News and press releases

SKOPJE, 30 October 2017 – The second round of mayoral elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were competitive and respect for fundamental freedoms contributed towards conduct of democratic elections, the observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) concluded in a preliminary statement released today...

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek handed over video surveillance equipment to the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic (SCNS) on 24 October 2017 in the city of Osh. The video equipment consisting of 18 security cameras will enhance security in the remand prison as well as contribute to prevention of torture and other cruel and degrading treatment or punishment in penitentiaries.

MINSK, 27 October 2017 –Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups in Minsk on 27 October 2017:

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area and near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including in Siedove near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Bakhmut and Nyzhnoteple. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure in Shchastia and Artema. The SMM visited a border area not under government control.

Sarajevo, 27 October 2017 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina expresses its deep concerns about the nature of statements expressed in the conclusions of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC), at its session on 26 October 2017, in relation to the information submitted by the Centre for War Research, War Crimes and Search for Missing Persons of RS.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas; it recorded a projectile in flight, assessed as inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a checkpoint near Olenivka.* The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Illinka. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to the thermal power plant in Shchastia and high-voltage power lines near Donetskyi. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on reports of an explosion which killed two people and injured three others and on reports of a fire in a building. Also in Kyiv, it monitored the ongoing gathering in front of the national Parliament building.

SARAJEVO, 27 October 2017 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina is organizing a series of multi stakeholder meetings on local level responses to preventing and countering violent extremism that will gather representatives of municipalities, civil society organizations, educational institutions, social welfare centres, mental health centres, police, religious communities and correctional facilities. Meetings will be held in Cazin on October 30-31, Bihac on October 31 – November 1, Brcko on November 6-7, Tuzla on November 13-14, and Zenica on December 7-8.