News and press releases

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in co-operation with the Centre for Mediation, concluded a four-day training course for a new group of 20 mediators in family disputes on 2 November 2017 in Podgorica as part of its activities to support the government in judicial reform.

VIENNA, 2 November 2017 – In their addresses to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) expressed satisfaction with the level of engagement by participants in the Discussions. At the same time, they stressed the need to make progress on the issue of the non-use of force and others on the agenda.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations – including, however, more explosions – compared with the previous reporting period. It followed up on a report of a civilian casualty in Dmytrivka. The SMM observed damage to houses due to shelling in Uzhivka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas and, while there, observed calm situations at each one; its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Novolaspa and Siedove near the border with the Russian Federation. The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Novoaidar and Lysychansk. The Mission visited four border areas not under government control. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a gathering in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building and continued to monitor the gathering in front of the national Parliament building...

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier is visiting Moldova from 30 October to 3 November 2017 to continue the institution’s long-standing engagement with the country on issues related to ethnic diversity and identity...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed fresh impact sites near Slovianoserbsk. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area and near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Kostiantynivka. It facilitated and monitored repairs to and maintenance of essential infrastructure in Shchastia. The SMM visited a border area not under government control. It followed up on reports of an attack which killed a person and wounded another near Kyiv. It continued monitoring a public gathering in front of the national Parliament building in Kyiv...

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 compared to the previous week. The sixty-eighth Russian convoy crossed into Ukraine and returned though the Donetsk Border Crossing Point...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission followed up on reports of two civilian casualties in Kostiantynivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas and observed calm situations in all three while present. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a permanent storage site and near Kachkarske. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Teple, Bakhmut, Lysychansk and Nikishyne. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to power lines between Novozvanivka and Troitske and of essential infrastructure in Shchastia and Artema. The SMM visited two border areas not under government control. It also monitored a public gathering in Kyiv calling for political reform. With respect to local elections in newly formed territorial units, the SMM monitored the security situation around polling stations in Odessa region...