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This report presents a general overview of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), its main activities and latest news as of 3 May 2021.

Report by the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Mr. Matteo Mecacci (Russian Federation, Annex 1; Turkey, Annex 2; Holy See, Annex 3; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Annex 4). Address by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, H.E. Mr. Lasha Darsalia. Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and illegal occupation of Crimea. Deteriorating situation in Ukraine and continued non-implementation by the Ukrainian authorities of the Minsk agreements. The aggression of Azerbaijan against Artsakh and Armenia with the direct involvement of Turkey and foreign terrorist fighters (Armenia, Annex 5). Violations of freedom of assembly in some Western European States and in the United States of America (Germany, Annex 6; Netherlands, Annex 7; Belgium, Annex 8; Austria, Annex 9; France, Annex 10; Switzerland, Annex 11). International Roma Day, observed on 8 April 2021. Recent developments in Belarus. Abolition of the death penalty in the state of Virginia, United States of America. Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group issued on 13 April 2021. Illegal restriction on the freedom of navigation imposed by the Russian Federation in the Black Sea. Sixtieth anniversary of the first human space flight, observed on 12 April 2021. Lethal attack on Giorgos Karaivaz and media freedom and the safety of journalists as a Greek priority (Greece, Annex 13).

Policy brief paper on international law and policy on disinformation in the context of freedom of the media, prepared by Dr. Andrey Rikhter, Senior Adviser at the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

The Permanent Council adopted Decision No. 1401 on the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (Canada, interpretative statement 1; United States of America, interpretative statement 2; Russian Federation, interpretative statement 3; Armenia, interpretative statement 4; United Kingdom, interpretative statement 5; Ukraine, interpretative statement 6; Portugal-European Union, interpretative statement 7).

The Forum for Security Co-operation adopted Decision No. 2/21 on the OSCE Meeting to Review the Implementation of OSCE Assistance Projects in the Field of Small Arms and Light Weapons and Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition. Closing session: – Remarks by Ms. L. Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, United States Department of Defense; – Remarks by Mr. R. Hudson, member of the House of Representatives, United States Congress, and Chairperson of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's General Committee on Political Affairs and Security (Armenia, Annex 1; Albania, Annex 2; Sweden, Annex 3; Turkey, Annex 4; Azerbaijan, Annex 5; Russian Federation, Annex 6; Serbia, Annex 7). Call for applications for the 2021 OSCE-UNODA Scholarship for Peace and Security training programme (Representative of the Conflict Prevention Centre, Annex 8). Matters of protocol (Russian Federation, Annex 9). Location of the "DEFENDER-Europe 2021" military exercise, to be conducted from 1 May to 14 June 2021 (Serbia, Annex 10).

Biographies of speakers for the expert meeting on international law and policy on disinformation in the context of freedom of the media, to be held on 14 May 2021.