News and press releases

TBILISI, 13 November 2017 – The 12 November mayoral run-off elections in six Georgian districts were well administered, candidates were able to compete freely and fundamental rights were generally respected in a shortened, low-key campaign, the election observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) concluded in a preliminary statement released today. At the same time, shortcomings in the process highlighted the need for improvements to the laws governing elections, the statement says...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it heard small-arms fire near the area where it was flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near the Petrivske disengagement area, assessed as aimed at the UAV*, and spotted military presence inside the Petrivske disengagement area, as well as previously seen mines. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including near Horlivka and at five heavy weapons holding areas.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Dovhe, Marianivka and Novooleksandrivka. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia, Novozvanivka, Stanytsia Luhanska and Zalizne. It visited a border area not under government control...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of persons injured and killed from the explosion of hand grenades in Khartsyzk and Makiivka, and observed damage caused by shelling in residential areas of Sakhanka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including at two permanent storage sites, a heavy weapons holding area, and a compound, all in areas outside government control.* It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia, Novozvanivka, Yuzhna-Lomuvatka, Artema, and Zalizne...

VICENZA, Italy, 10 November 2017 – Practical measures to combat the illicit cross-border trafficking in cultural property in the Mediterranean Region was the focus of a five-day seminar, which concluded in Vicenza today. The seminar was designed to build the capacity of some 22 participants from national services of thirteen OSCE participating States and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, and of Lebanon...

An OSCE-led roundtable discussion for 30 experts and representatives of law enforcement agencies from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine, on best practices in combating corruption and other related serious crimes concluded today in Kyiv.

SKOPJE, 10 November 2017 – OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Lamberto Zannier presented the first ever children’s illustrated Macedonian-Albanian/Albanian-Macedonian dictionary for primary schools to Education Minister Renata Deskoska in Skopje today. This innovative tool was developed by the HCNM and the Nansen Dialogue Centre, Skopje, and supported financially by the German government...

Civil society organizations from the left bank (Transdniestria) and donors gathered for this year’s Donors Forum organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova in Chisinau on 8 November 2017 to reflect on the work that they have accomplished together as well as lay out plans for the future...