News and press releases

WARSAW/VIENNA, 21 February 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Poland, Zbigniew Rau, OSCE Secretary General Schmid, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden) and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Roberto Montella strongly condemned the decision by Russia to recognize certain areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as independent and made the following statement:

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 18 and 20 February, the SMM recorded 2,158 ceasefire violations, including 1,100 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 591 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 18 and 20 February, the

VIENNA, 21 February 2022 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro expressed concerns in reaction to the recently revealed Suisse Secrets, a project published by a consortium of investigative journalists from across the globe.

VIENNA, 21 February 2022 — The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, expressed her shock and outrage at the news of the killing of journalist Güngör Arslan, the owner and editor of the local news site Ses Kocaeli, in Turkey.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 591 ceasefire violations, including 553 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 222 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 975 ceasefire violations, including 860 explosions. In the previous reporting

KYIV, 19 February 2022 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the proposed meeting of the TCG:

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 222 ceasefire violations, including 135 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 189 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 648 ceasefire violations, including 519 explosions. In the previous reporting

KYIV, 18 February- In recent days, the OSCE Special Monitoring to Ukraine (SMM) has observed a dramatic increase in kinetic activity along the contact line in eastern Ukraine, equal to the numbers of ceasefire violations reported before the July 2020 agreement on the Measures to strengthen the ceasefire took effect.

WARSAW/VIENNA, 18 February 2022- In light of the significant deterioration of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Poland, Zbigniew Rau, and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid made the following statement:

KYIV, 18 February 2022 – Against the background of heightened tensions, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine is navigating multiple challenges simultaneously, stated the Mission’s Chief Monitor, Yaşar Halit Çevik to the OSCE’s Permanent Council.

ODIHR experts discuss electoral recommendations in Moldova Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report and recommendations of the election observation mission to the 2021 early parliamentary elections in Moldova during a

On the morning of 16 February, while the SMM was on patrol at a training area of the armed formations near Shymshynivka (non-government-controlled, 27km south-west of Luhansk), an unarmed member of the armed formations requested the Mission to leave the area, stating that the Mission’s presence was not allowed during live-fire exercises and that it should seek prior authorization from those in control...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 189 ceasefire violations, including 128 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 24 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 402 ceasefire violations, including 188 explosions. In the previous reporting

WARSAW, 17 February 2022- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Poland, Zbigniew Rau expressed serious concern about the reported shelling of a kindergarten in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska, in Luhansk region and called for restraint in the following statement:

VIENNA, 17 February 2022 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro reiterated today her concern regarding Ukraine’s practice of applying sanctions against media outlets.

On 16 February 2022, the OSCE Presence in Albania introduced academic partners, the Assembly and representatives of civil society to the main findings of a feasibility study for the development of a study programme on parliamentary issues.

Gender mainstreaming in politics and legislation and best practices in reviewing legislation for gender sensitivity were the topics of a two-day advanced workshop that ended on 16 February 2022 in Dushanbe. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) co-organized the event.

An OSCE-supported webinar on enhancing the communications skills of maslikhats (local self-governance bodies) was conducted from 8 to 11 February 2022 in Kazakh and Russian languages.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 24 ceasefire violations, including five explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 17 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 129 ceasefire violations, including 71 explosions. In the previous reporting

MOSCOW, 16 February 2022 — The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, concluded his first official visit as OSCE Chairman to Moscow on 15 February.

KYIV, 16 February 2022 – Today over 100 representatives from the Ukrainian state authorities, think tanks, the donor community and international partner organizations met to create a co-ordination platform on implementing a joint strategic approach to preventing and combating the illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives (WAE) in Ukraine.

VIENNA, 15 February 2022 – Trafficking in human beings has dramatically changed since it was first recognized as a crime 20 years ago. Today technology is a centerpiece of the human trafficking business model and 75% of sex trafficking victims are advertised online. However, legislation addressing trafficking has not kept pace. Addressing this gap is at the heart of a new study a new OSCE study on policy responses to technology-facilitated trafficking in human beings, which was presented at a virtual launch event held today.

Summary In Donetsk region, the Mission recorded 17 ceasefire violations, including one explosion. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 157 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded 157 ceasefire violations, including 40 explosions. 80 of the ceasefire violations were

VIENNA, 15 February 2022 – Supporting sustainable economic growth following the COVID-19 pandemic was the focus of the First Preparatory Meeting of the 30th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum (EEF) held on 14 and 15 February in Vienna.

