire in Dokuchaievsk and Avdiivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded a ceasefire violation inside the Petrivske disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a non-government-controlled heavy weapons holding area, at two non-government-controlled permanent storage sites and in Staromykhailivka. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Bakhmut. The Mission visited four border areas not under government control...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. An SMM unmanned aerial vehicle was targeted by small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire near Pavlopil. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Makiivka, and it observed damage to civilian properties and a hospital due to shelling in Kalynove. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, where it observed calm situations. The Mission’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including at a “DPR” heavy weapons holding area and in Izhevka.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Khreshchatytske, Novozarivka and Haiove. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining near Popasna and work at the phenol sludge reservoir in Zalizne. The Mission visited a border area not under government control.

VIENNA, 12 January 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today condemned the sentencing of journalist Afghan Mukhtarli to six years in prison by the Balakan District Court in Azerbaijan.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and observed ceasefire violations near all three areas. The SMM’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including at a heavy weapons holding area in a government controlled area and in Siedove near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line near Talakivka, Pryvilne, Kachkarske, Novooleksandrivka and Miusynsk. The SMM visited a border area not under government control. In Kyiv, the SMM continued to monitor a gathering in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building. In Chernivtsi region, the Mission monitored a gathering to mark the opening of a new building at a school where the predominant language of instruction is Romanian.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and observed a calm situation in each one. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a weapons permanent storage site and in Novolaspa in areas outside government control in Donetsk region.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Roty. The Mission visited four border areas not under government control. In Kyiv city, the SMM monitored gatherings in front of the Council of Ministers building. In Odessa city, the Mission followed up on media reports of stickers placed on the main doors of churches. In Lviv region, it monitored a protest at the international border crossing point near Shehyni...

VIENNA, 11 January 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir welcomed today’s ruling by Turkey’s Constitutional Court to release two journalists, calling it a step of vital importance in improving media freedom and freedom of expression in the country...

WARSAW, 11 January 2018 – Today, on the 16th anniversary of the opening of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), reiterated her Office’s calls for the facility’s prompt closure...

VIENNA, 11 January 2018 – Addressing the crisis in and around Ukraine, the protracted conflicts, the security of the Mediterranean region, and the challenges of migration, including by combating human trafficking and all forms of xenophobia and discrimination, are among Italy’s OSCE Chairmanship priorities, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Italy’s Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano told the Permanent Council in Vienna today...

WARSAW, 10 January 2018- Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today voiced serious concerns regarding the arrest and detention of Oyub Titiev, Director of the Memorial Human Rights Centre in Chechnya, in the North Caucasus republic of the Russian Federation, yesterday...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission observed shrapnel damage to a building in Pikuzy. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and observed infantry fighting vehicles inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The Mission observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Oleksandropillia. An SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted fallen power lines and an extended trench in Zaitseve. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control. It monitored the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea and noted a calm situation...

The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 5 and 6 January compared with the previous reporting period and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. Between the evenings of 6 and 7 January, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both regions compared with the previous 24 hours. In the following 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and more in Luhansk region. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and observed a calm situation in each one; its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The SMM noted that a weapons permanent storage site in government-controlled areas had been abandoned. The SMM visited four border areas not under government control. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on media reports that the building of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture had been marked with red paint...

KYIV, 8 January 2018- The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Martin Sajdik, issued today the following statement:...

VIENNA, 8 January 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir met with the President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset today in Vienna...

VIENNA, 8 January 2018 – The President of Switzerland, Alain Berset, today met with OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger at the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, where they discussed Switzerland’s continuing strong support for the Organization and possible areas of further co-operation...

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region – including, however, more explosions – compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage to civilian property due to shelling in Pikuzy. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed a calm situation in each; its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines in Oleksandropillia. The Mission followed up on reports of a gas outage in Yasynuvata. It visited five border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored a court hearing in Odessa.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The SMM followed up on reports about a man injured by the explosion of a hand grenade in Svatove. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed a calm situation in all three areas. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere. The SMM visited a border area not under government control. The Mission monitored the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea...

VIENNA, 5 January 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed concern regarding the recent deportations of Russian journalists from Latvia...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. A man, who claimed to be a “DPR” member, intentionally damaged an SMM vehicle in Makiivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The SMM visited four border areas not under government control...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Markyne. The SMM visited a border area not under government control. The Mission monitored a peaceful gathering in Kyiv...

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

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 29 and 30 December compared with the previous 24 hours. Between the evenings of 30 and 31 December, it recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both regions compared with the previous 24 hours. Between the evenings of 31 December and 1 January, it recorded more ceasefire violations in both regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission observed damage, including from shelling, to civilian residences in Donetsk city. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded a ceasefire violation in the Petrivske disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The SMM saw recently laid anti-tank mines in a field near Vesela Hora. It visited three border areas outside government control. The Mission monitored a peaceful gathering in Kyiv.

Rome, 1 January 2018 – Strengthening multilateralism as an instrument to relaunch the 'spirit of Helsinki' and to further promote peace, security, stability and co-operation will be Italy’s key priority for its 2018 OSCE Chairmanship, said today the Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano as he took up the post of Chairperson-in-Office of the regional security organization.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a minor injured by an explosion in Honcharivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a heavy weapons holding area and near Markyne. The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Oleksandropil. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs to power lines near Betmanove and was informed that power had been restored to the village; it also facilitated and monitored maintenance works in Zalizne. The SMM visited two border areas outside government control.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske disengagement areas. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs to a power substation near Dolomitne and noted that, as a result, electricity had been restored to Travneve. The SMM visited three border areas outside government control.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and the same number in Luhansk region (one explosion) compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission monitored, with mirror patrols on both sides of the contact line, and facilitated, on the spot, an exchange of detainees between Ukraine and certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Verkhnoshyrokivske and at a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM visited a border area outside of government control.

Vienna, 27 December 2017- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austria’s Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger welcomed the news of today’s large-scale exchange of prisoners and detainees in eastern Ukraine and urged the sides to build on this momentum in order to achieve further progress in reaching a peaceful resolution of the crisis in and around Ukraine.