News and press releases

A civil society expert workshop and discussions amongst OSCE delegations on the topic of Dialogue in Search of Social Cohesion, organized by the 2016 Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE Mediterranean Contact Group and hosted by Spain, concluded on 24 May 2016 in Madrid...

The SMM observed a similar level of violence in Donetsk region both on 21 and 22 May as compared to 20 May and observed an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region on 21 May and fewer on 22 May- compared to 20 May. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis in government-controlled Avdiivka. Some 600 people gathered in front of the residence of SMM monitors in Donetsk city. It also monitored events on the occasion of the “Day of Heroes” in Lviv and a protest in Chernivtsi. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on eight occasions, exclusively in areas not controlled by the Government...

The SMM observed a slightly higher level of violence in Donbas compared to the previous day. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission monitored the situation affecting civilians living near the contact line. It also monitored a demonstration in Kyiv. The operation of the Mission’s ceasefire monitoring equipment was stopped by armed “DPR” members in Donetsk city and its activities were restricted on five other occasions, mainly in areas not controlled by the Government...

The SMM observed a similar level of violence in Donetsk region and recorded slightly fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared to the previous day. The SMM conducted crater analysis in Stanytsia Luhanska. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and noted numerous armoured combat vehicles, as well as anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission followed up on reports of casualties from a landmine incident in Pavlopil. It also monitored a protest in Lviv region. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on three occasions exclusively in areas not controlled by the Government...

ST. PETERSBURG, 20 May 2016 – Addressing the plenary session of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS) in St. Petersburg today, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) stressed the importance of building bridges between nations and between international inter-parliamentary organizations, welcoming the focus of the IPA CIS session on economic and environmental challenges...

The SMM observed an increased level of violence in Donetsk region and similar levels in Luhansk region compared to the previous day. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and visited border areas not controlled by the Government. It followed up on reports of shelling in Krasnohorivka, and on reports of casualties due to an anti-tank mine explosion near Pavlopil. The SMM also monitored a protest by internally displaced persons in Odessa, and peaceful commemorations of the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars in Kherson region and Kyiv city. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on two occasions...

VIENNA, 19 May 2016- Challenges and opportunities in updating conventional arms control and confidence- and security-building measures were the focus of Wednesday’s OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation held in Vienna, under the Forum’s Chairmanship of Poland...