News and press releases

Berlin, 14 April 2016 – “I am very concerned about the latest developments in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The decision of the Macedonian President to exempt from criminal prosecution politicians and office holders, who face charges of grave misconduct, damages the rule of law and legal peace.

KYIV, 14 April 2016 – On behalf of the OSCE Secretariat and in close cooperation with the Project Coordinator in Ukraine (PCU), Deputy to the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine Jeffrey Erlich donated today to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) the first lot of equipment for the removal of unexploded ordnances (UXO) in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous day. In Luhansk the SMM observed a higher number of ceasefire violations compared with the previous day. The SMM noted that weapons were absent from storage sites and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The Mission monitored the retrieval of bodies from unmarked gravesites. It observed the presences of mines. The SMM noted long lines at checkpoints along the contact line. The SMM monitored one border crossing point not controlled by the Government. Armed men restricted the SMM’s movement in areas not controlled by the Government in several instances and the SMM was restricted in one instance in a government-controlled area...

SKOPJE, 14 April 2016- Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje Nina Suomalainen has taken note of President Gjorge Ivanov’s 41 decisions published yesterday in the Official Gazette to pardon 56 individuals...

BATKEN, Kyrgyzstan, 14 April 2016 – An OSCE-supported conference aimed at promoting national unity and inter-ethnic harmony through improving inter-community relations took place today in Batken, southern Kyrgyzstan...

The SMM observed a similar number of ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared to the previous day. A high number of explosions and gunfire continued to be recorded in different areas of the contact line in Donetsk region. The SMM noted that weapons were absent from storage sites and holding areas. The SMM monitored border areas not controlled by the Government. Armed men restricted the SMM’s movement in areas not controlled by the Government and the SMM was restricted in one instance in a government-controlled area...

The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic decreased at both BCPs...