News and press releases

The SMM continued to observe a tense situation around Donetsk city and Svitlodarsk, while the situation in Luhansk region remained stable. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. It reached two border crossing points not controlled by the Government. The SMM faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in areas not controlled by the Government. Long queues of vehicles were observed at a checkpoint near the contact line. In Kyiv, the Mission monitored events related to the General Prosecutor’s Office...

ASTANA, 25 March 2016 – The first of three OSCE-supported two-day training seminars for court reporters began today in Astana...

On 24 March 2016 at 06:40hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 48 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services. All of the 48 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 18:00hrs on 24 March...

The SMM observed a similarly high level of explosions in Donetsk region and an equally low level of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared to the previous day. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It reached one border crossing point not controlled by the Government. Long queues of vehicles were observed at checkpoints near the contact line. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. In Odessa, the Mission monitored a protest in support of Nadiya Savchenko...

The OSCE Presence in Albania on 24 March 2016 launched a series of workshops for the Albanian border and migration police with the aim of raising their capacity to respond to the challenges of irregular migration, particularly in light of the increased migrant flows through the Western Balkans...

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Astrid Thors visited Bosnia and Herzegovina from 20 to 24 March 2016, focusing extensively on education matters, visiting schools and educational facilities, meeting with pupils, parents and teachers and witnessing efforts made to bridge divides and develop joint activities...

SARAJEVO, 24 March 2016 – Ambassador Jonathan Moore, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, today issued the following statement after the conviction of Radovan Karadzic: