News and press releases

At 11:15 on 3 March, positioned south-west of  “DPR”-controlled Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, 33km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM observed what it assessed to be two self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and one command vehicle moving from south to north and turning east at locations 2-3km east from SMM’s position. The SMM moved further south-east, and at 11:50 reached a location about 500m east of the spot where it had assessed the weapons could be located...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including more than twice as many explosions compared with the previous reporting period. It followed up on casualties in Kurakhove and Popasna and observed damage from shelling on both sides of the contact line in Zolote. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote but its access remained restricted.* The Mission heard artillery explosions and heavy-machine-gun fire near the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission monitored the blockade of routes crossing the contact line in four locations. It visited two border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored a protest in Chernivtsi...

CHISINAU, 3 March 2017 – The Personal Representative of the Austrian OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism, Rabbi Andrew Baker, today concluded his first official visit to Moldova, where he met with government and Jewish community representatives to discuss measures to strengthen the commemoration and study of the Holocaust in Moldova and to combat anti-Semitism, intolerance and hate crimes...

VIENNA, 3 March 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called on Georgian authorities to ensure media independence and pluralism following a Supreme Court ruling ordering a change of ownership of the Rustavi 2 television channel...

The OSCE Office in Tajikistan and the OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs) signed the new implementing partner agreement on 3 March 2017 to launch project implementation for 2017. The signing ceremony was held in the premises of the Balkhi Women Resource Centre, Khatlon region...

The first in a series of OSCE-supported five-day training courses on profiling at the border checkpoints to assist in countering transnational threats concluded in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 3 March 2017...

Some 70 officials from central and local customs authorities in Kazakhstan and members of the Chamber of Commerce and business community were trained on a system which allows entities to temporarily import goods into a country during a workshop supported by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana on 2 and 3 March 2017...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including more than twice as many explosions compared with the previous reporting period. It observed damage from shelling on both sides of the contact line. The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire and facilitated dialogue in order to repair essential infrastructure in the area of Svitlodarsk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote but its access remained restricted.* The Mission heard artillery explosions and heavy-machine-gun fire inside and near the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska revealed five ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area on 27 February. The SMM noted unexploded ordnance in Lyman, Shchastia, Kalynove and near Donetsk airport. The Mission monitored the blockade of routes crossing the contact line in four locations. It visited a border area not under government control...

On 2 March 2017, the 75th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held in Ergneti. Kestutis Jankauskas, Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and Ambassador Guenther Baechler, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, co-facilitated the proceedings...

VIENNA, 2 March 2017 – Statelessness, a human rights and security issue affecting hundreds of thousands of people across the OSCE region according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is the focus of a new handbook of international standards and good practices launched in Vienna today by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the UNHCR...

VIENNA, 2 March 2017 – Following today’s decision of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, the mandate of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan was extended until 30 June 2017...

MINSK, 2 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 1 March 2017:..

An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion on state financing of media took place in Astana on 2 March 2017 with the aim of exploring how to improve the system of state procurement and mechanisms to ensure efficient monitoring and evaluation of projects supported through government funding...

VIENNA, 1 March 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the release of Djamshid Karimov, a journalist from Djizak, Uzbekistan...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including twice as many explosions, compared with the previous reporting period. It observed damage from gun fire and shelling on both sides of the contact line, in Yasynuvata, Talakivka, Novolaspa and Verhulivka. The SMM noted resumption of electricity in parts of Avdiivka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* The SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska revealed one ceasefire violation inside the disengagement area on 27 February. The SMM noted weapons in violation on both sides of the contact line. It noted the presence of unexploded ordnance in Novooleksandrivka and of mines south of Shchastia. The SMM monitored the blockade of routes crossing the contact line. It visited a border area not under government control. In Kharkiv the SMM monitored a public gathering...

VIENNA, 1 March 2017 – The arrest of a Die Welt journalist in Turkey is yet another reminder of the current critical situation of media freedom and free expression in that country, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said today...

VIENNA, 1 March 2017 – Dunja Mijatović, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, today presented a legal analysis on the draft Media and Defamation Act commissioned by her Office...

VIENNA, 1 March 2017 – We are deeply saddened to hear of the explosions at the Kragujevac Military Facility in Serbia, site of a joint OSCE-UNDP project, which resulted in the death of at least one person, with many others injured or missing...

VIENNA, 1 March 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned recent attacks on journalists in Skopje...

TBILISI, 1 March 2017 – Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference made the following statement:

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. The fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth Russian convoys, both consisting of ten vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point on 21 and 28 February respectively...

The first in a series of six OSCE-supported one-day training seminars on good legislative and judicial practices to combat trafficking in human beings began in Astana on 1 March 2017...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 26 and 27 February compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM observed houses damaged by shelling in Zolote and Pikuzy. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* The Mission reviewed video footage from the SMM camera in Zolote that revealed ceasefire violations near the disengagement area on 25 February. The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM noted the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance in Nova Marivka and Zolote, and near Shchastia. A “DPR” member returned an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle seized by armed men in Yasynuvata on 24 February. The Mission monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable maintenance and repairs near Artema and Krasnyi Lyman. The SMM monitored the blockade of a railway track near Hirske. It visited two border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored public gatherings in Kyiv and observed removal of graffiti from a bank in Odessa, as well as a cross erected in a Jewish cemetery in Ivano-Frankivsk...

On 28 February 2017 at 06:55 hrs (Moscow time), the fifty ninth Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of ten vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the ten vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 12:32 hrs on 28 February...

On 28 February 2017 at 06:55 hrs (Moscow time), the fifty ninth Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of ten vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the ten vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 12:32 hrs on 28 February...

The final report on the 11 December early parliamentary elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) recommends further review of the legal framework, to be conducted in a public procedure after consultations among

VIENNA, 27 February 2017- Ensuring the safety of journalists and promoting media ethics are top priorities for protecting media freedom and enhancing comprehensive security, peace and democracy across the entire OSCE region, participants at an OSCE Chairmanship conference on media freedom in the Western Balkans agreed today...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region on both 25 and 26 February compared with 24 February. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations on 25 February compared with 24 February and fewer on 26 February compared with both 24 and 25 February. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties and shelling in Avdiivka, Yasynuvata, Betmanove, Popasna and Zolote. Firing and explosions occurred near the SMM in Katerynivka. The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* Its freedom of movement was restricted further on both sides of the contact line. The Mission continued to note the presence of mines. It visited three border areas not under government control. It continued to monitor the blockade of railway tracks near Kryvyi Torets and Hirske. The SMM monitored public gatherings in Kherson and Kyiv...

The newly-appointed Head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Maryse Daviet met with the country’s Interior Minister Mevludin Nuhodzic in Podgorica on 22 February 2017, and assessed the co-operation between the Mission and the Ministry as successful, emphasizing that Montenegro has made strong progress in reforms. She expressed the Mission’s readiness to continue supporting Montenegro’s democratic development...

MOSCOW, PARIS, WASHINGTON D.C., 26 February, 2017- The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France and Richard Hoagland of the United States of America, released the following statement today:

KYIV, 26 February 2017- In response to the serious situation at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) following recurring ceasefire violations in the area, the Trilateral Contact Group held yesterday (25 February) an extraordinary video-conference, with participation of representatives from certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) and the Chief Monitor of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM)...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk compared with the previous reporting period, with the majority of explosions concentrated in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. In Luhansk region the SMM also recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting with over 110 artillery explosions in the western parts of the region.

At 13:27 on 24 February 2017, the SMM heard a burst of small-arms fire (three to five shots) at close range while preparing to launch a mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the north-western edge of non-government-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), about 130m south-east of the M-04 highway. (The SMM patrol was attempting to launch the UAV to monitor the reported shelling of the Donetsk water filtration station.)

