News and press releases

Berlin, 18 March 2016- On the second anniversary of the Russian Federation’s annexation of Crimean peninsula (18 March 2014), which under international law is part of Ukraine, Special Representative of the German Government for the OSCE Chairmanship Gernot Erler said: “Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula two years ago today was contrary to international law and infringed fundamental OSCE principles, in particular the inviolability of international borders and respect for the sovereignty of all states.”

Tbilisi, 18 March 2016- Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, on 17 March, conducted a monitoring exercise on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of his mandate....

The SMM continued to observe ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM monitored a border area not controlled by the Government where it observed long lines of cars and trucks. The SMM was restricted in its freedom of movement in areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. In Kyiv and Odessa, the SMM observed gatherings marking the second anniversary of the annexation of Crimea...

The SMM continued to observe ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM monitored border areas not controlled by the Government. It was restricted in its freedom of movement, including at a heavy weapons holding area and at a border crossing point in an area not controlled by the Government. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. The Mission continued to monitor the situation affecting internally displaced persons. The SMM spoke to organizers of the upcoming Festival of Equality in Lviv...

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

TBILISI, 16 March 2016- The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Günther Bächler, and German Ambassador to Georgia, Bettina Cadenbach, today in Tbilisi met with Georgia’s State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Affairs, Paata Zakareishvili, and commended the simultaneous release of detainees on 10 March, which was co-ordinated between Tbilisi, Sukhumi and Tskhinvali.

In Donetsk region, the SMM continued to observe numerous ceasefire violations. It observed no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It was restricted in its freedom of movement, including at one heavy weapons holding area and at a border crossing point in an area not controlled by the Government.* The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians in the vicinity of the contact line...