News and press releases

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions was relatively calm, although the SMM continued to register dozens of explosions. The SMM monitored mortar withdrawal activities conducted under the Addendum to the Package of measures in Luhansk region. It also spotted convoys marked as Russian Federation humanitarian aid...

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 16 October 2015- The OSCE Centre in Bishkek organized a three-day training course for 25 officers from the medical services of the Kyrgyz armed forces on the Istanbul Protocol – a UN manual on documenting torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment...

Elections experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) met with electoral stakeholders in Tirana from 14 to 16 October 2015 to present recommendations from the final report on the 21 June 2015 local elections in Albania.

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 16 October 2015- The OSCE Centre in Bishkek is organizing the regional eco-journalism festival in Osh, southern Kyrgyzstan on 15 and 16 October 2015 with the aim of promoting environmental journalism in the Fergana Valley and raising public awareness of environmental issues and effective environmental management...

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana and Finland’s Foreign Ministry organized a study tour to Helsinki for four members of Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) from 12 to 16 October 2015, with the aim of acquainting them with the institutional and legal framework of Finland’s election system and its election administration...

On 15 October 2015 at 06:50hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 48 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 14:55hrs on 15 October...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. Rallies and marches were held in a number of cities throughout the country to mark the “Day of Ukraine’s Defender”. The SMM received notification from the “LPR” on the planned withdrawal of mortars pieces of calibre up to an including 120mm in accordance with the Addendum to the Package of measures...