VIENNA, 14 February 2022 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro made the following statement today expressing her concern about the shrinking space for media workers to conduct their journalistic work abroad:

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 11 and 13 February, the Mission recorded 261 ceasefire violations, including 50 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 114 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 11 and 13 February, the SMM

THE HAGUE, 14 February 2022 – OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov today launched a call for nominations for the 2022 Max van der Stoel Award. The award of 50,000 euros recognizes extraordinary and outstanding achievements in improving the position of national minorities in OSCE participating States. The deadline for nominations is 10 April 2022.

On the morning of 11 February, while on patrol at the border crossing point near Dovzhanske (non-government-controlled, 84km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM was approached by a member of the armed formations who asked the patrol to state its task...

KYIV, 13 February 2022- The Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine is a civilian mission. The majority of international mission members are seconded by OSCE participating States. The secondment system allows participating States to make decisions inter alia on the relocation of their secondees in or out of the country. Recently, certain participating States have decided that their respective secondees in the SMM should leave Ukraine within the next days.

Summary In Donetsk region, the Mission recorded 114 ceasefire violations, including 68 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 738 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded 258 ceasefire violations, including 30 explosions. Of these, it assessed 232

KYIV, 11 February- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Poland Zbigniew Rau has concluded his visit to Ukraine today. He highlighted the significance of taking specific steps to solve the crisis in and around that country in line with both international law and the principles and commitments of the OSCE.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 738 ceasefire violations, including 156 explosions, 277 of which were assessed as live-fire exercises outside the security zone. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 27 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded

As part of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro commitment to encourage the recruitment and advancement women in the police, the Mission provided technical equipment to the Women Police Association on 11 February 2022 in Podgorica.

WARSAW/VIENNA, 11 February 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Poland, Zbigniew Rau, and OSCE Secretary General Schmid made the following statement after the adoption in first reading of the Draft Law on Republika Srpska’s High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council by the Republika Srpska National Assembly:

Canada Early Federal Election 2021: ODIHR Final Report Canada early federal election 2021: ODIHR election expert team final report Following the 20 September 2021 early federal election in Canada, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has published its election expert

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 27 ceasefire violations, including 11 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 11 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 224 ceasefire violations, including 23 explosions. In the previous reporting

KYIV, 9 February 2022 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 11 ceasefire violations, including seven explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 76 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 169 ceasefire violations, including 29 explosions. In the previous reporting

VIENNA, 8 February 2022 – Today, OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO) and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland Zbigniew Rau launched the Renewed OSCE European Security Dialogue (RESD) during a high-level meeting.

WARSAW, 8 February 2022 – A two-day conference at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews under the auspices of Poland’s Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2022 gathered together OSCE leaders and several hundred online and in-person participants to discuss more effective ways of combating anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and discrimination. The event was preceded by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 76 ceasefire violations, including 23 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 34 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 25 ceasefire violations, including 20 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded

Dominique Waag, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and Judge Vesna Vučković, Acting President of the Supreme Court, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 7 February 2022.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 4 and 6 February, the SMM recorded 416 ceasefire violations, including 38 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 85 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 4 and 6 February, the Mission

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 85 ceasefire violations, including one explosion. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 29 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 73 ceasefire violations, including one explosion. In the previous reporting

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 29 ceasefire violations, including four explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 292 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 31 ceasefire violations, including six explosions. In the previous reporting

VIENNA, 4 February 2022 – While closely looking into the implications of recent developments involving RT DE channel and Deutsche Welle broadcaster on media freedom in the region, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro today condemned the retaliatory measures undertaken by the Russian authorities against German media outlet Deutsche Welle.

On the morning of 4 February, the armed formations in Luhansk region denied the Mission passage to non-government-controlled areas. The SMM patrol was travelling from government-controlled areas...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 292 ceasefire violations, including 48 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 75 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 114 ceasefire violations, including 23 explosions. In the previous reporting

On the morning of 3 February, the armed formations in Luhansk region denied the Mission’s passage to non-government-controlled areas. The SMM patrol was travelling from government-controlled areas...

WASHINGTON, D.C., 3 February 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Zbigniew Rau, participated in a congressional hearing with the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe today.