News and press releases

COPENHAGEN, 18 January 2017 – Responding today to a proposed plan by the Hungarian government to hold all asylum seekers in detention centres for the entire duration of their application process on national security grounds, Spanish parliamentarian and Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee Ignacio Sanchez Amor called on Hungary to respect the rights of asylum seekers on its territory...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. Damage caused by shelling was observed in Horlivka, Olenivka and Kalynove. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* The Mission continued to monitor weapons’ withdrawal. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable “LPR” members to recover the body of a civilian male near Zhovte. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs of essential infrastructure in Donetskyi and Zolote. The SMM visited one border area currently outside of government control. The SMM observed damage to a church in Kyiv, allegedly caused by petrol bombs...

On 18 January 2017, the 73rd meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Ergneti, co-facilitated by Kęstutis Jankauskas, the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and Ambassador Guenther Baechler, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus...

While stating that the 8 November 2016 elections were highly competitive and demonstrated commitment to fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly and association...

VIENNA, 18 January 2017 – Romania will be pragmatic in advancing the dialogue on politico-military issues within the OSCE, said State Secretary of the country’s Foreign Ministry George Ciamba as he opened the first session of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) under Romania’s Chairmanship today in Vienna...

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 SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region during the reporting period compared with the previous 24 hours. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations. The Mission followed up on reports of casualties and observed damage to civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted. The SMM observed weapons in violation of respective withdrawal lines and continued to monitor weapons’ withdrawal. The Mission visited one border crossing point currently not under government control...

KYIV, 17 January 2017- Members of the Youth Contact Group, established by the OSCE to promote inter-regional dialogue in Ukraine, today shared their visions of the future with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz during a walking tour of Kyiv today...

MINSK, 17 January 2017 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Martin Sajdik made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its working groups in Minsk on 16 January 2017:

The security situation remained tense both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions over the weekend. The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 13 and 14 January compared with the previous reporting period. On 15 January the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in each region.

The SMM recorded an increase in the overall number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, noting, however, a similar number involving mortar, artillery and tank fire compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period, but a similar number of explosions. The SMM assessed an impact site in Debaltseve. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of respective withdrawal lines and continued to monitor weapons withdrawal. The SMM monitored repair of electricity lines in Debaltseve and resumption of water supply from Artema pumping station in areas of Luhansk region. The Mission visited one border crossing point currently not under government control. The SMM monitored the situation of IDPs in Ivano-Frankivsk...

The SMM recorded a similar overall number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region but more mortar and artillery explosions compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period, with half the number of explosions assessed as live-fire exercises. The SMM assessed impacts sites in Kalynove, Molodizhne and Stanytsia Luhanska, and followed up on reports of a civilian casualty. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* The SMM monitored the restart of water pumping operations in Artema, and the water supply situation in Avdiivka. The Mission visited two border crossing points currently not under government control...

VIENNA, 13 January 2017 – The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Austrian parliamentarian Christine Muttonen, today called for the immediate agreement on the extension of mandates of OSCE field operations, some of which are currently being held up by representatives of OSCE countries...

The Estonian Academy of Security Sciences and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) signed an agreement on 13 January 2017 to strengthen the ability of Estonian law enforcement officers across the country to recognize, understand and investigate hate crimes. “Police

VIENNA, 12 January 2017 – Austria’s OSCE Chairmanship 2017 aims to make determined use of the OSCE’s instruments to work for greater security and stability in Europe by creating more confidence through more co-operation, more predictability and more concrete approaches, said Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz today in his inaugural address to the Permanent Council as the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office...

Fewer ceasefire violations were recorded in Donetsk region and in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines near “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata and near government-controlled Karlivka. The SMM was restricted in its movement in the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.* Civilians on both sides of the contact line told the SMM about water supply problems. The SMM monitored infrastructure repairs on both sides of the contact line. The Mission visited two border crossing points currently not under government control...

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...

