News and press releases

WARSAW / STRASBOURG / VIENNA, 21 March 2017 – Promoting inclusion and mutual respect through education and strong positive narratives is essential to preventing incitement to hatred and countering hate speech in the digital age, the heads of three European human rights institutions said in a joint statement on today’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 17 and 18 March compared with the previous reporting period, but fewer ceasefire violations in both between the evenings of 18 and 19 March compared with the previous 24 hours. It observed damage to houses and infrastructure from shelling in Yasynuvata, Dokuchaievsk, Kalynove, Zolote and Hnutove, and corroborated a report of a civilian casualty in Yasynuvata. The Mission monitored disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* SMM cameras recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote areas. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines, as well as weapons beyond withdrawal lines but outside storage sites. It again noted long queues of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints and visited three border areas currently not under government control. The SMM continued to monitor the blockade of railway routes crossing the contact line. The Mission monitored a public gathering in Lviv...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on civilian casualties in Donetsk and Valiuske, and observed damage to civilian property in Horlivka and Dokuchaievsk. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access remained restricted.* The SMM camera recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote area. The Mission saw for the first time anti-tank mines in government-controlled parts of that area and heard an explosion assessed as the impact of an artillery round inside the area. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines and missing from storage sites. It visited a border area currently not under government control. The Mission continued to monitor the blockade of routes crossing the contact line and monitored a session of a regional council, which supported the blockade and the related recent decision of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine. It monitored the continuation of a protest outside a bank office in Kyiv and a protest in front of the Russian Federation Consulate General in Odessa...

On 17 March five SMM members were positioned – outside two of its vehicles – 15km north of Donetsk on the eastern side of highway H20, where it intersects with a secondary road leading east to Donetsk Water Filtration Station, (located between government-controlled Avdiivka and “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata) to monitor adherence to the ceasefire for demining at and around the filtration station as well as the restoration of water supply to both sides of the contact line...

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on a civilian casualty in Pokrovsk and observed damage to civilian property and infrastructure in Zolote, Kruta Hora, Irmino and Luhanske. The SMM monitored the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access remained restricted.* The SMM camera recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission directly observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas. The SMM observed increased military and police presence at seven checkpoints in government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM, in co-ordination with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), facilitated demining efforts and repair works at and around the Donetsk Water Filtration Station. The Mission continued to monitor the blockade of routes crossing the contact line. It continued monitoring a protest outside a bank office in Kyiv...

MINSK, 16 March 2017 – 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 15 March 2017:...

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier briefed the 60th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on 14 March 2017 in Vienna, highlighting the OSCE’s activities in tackling the world drug problem...

The OSCE Mission and the Association of Kosovo Police Women organized a five-day training course on operational commanders’ duties for senior female police officers. The training course, attended by 14 officers, including lieutenants and sergeants – heads of different units within the Kosovo Police- was held from 13 to 17 March 2017 at the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS) in Vushtrri/Vučitrn...

ASHGABAT, 17 March 2017 – A one-week course on diplomacy for teaching staff and students of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the International University for Humanities and Development, supported by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, concluded today in Ashgabat...

WARSAW, 17 March 2017 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today expressed concern over the reported fining and detention of dozens of protestors and human rights activists in Belarus over the last week for their participation in peaceful public assemblies...

While concluding that the 4 December 2016 repeat second round of the Austrian presidential election was professionally and efficiently administered and the legal framework provided a sound basis for the conduct of democratic elections, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

AK-BULAK, Kazakhstan, 17 March 2017 – An OSCE-supported annual two-day roundtable discussion on major areas of criminal justice modernization began today at Ak-Bulak near Almaty, Kazakhstan...

ANKARA, 17 March 2017 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened a limited referendum observation mission (LROM) for the 16 April constitutional referendum in Turkey. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the Turkish authorities...

The SMM recorded a similar overall number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions as in the previous reporting period, but twice as many explosions in Luhansk region than in the previous period, most in areas west of Kadiivka. The Mission followed up on civilian casualties in Avdiivka, Bakhmut and Horlivka, and observed damage to civilian property in Lobacheve, Stanytsia Luhanska bridge and Pavlopil. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access remained restricted.* The SMM camera recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska area. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines and missing from storage sites. It visited two border areas currently not under government control. The Mission continued to monitor the blockade of routes crossing the contact line and monitored demonstrations in support of the blockade. It monitored continuation of a protest outside a bank office in Kyiv and followed up on a similar protest in Dnipro.

PODGORCA, 15 March 2017 – The head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Maryse Daviet, and the programme manager of the mission’s rule of law and human rights programme, Robert Kucharski, met with the president of the Constitutional Court of Montenegro, Dragoljub Draskovic, on 15 March in Podgorica...

