News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 3 November 2020
Publishing date: 3 November 2020
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week...
On International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, OSCE PA’s Montella recalls assassination of Shevki Popova, urges justice
Publishing date: 2 November 2020
WASHINGTON, 2 November 2020 – Observing today’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Roberto Montella emphasized the vital role that journalists play bringing information to the public and stressed that much more must be done to ensure justice for the perpetrators of violence against journalists.
Pluralistic campaign enabled voters’ choice between competing options but unclear rules remain, say international observers to Moldova election
Publishing date: 2 November 2020
CHISINAU, 2 November 2020 – Moldova’s 1 November presidential election was competitive and conducted within an adequate legal framework, but frequent and late changes to both legislation and administrative rules contributed to legal uncertainty, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) concluded in a preliminary statement today...
OSCE fosters youth co-operation in Central Asia
Publishing date: 2 November 2020
Twenty-four alumni of the OSCE-funded Central Asian Youth Network (CAYN) and other young people from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan took part in an online seminar on 29 and 30 October 2020 on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted security, the economy and education...
Fundamental freedoms respected in competitive Georgian elections, but allegations of pressure and blurring of line between party and state reduced confidence, international observers say
Publishing date: 1 November 2020
TBILISI, 1 November 2020 – Georgia’s parliamentary elections were competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected. Nevertheless, pervasive allegations of pressure on voters and blurring of the line between the ruling party and the state reduced public confidence in some aspects of the process, international observers said in a statement today. The elections were conducted under a substantially revised legal framework, following broad public consultations that brought some improvements for the holding of democratic elections, but further efforts to address shortcomings are needed, the statement says...
Press Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
Publishing date: 30 October 2020
GENEVA, 30 October 2020 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) released the following statement today...
OSCE and UN Office of Counter-Terrorism discuss ways to responsibly use passenger data to prevent return of foreign terrorist fighters
Publishing date: 30 October 2020
The OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Border Security and Management Unit and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) organized the fourth OSCE-wide Seminar on Passenger Data Exchange on 29 and 30 October 2020, bringing together more than 250 passenger data experts from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation...