OSCE PA

Statement by the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on Developments in Poland 31 October 2026 I am following with concern the recent developments surrounding the Constitutional Tribunal of the Republic of Poland. Poland is a valued member of the OSCE community, a country with a proud democratic tradition, and a nation whose commitment to freedom and solidarity has contributed enormously to the democratic transformation of Europe. The current tensions concern fundamental questions of constitutional governance, judicial independence, and the rule of law. These are not merely domestic political issues. They touch upon the democratic principles and commitments that all OSCE participating States have undertaken to uphold. At the same time, I firmly believe that the future of Poland’s democratic institutions must be determined by the Polish people and their legitimate constitutional authorities, through peaceful, lawful, and democratic processes. Political disagreements, however profound, must never undermine respect for democratic institutions, the independence of the judiciary, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens. I therefore encourage all parties concerned to exercise restraint, refrain from actions or rhetoric that could further escalate tensions, and engage in constructive dialogue guided by the Polish Constitution, the rule of law, and Poland’s international commitments. Democracy does not require the absence of political disagreements. It requires a shared commitment to resolving them within the framework of democratic institutions and the law. As President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I have full confidence in the strength of Polish society, its democratic traditions, and its capacity to overcome the present challenges through mutual respect, responsibility, and dialogue. Poland’s unity around the fundamental principles of democracy and the rule of law is important not only for its own citizens, but also for the wider European community at a time when our common security and democratic resilience face profound challenges. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stands ready to support constructive parliamentary dialogue, within its mandate and in full respect of Poland’s sovereignty and democratic institutions. Mykyta Poturaiev President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

Oleshky. A Victory of Humanity Over Cruelty For months, the people of Oleshky, a Ukrainian town under Russian occupation, have been trapped in a humanitarian catastrophe. Deprived of adequate food, clean water, medicine, and the basic necessities of life, they were left struggling to survive. This suffering was not inevitable. It was the consequence of Russia’s occupation, the destruction brought by its war, and the obstruction of humanitarian access. Today, as we welcome the successful rescue of our fellow citizens, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who helped make it possible. To First Lady of the United States Melania Trump, whose personal engagement and diplomatic efforts helped secure the humanitarian arrangements. To His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, whose moral authority and personal appeals helped bring international attention and action to this tragedy. To the Members of the European Parliament, and especially to Vice-President Pina Picierno, whose extraordinary act of personal solidarity - undertaking a hunger strike to draw attention to the suffering of the people of Oleshky - demonstrated that political leadership is measured not only by words, but also by the courage to act. To the governments and representatives of democratic nations, to Ukrainian and international journalists, opinion leaders, volunteers, and civil society activists who refused to let this tragedy disappear from the world’s attention. Your voices, your determination, and your humanity helped save lives. And, of course, to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose personal determination and persistent efforts to bring our people home have never wavered. My special gratitude goes to Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets. His personal courage, composure, and perseverance throughout this extraordinarily difficult humanitarian mission deserve our deepest respect. He demonstrated what public service truly means: accepting personal risks when human lives are at stake. I also want to pay tribute to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, who, even under extraordinarily dangerous conditions, found remarkable ways to deliver food and essential supplies to civilians trapped in Oleshky. Their ingenuity, dedication, and humanity helped keep hope alive. To our fellow Ukrainians returning from Oleshky: welcome home. Ukraine has been waiting for you. You were never forgotten. And you never will be. But our relief cannot erase our sorrow. We mourn those who did not survive the inhuman suffering inflicted upon this town. We owe them remembrance, truth, and justice. And we remain deeply concerned about those who, for various reasons, have decided to stay in Oleshky under Russian occupation. They must not be forgotten. Their safety, dignity, and fundamental rights must remain under close international scrutiny. As President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I will continue to draw international attention to their situation and to the need for sustained humanitarian access and protection. Oleshky reminds us of something fundamental. International solidarity is not an abstract diplomatic principle. It can mean food reaching a starving family. Medicine reaching an elderly person. A safe journey home for someone who had almost lost hope. When humanity acts together, lives can be saved - even in the darkest circumstances. And that is why we must never stop trying. International solidarity is measured not only by the declarations we adopt, but by the lives we manage to save. Oleshky is Ukraine. And every Ukrainian life matters.

