News and press releases

VIENNA, 6 June 2017- Reacting to the decision of the Abkhaz “military prosecutor’s office” to quit criminal prosecution in the case of the murder of Georgian citizen Giga Otkhozoria on 19 May 2016, announced at the 46th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Gali on 31 May 2017, a spokesperson of the OSCE Chairmanship said today...

Between the evenings of 2 and 3 June the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 3 and 4 June the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24-hour period. The Mission followed up on civilian casualties in Kurakhove and Yasynuvata. The SMM observed damage to civilian houses and critical infrastructure. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere. An SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle spotted anti-tank mines near Pervomaisk inside the Zolote disengagement area and signs of additional reinforcement to government positions in the Stanytsia Luhansk disengagement area. It visited three border areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM monitored events in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk involving religious communities...

This report is for the media and the general public. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, following a renewed commitment to ceasefire for 24 hours from midnight on 1 June. The Mission observed multiple impact

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, following a renewed commitment to ceasefire for 24 hours to mark the “International Day for Protection of Children”. The Mission followed up on allegations of civilian casualties in Avdiivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The Mission heard three bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire near Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM saw for the first time a mine hazard sign near Teplychne. The Mission facilitated and monitored water drilling in Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM monitored public gatherings in Kyiv and Lviv and a small protest in Kharkiv...

Draft amendments to Ukraine’s Law on the Privatization of State–owned and Municipal Print Press were presented by lawyers of the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine (SCTRBU), the Ukrainian Association of Media Business (UAMB), the Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) and the Human Rights Platform NGO on 24 May 2017 in Kyiv, concluding a process supported by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine...

In Donetsk region the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, but fewer explosions, compared to the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage from shelling and shooting in Novotoshkivske and Dokuchaievsk, respectively, and followed up on allegations of civilian casualties in Novoazovsk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and heard a shot of small-arms fire inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM facilitated and monitored repair works to high voltage power lines in Zolote and to water well drilling in Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM visited one border area outside of government control in Luhansk region. The SMM monitored gatherings in Odessa region and Lviv...

VIENNA, 1 June 2017 – The OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today approved the Organization’s budget for 2017...