News and press releases

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) published a new tool on 9 August 2018 to support the effective implementation of minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners. The resource, produced jointly with Penal Reform International (PRI), was launched initially

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas; it was also restricted at a checkpoint near Khreshchatytske.* The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring the security situation around the station, as well as repairs and maintenance works to critical civilian infrastructure near Artema, Stanytsia Luhanska, Novotoshkivske and Popasna. In Kherson, the SMM monitored the court hearing of the former RIA Novosti Ukraine editor-in-chief...

VIENNA, 8 August 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed serious concern over the detention of journalists with the Belarusian Tut.by and BelaPAN news agencies, as well as raids of newsrooms and journalists’ homes by law enforcement agents, and the seizure of their equipment...

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Office of the United States Embassy in Astana organized a visit to London from 24 to 26 July 2018 for eight officials from Kazakhstan to study the United Kingdom’s experience in introducing the Advanced Passenger Information Exchange System (API) and the Passenger Name Recorder (PNR)...

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...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the last 24 hours. Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle in Artema. The Mission’s access remained restricted in the Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas, as well as near Bezimenne, Zaichenko, Novoazovsk and Hranitne.* The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring the security situation around the station, as well as repairs and maintenance works to critical civilian infrastructure near Artema, Stanytsia Luhanska, Novotoshkivske, in Zolote-3 and Zolote-5. The SMM monitored a pre-trial hearing in Kherson, a planned appellate court hearing in Odessa and observed a public gathering in Kyiv...

Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Muhammetkaliy Abylgaziev and the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek Pierre von Arx discussed bilateral co-operation and the implementation of the OSCE programme and project activities in the country, including priority efforts in supporting reforms in the area of anti-corruption and economic development on 2 August 2018, at the Office of the Prime Minister in Bishkek...