An increase in ceasefire violations was recorded in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 9 and 10 January as compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on civilian casualties and damage to civilian homes. The SMM was restricted in its movement in the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.* The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and observed an anti-tank gun in violation of its respective withdrawal line. The SMM monitored the repair of critical infrastructure on both sides of the contact line in Luhansk region including to a 900mm water pipeline Artema. The SMM visited three border crossing points currently not under government control...

WARSAW, 11 January 2017 – On the 15th anniversary of the opening of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), reiterated the need for the United States to proceed with the closure of the facility without further delay...

VIENNA, 10 January 2017 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed her concern about the commencement of a legal provision in the United Kingdom which would only shield press defendants from costs in legal proceedings if they are members of an officially recognized press regulator. Discussions by the UK government on implementing Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 are in their last day of consultations...

Higher numbers of ceasefire violations were recorded in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 8 and 9 January than during the previous 24 hours. The SMM was restricted in its movement in the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.* The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. It observed a long queue of civilians at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM visited a border crossing point currently not under government control...

COPENHAGEN, 10 January 2017 – On the eve of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility’s 15th anniversary, Spanish parliamentarian Ignacio Sanchez Amor, Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee, reiterated longstanding concerns over the prison and the practice of indefinite detention...

MOSCOW/ PARIS/ WASHINGTON, 9 January, 2017- The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Richard Hoagland of the United States), released the following statement today...

Fewer ceasefire violations were recorded in Donetsk region between the evenings of 6 and 7 January compared with the previous reporting period. More ceasefire violations were recorded in the following 24-hour period. In Luhansk region more ceasefire violations were recorded on 7 January compared to the previous reporting period but fewer ceasefire violations were recorded between the evenings of 7 and 8 January. The Mission observed damage caused by shelling in Luhanske and in Kulykove. The SMM was restricted in its movement in the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.* The Mission monitored attempts to restore the water supply to areas around Luhansk city. It visited three border crossing points in areas currently not under government control...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* The SMM continued to monitor queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line in Marinka and the situation of civilians living near the contact line in Novoluhanske...

VIENNA, 6 January 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović welcomed yesterday’s release of journalist Jovo Martinović from pre-trial detention in Montenegro, calling for a swift conclusion of his case...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, but fewer of these were explosions. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on an explosion in Donetsk city. The Mission observed unexploded ordnance in Pikuzy and impact sites near Svitlodarsk. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access remained restricted.* The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM monitored the removal of a roadblock between Lopaskyne and Lobacheve. The Mission monitored two border crossing points currently not under government control...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed impact sites and damage to civilian homes in Krynychne. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access remained restricted.* The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM observed unexploded ordnance on the road near an entry-exit checkpoint at the contact line. The SMM monitored repairs to a railway line that crosses the contact line in Luhansk region. The Mission monitored one border crossing point currently not under government control. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on both sides of the contact line...

VIENNA, 5 January 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned the assault in Belgrade on Nihad Ibrahimkadić of the Anadolu Agency...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the period between the evenings of 1 and 2 January. The SMM followed up on a report of a shelling and observed an impact site. The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access remained restricted.* The SMM observed the placement of mine hazard signs on the non-government-controlled side of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line...

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

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 29 and 30 December and in the following 24 hours compared with the previous reporting period. More violations were recorded between the evenings of 31 December and 1 January. Fewer ceasefire violations were recorded from 1 January to 2 January. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations between the evenings of 29 and 30 December compared with the previous reporting period, followed by two days of consecutive increases from 30 December to 1 January. Between the evenings of 1 and 2 January the SMM did not record any ceasefire violations...

VIENNA, 1 January 2017 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, highlighted three key challenges facing the Organization and its participating States as Austria took over as the 2017 OSCE Chairmanship: deplorable and complex crises and conflicts in the OSCE area, a fundamental lack of mutual trust and confidence, and an alarming phenomenon of growing radicalization and violent extremism, especially among young people: “We must vigorously engage and address this situation. The OSCE is the right platform to do so,” said Kurz.

VIENNA, 1 January 2017- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Sebastian Kurz and Secretary General Lamberto Zannier today strongly condemned the horrible attack on the Reina nightclub in Istanbul on New Year’s Eve.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling in Troitske. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access was restricted by the continued presence of mines and unexploded ordnance.* The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The Mission monitored the situation of civilians living close to the contact line and the movement of civilians across the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs to essential infrastructure in Orikhove, Slovianoserbsk, and Myronivskyi. The SMM monitored three border crossing points currently not controlled by the Government.

The Icelandic authorities and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) signed a memorandum of understanding on 29 December 2016 under which Iceland commits to integrate ODIHR’s tailor-made hate crime training programmes into the existing national curricula for law

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the period between the evenings of 26 and 27 December. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling in Troitske and Zhovte (Luhansk region). The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access was restricted by the continued presence of mines and unexploded ordnance.* The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The Mission monitored the situation of civilians living close to the contact line and the freedom of movement of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs to essential infrastructure in Orikhove, Debaltseve, Maiorsk, and Myronivskyi...

A donation ceremony involving Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security, Border Troops and Customs Service took place on 27 December 2016 emphasizing successful co-operation between the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and the border agencies in 2016 as well as in commemoration of the 25 anniversary of the Tajik security forces...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the period between the evenings of 25 and 26 December. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access was restricted by the continued presence of mines and unexploded ordnance.* The SMM facilitated and monitored the removal of unexploded ordnance on Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, and repairs to essential infrastructure. The SMM visited a border crossing point currently not under government control in Luhansk region. In Kyiv the SMM observed a newly-erected tent of activists on the Independence Square...

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-seventh Russian Convoy of 20 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point...

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo released today the third edition of its Justice Monitor, a publication presenting qualitative performance indicators for first instance courts in Kosovo...

The SMM recorded fewer, but still a high number, of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region from the evenings of 22 to 23 December compared with the previous reporting period, including 1,150 explosions, mainly in the Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve area. The SMM evacuated its forward patrol base in government-controlled Svitlodarsk on 24 December due to the proximity of shelling on the evening of 23 December. While the SMM recorded a high number of explosions west of Horlivka on the night of 23 December, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations after a renewed commitment to the ceasefire starting on 24 December. The SMM returned to its forward patrol base in Svitlodarsk on 26 December...

The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 18 September 2016 State Duma elections in the Russian Federation recommends that national legislation concerning the freedoms of association, assembly and expression be aligned with international

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, including about 2,300 explosions in Donetsk region and more than 330 explosions in Luhansk region. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling in Debaltseve, Dokuchaievsk and Kalynove. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access was again restricted.* The Mission observed proscribed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM monitored a border crossing point currently not under government control in Luhansk region. In Lviv the SMM observed a peaceful gathering...

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 23 December 2016- Substantial progress has been made in the development and implementation of the legal and policy framework for the reintegration of repatriated persons in Kosovo, concludes a report published by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo today...

CHISINAU, 23 December 2016 – Representatives of financial intelligence agencies from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan today in Chisinau concluded a two-day expert meeting led by the OSCE on enhancing bilateral co-operation in combating the financing of terrorism and money laundering...

A workshop on environmental education, organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in co-operation with the Armenian Nature Protection Ministry, was held on 23 December 2016 in Yerevan...

WARSAW, 23 December 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today criticized that the human rights group International Historical, Educational, Charitable and Human Rights Society “Memorial” has been confirmed a “foreign agent” by a district court in the Russian Federation...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, including nearly 1,600 explosions in Donetsk region and 169 explosions in Luhansk region. The majority of ceasefire violations, including the use of tank, artillery and mortar fire continued to be recorded in the Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve area. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access to these areas was again restricted.* The Mission observed proscribed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM followed up on reports of an incident at a Jewish gravesite in Uman...

On 22 December 2016 at 07:24 (Moscow time), the 57th Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 20 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the 20 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 18:25 hrs on 22 December...