MINSK, 16 March 2017 – In meetings today with the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei, and yesterday with Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Vladimir Andreichenko, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) has welcomed the active engagement of Belarus in the OSCE PA, and expressed gratitude for the intensive efforts underway in Minsk in preparation for the Assembly’s 26th Annual Session in July...

VIENNA, 16 March 2017 – The OSCE Permanent Council’s decision today to renew the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) by one year will help ensure that the mission continues to play its key role in stabilizing the situation in eastern Ukraine and supporting the implementation of the Minsk agreements, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz as well as OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said...

VIENNA, 16 March 2017 – The OSCE Permanent Council, in a consensus decision taken at its meeting in Vienna today, agreed to renew the mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine by one year until 31 March 2018...

ASTANA, 16 March 2017 – Ensuring the rights of the individual and its impact on the rule of law were the focus of an OSCE-supported international conference in the framework of the annual so-called Shaikenov Readings, which took place today in Astana...

Some 35 law-enforcement officers and social workers took part in the first in a series of four training seminars on anti-trafficking practices and procedures in Kyzylorda, Kazakshtan, on 16 March 2017...

VIENNA, 15 March 2017 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz today again adamantly called on all parties to the crisis in and around Ukraine to comply with their commitments and to actively support the work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), against the backdrop of the latest escalation of risks for its staff and assets.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage to civilian property, possibly due to shelling, in Donetsk city and near Vuhlehirsk. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access remained restricted. SMM cameras recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote areas. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. In two locations, armed “DPR” members threatened SMM monitors, with “arrest” in one case and with shooting in another. The SMM facilitated mine clearance of a railway track between Popasna and Zolote-5. It visited one border area currently not under government control. It monitored the continuing blockade of a railway near Hirske, observed that activists were no longer present at a blockade site near Shcherbynivka and monitored demonstrations in several cities in support of the blockade. It monitored continuation of a protest outside a bank office 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 compared with the previous 24-hour period. The Mission observed impact sites in Dokuchaievsk. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted. In violation of the Framework Decision the SMM observed hardware and forces inside the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints. It continued to observe the blockade of routes across the contact line at four locations in government-controlled areas. The Mission visited one border area currently not under government control in Voznesenivka. The SMM followed up on reports of vandalism against branches of a bank in Kharkiv and Kyiv...

ASTANA, 14 March 2017 – Enhancing state education standards in the water sector is the focus of an OSCE-supported roundtable discussion for some 25 representatives of Kazakhstan's Parliament, national water authorities, water basin councils, academia and international organizations that began today in Astana...

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations between the evenings of 10 and 11 March compared with the previous reporting period, and fewer on 12 March. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded fewer such violations between the evenings of 10 and 11 March compared with the previous period, and fewer on 12 March. The Mission observed damage from shelling on both sides of the contact line, including new impact sites at a building in Avdiivka housing an SMM camera. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote but its access remained restricted.* The SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area on 9 and 10 March. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints. It observed no changes with regards to the blockade of routes that lead across the contact line at three locations in government-controlled areas. The Mission visited one border area currently not under government control in Verkhnoharasymivka.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. In Pikuzy two 82mm mortar rounds impacted near the SMM. It observed damage from shelling in Sartana, Luhanske and Borivske. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote but its access remained restricted.

On 10 March, the SMM was positioned with six monitors and two cars on road T0519 at the western edge of “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23 km north-east of Mariupol) to monitor adherence to the ceasefire for repairs to gas pipelines, which had been damaged by shelling-related fire on 8 March.

A two-day training course on legal drafting and review of indictments, appeals and other motions in war crimes cases, organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the Judicial and Prosecutorial Training Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, concluded on 10 March in Sarajevo...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. Most of the explosions were recorded around Svitlodarsk and Horlivka. The Mission corroborated reports of civilian casualties in Pikuzy and Avdiivka. It observed damage to homes on both sides of the contact line in Luhanske, Verkhnotoretske, Pikuzy, Donetskyi and Yasynuvata (where it also observed tracks consistent with a tank). It continued to monitor the disengagement areas but its access remained restricted.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. On two separate occasions, interlocutors dealing with public matters in areas not controlled by the Government refused to speak with the SMM, citing the need for written permission from senior “LPR” members. In Lviv region a local city council member spoke with the SMM about work to conserve historical Jewish sites.

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 10 March 2017 – OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier concluded today a trip to Prishtinë/Priština, where he visited the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and met heads of Kosovo institutions and representatives of political parties, communities, religious groups, civil society and the international community.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage to homes and infrastructure caused by shelling in residential areas of Dokuchaievsk and Pikuzy. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* The SMM recorded ceasefire violations in the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission, in co-ordination with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), facilitated demining activities and repair works in areas of the Donetsk Water Filtration Station. It continued to monitor the blockade of routes crossing the contact line at four locations in government-controlled areas. The SMM visited two border areas currently not under the government’s control. The Mission observed initiatives related to the International Women's Day...

