OSCE media freedom representative welcomes U.S. rules on net neutrality that support a free and open Internet
VIENNA, 27 February 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed new rules adopted by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to protect an open Internet. “This is a landmark decision to guarantee a free and open Internet with the free flow of information as one of its fundamental characteristics,...
Journalists in Slovenia should not face criminal charges for their work, OSCE Representative says
VIENNA, 27 February 2015 – Slovenian authorities should amend provisions in the Criminal Code allowing for the prosecution of journalists, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said today, following questioning of two journalists by the state public prosecutor in a defamation case. “Criminal prosecution of journalists for...
Peace and security in Europe are a joint responsibility, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Dačić tells United States Helsinki Commission
WASHINGTON D.C., 26 February 2015 – “Serbia’s OSCE Chairmanship coincides with the worst crisis of European security since the end of the Cold War,” OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, told the U.S. Helsinki Commission at a hearing on 26 February in Washington, D.C. “The...
Azerbaijan: OSCE PA’s Santos decries continuing threats to civil society and journalists, renews request for visits
COPENHAGEN, 26 February 2015 – The Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today expressed deep concern about continuing threats to civil society and journalists in Azerbaijan and renewed her request to visit detained rights defenders. “The...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 25 February 2015
This report is for media and the general public. The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and security considerations – noted fighting in some areas. The Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination...
Restrictive measures toward Russian journalists reporting from Ukraine excessive, OSCE Representative says
VIENNA, 26 February 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said recent measures limiting some Russian journalists to fulfil their professional activities in Ukraine are excessive. On 12 February, the Supreme Rada decided to strip accreditation of some 100 Russian media outlets at all Ukrainian public...
Russian Paratroopers Train Near Baltic Borders, Central Asians Nabbed in U.S. Terror Plot
Plus, Mongolia frees foreign businessmen in a tax-dodge case and Macedonia’s students kill a new measure on university exams. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Russian gas for the Donbas: the games being played with Kyiv and Brussels
2015-02-25Szymon KardaśThe suspension by Naftohaz of gas supplies to the Donbas has been treated by Moscow as a pretext to unfreeze the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute. …read more Source: Centre for Eastern...
Weekly update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 10:00 (Moscow time), 25 February 2015
This report is for media and the general public. SUMMARY Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both BCPs. Overall cross-border traffic flows slightly decreased at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The OM continued to observe a number of persons in military-style clothing crossing the...
How Ukraine Can Beat Vladimir Putin
Ukraine’s best hope for peace is to wind down the war with Russia and to use the breathing space for much-needed reform. …read more Source: Carnegie Endowment for International...