I am deeply grateful to my dear colleague, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, for his warm and encouraging letter, his congratulations, and, above all, his unwavering commitment to Ukraine. My sincere gratitude also goes to every member of the United States delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly - Republicans and Democrats alike. Throughout these difficult years, we have never doubted your bipartisan support. We have always known that we could count on your friendship, solidarity, and principled commitment to the values we share. The United States was among the founding nations of the Helsinki process. Its leadership has been essential in defending the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, human rights, and international law. Today, when these very principles are being challenged, we need that American leadership more than ever - within the OSCE, its Parliamentary Assembly, and across the international community. As President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I sincerely hope that the United States will continue to play the role that history, its democratic traditions, and its global responsibilities have entrusted to it: a steadfast defender of international law, freedom, and the right of every nation to determine its own future. Dear Senator Whitehouse, dear American colleagues and friends - thank you for standing with Ukraine. I look forward to continuing our work together, not only for Ukraine, but for the principles that unite us all.

We grieve together with Spain 30 October 2026 I am deeply saddened and heartbroken by the devastating train accident near Toledo, Spain, which has claimed so many innocent lives and left many others injured. On behalf of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones, to the people of Spain, and to all those affected by this terrible tragedy. My thoughts are with the injured, with those still awaiting news of their loved ones, and with the rescue workers, medical personnel, and volunteers who are doing everything possible to save lives and bring comfort to those in need. I wish to express my particular solidarity with our Spanish colleagues and friends in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Dear friends, in these days of national mourning, please know that you are not alone. Your grief is shared by your colleagues and friends across our Assembly. We often speak about security in terms of international relations, conflicts, and political challenges. But at its very heart, security is about human lives - about the people we love, the families we cherish, and the simple hope that those who leave home in the morning will return safely. Today, we stand with Spain, united not by politics, but by our common humanity. May the memory of those who lost their lives be honoured, and may their families find strength and comfort in the solidarity of friends across Europe and beyond. Our hearts are with Spain.

Statement by the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on Russian Attacks Against Civilians in Ukraine 30 October 2026 I am horrified by the latest Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine. Yesterday, a Russian drone struck a railway platform in Dnipro, killing at least 14 people and injuring many others. These were ordinary people waiting for a passenger train. In Zaporizhzhia, Russian drones attacked public buses. In Chernihiv, two teenage girls were killed. In Kremenchuk, residential buildings were struck, leaving more civilians dead and injured. Just days earlier, a Russian drone had attacked a passenger bus in Kherson, killing one person and injuring five others. These were not military battlefields. These were places where ordinary people were going about their daily lives. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those killed and wish a full recovery to everyone injured. But today, I want to speak about something that goes beyond Ukraine. Every time civilians are deliberately attacked, every time the laws of war are violated, and every time such violations are met with impunity, the entire world becomes less safe. Because international security is not only about borders, armies, and weapons. It is also about the rules that separate what is permissible from what is forbidden. About the limits that even war must never cross. When these limits are repeatedly violated without consequences, they begin to lose their meaning. And when the unacceptable becomes normal in one part of the world, it becomes easier to justify elsewhere. This is how the foundations of international security are gradually destroyed. Not only through the collapse of treaties, but through the normalization of atrocities. Russia’s continued attacks on civilians in Ukraine are therefore not merely a Ukrainian tragedy. They represent a profound challenge to the international order and to the principles upon which the OSCE was founded. As President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I believe we have a responsibility to defend these principles consistently and without double standards. I call for full respect for international humanitarian law, independent investigation of attacks against civilians, accountability for those responsible, and stronger international efforts to protect civilian lives. Our responsibility is not only to respond to today’s tragedies. It is to ensure that the world we leave to future generations is not one in which terror has become an accepted instrument of state policy. What is happening in Ukraine must never become the new normal - anywhere in the world.