SKOPJE, 9 March 2017 – OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier expressed concern about the latest developments in the country as he concluded his visit today, calling on political leaders to put an end to the protracted political crisis in the interest of all citizens...

VIENNA, 9 March 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović reflected on her seven years in office today while presenting her final report to the OSCE Permanent Council...

COPENHAGEN, 8 March 2017 – Spanish parliamentarian Ignacio Sanchez Amor, Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee, today called for the release of Azerbaijani journalist Mehman Huseynov, who last week was sentenced by a Baku court to two years in prison for defaming the police chief of the city’s Nasimi district...

VIENNA, 8 March 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned an attack on journalist Elvi Fundo in Albania...

VIENNA/WARSAW, 8 March 2017 – While significant progress has been made to advance women’s equal participation in all spheres of life, much still needs to be done to make that equality a reality, senior officials of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said today on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Bakhmut and Sentianivka, and observed damage caused by shelling on both sides of the contact line. The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas, but its access remained restricted.

COPENHAGEN, 8 March 2017 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) spoke today at a special meeting of the OSCE’s Economic and Environmental Committee in Vienna on the occasion of International Women’s Day, addressing women’s economic empowerment and the importance of closing the gender gap to reduce poverty and promote comprehensive security...

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

VIENNA, 8 March 2016 – Increased inclusion of women is beneficial for the military as diversity makes armed forces more effective, said speakers in today’s session of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), which coincides with International Women’s Day. These benefits are particularly important when national armies take part in peacekeeping and peace-building missions abroad...

VIENNA, 8 March 2017 – Highlighting the essential role that co-operation of journalists can play in advancing democratic processes, Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE media freedom representative, opened the first roundtable discussion between Cypriot journalists in Vienna yesterday...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24-hour period. The SMM heard more than 1,000 explosions in areas east and north-east of Mariupol and unidentified armed men restricted its freedom of movement on two occasions in villages not controlled by the Government in this area.* The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Dokuchaievsk, Marinka and Krasnohorivka. It observed impact sites from shelling in Zaitseve, Loskutivka, Horlivka, Donetskyi, Kadiivka and Pervomaisk. The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas but its access remained restricted.* It observed impact sites inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. The Mission continued to monitor the blockade of railroad routes crossing the contact line. The SMM visited one border area currently not under government control. It monitored a court hearing in Kyiv...

KYIV, 7 March 2017 – Internally displaced women still face many issues that prevent them from successful long-term integration into the host communities, states an OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU) report released today in Kyiv. The research was conducted by the NGO “Youth Alternative”, at the request of the Social Policy Ministry of Ukraine...

VIENNA, 7 March 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today released a comparative study “Defamation and Insult Laws in the OSCE Region” which says criminal law remains an instrument to excessively limit media freedom...

VIENNA, 7 March 2017- Reacting on the closure of two crossing points along the Administrative Boundary Line of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, Nabakevi-Khurcha and Meore Otobaia-Orsantia, which reduces the number of crossing points to two, following the closure of two others in 2016, a spokesperson of the OSCE Chairmanship said today:...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 3 and 4 March compared with the previous reporting period, and fewer ceasefire violations between the evenings of 4 and 5 March compared with the previous 24-hour period. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations between the evenings of 3 and 4 March compared with the previous reporting period, and fewer ceasefire violations the evenings of 4 and 5 March compared with the previous 24-hour period. It observed damage from shelling in Avdiivka, Popasna, Dachne, Oleksandrivka, Dokuchaievsk, Loskutivka, and Pikuzy. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote but its access remained restricted.* It recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas. The Mission, in co-ordination with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), facilitated and monitored demining activities in areas of the Donetsk Water Filtration station. The Mission monitored the blockade of routes crossing the contact line in three locations. The SMM visited one border area currently not under the government control in Sievernyi, and armed men prevented the SMM from proceeding to another border area currently not under the government control in Leonove...

The Kyrgyz Association of Women in the Security Sector (KAWSS) was established on 2 March 2017 in Bishkek at a founding conference organized by the OSCE Centre in co-operation with the Kyrgyz Association of Women Police (KAWP), the Presidential Administration, the Parliament, the Defence Council, the Supreme Court, the Government, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Interior Ministry and all state security-providing structures. The aim of the Association is to increase the role of women in the security sector governance field. The conference brought together around 100 delegates representing the above-mentioned national stakeholders, civil society and international organizations...

VIENNA/WARSAW, 6 March 2017 – Dunja Mijatović, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today condemned the sentencing of Azerbaijani blogger and chair of the media NGO Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety Mehman Huseynov and called on authorities to release him...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. It followed up on a civilian casualty in Zolote-4 and observed damage from gunfire and shelling in Kalynove, Donetskyi and Avdiivka (at a site where an SMM camera is positioned). The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote but its access remained restricted.* It recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area...