The SMM recorded more explosions in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24-hour period. The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* The SMM faced three conditional restrictions of its freedom of movement in areas outside of government control south-west of Donetsk and near Horlivka. The Mission visited two border areas currently not under control of the Government. It continued to observe the blockade of railway tracks near Hirske. In various cities the SMM observed generally peaceful public gatherings related to socio-economic demands...

KYIV, 24 February 2017- Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Ertugrul Apakan today condemned the targeting of SMM monitors and the seizure of an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by “DPR” members...

VIENNA, 24 February 2017 – The final session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 16th Winter Meeting on Friday featured a special debate on protecting human rights in times of crisis. Dozens of interventions by members of parliament from more than 20 OSCE participating States addressed issues related to counter-terrorism, radicalization, protracted conflicts in the OSCE region, and challenges to state authority, emphasizing the importance of upholding fundamental rights during periods of heightened security concerns...

The SMM recorded more explosions in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24-hour period and no explosions in Luhansk region. The Mission observed impact sites in Pikuzy. The Mission saw weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. Its freedom of movement was restricted on both sides of the contact line. The SMM, in co-ordination with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), facilitated and monitored repairs of critical infrastructure. The Mission continued to monitor the situation of civilians near the contact line and to observe blockade of railway tracks near Hirske, Bakhmut and Shcherbynivka. It monitored a peaceful demonstration of about 15,000 people in Kyiv...

The Equal Opportunities Caucus, a cross-faction union at the Ukrainian parliament, and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) formally committed on 23 February 2017 to continue co-operation to support national efforts towards gender equality.

VIENNA, 23 February 2017 – International terrorism, human rights and combating climate change are among the issues topping the agenda as some 250 members of parliament from more than 50 OSCE countries gather for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 16th Winter Meeting in Vienna...

The OSCE-supported Fourth Prison Forum dedicated to the assessment of the results of the prison reform and presentation of a new government project on the prevention of torture took place on 23 February 2017 in Astana...

The implementation of Moldova’s Strategy for Consolidation of Inter-ethnic Relations 2017¬¬¬–2027 was discussed at a conference organized by the office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) and the Bureau of Inter-ethnic Relations in Chisinau on 16 February 2017...

The SMM recorded a similar number of explosions in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24-hour period. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties and shelling. The Mission saw weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. Its freedom of movement was restricted on both sides of the contact line.

VIENNA, 22 February 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the recent release of Khudayberdy Allashov, a contributor to Azatlyk, the Turkmen Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty...

VIENNA, 22 February 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the release in Uzbekistan of Muhammed Bekjanov, the former chief editor of the opposition newspaper Erk...

The OSCE Mission to Serbia, the Republic Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Victimology Society of Serbia NGO marked the European Day for Victims of Crime with a conference held in Belgrade on 22 February 2017...

Some 60 high-level officials, including parliamentarians, governmental officials and members of international and non-governmental organizations attended the first-ever high-level conference organized by Moldova’s Ministry of Defence on small arms, light weapons and conventional ammunition safety and stockpiles management. The conference on 16 February 2017 was held with the support of the OSCE Mission...

SOFIA, 22 February 2017 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally open a limited election observation mission (LEOM) for the 26 March 2017 early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria...

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek, with €20,000 donated from the proceeds of the OSCE Charity Ball 2017, launched a project on 15 February 2017 to provide lasting psycho-social relief and assistance to victims of January’s Dacha-Suu plane crash on the outskirts of the Kyrgyz capital. The project is being implemented jointly with the Kyrgyzstan-based Child Rights Defenders League and the National Red Crescent Society of the Kyrgyz Republic...

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...

On 21 February 2017 at 07:20 hrs (Moscow time), the fifty eighth Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of ten vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the 10 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 15:38 hrs on 21 February.