News and press releases

VIENNA, 17 October 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today condemned an assault on Sunday on three journalists in Osh, Kyrgyzstan on the premises of a polling station...

A two-day train-the-trainer course on mentorship as a tool for empowerment of women and girls concluded at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe on 13 October 2017.

VIENNA, 16 October 2017 – Harlem Désir, OSCE media freedom representative, expressed immense shock over the death of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and urged the Maltese authorities to carry out swift, transparent investigations into the case...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 13 and 14 October compared with the previous reporting period and fewer between the evenings of 14 and 15 October compared with the previous 24 hours. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations between the evenings of 13 and 14 October compared with the previous reporting period and more between the evenings of 14 and 15 October compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including near Pikuzy.* The Mission again observed anti-tank mines near Popasna. The SMM visited three border areas not under government control. In Kyiv, the SMM observed two large gatherings – one commemorating Defender of Ukraine Day, and the other for animal rights...

SKOPJE, 16 October 2017 – The holding of the 15 October municipal elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia contributed to strengthening confidence in the democratic process, international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today. The elections took place in a competitive environment, with candidates generally able to campaign without restriction, and the fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression were respected overall. Some credible allegations of vote-buying, pressure on voters and isolated cases of violence occurred during the pre-election period. The monitored media provided unbiased coverage of contestants and facilitated the opportunity for political debate. Although some procedural irregularities were observed, election day generally proceeded in an orderly fashion, the observers said.

The third edition of the OSCE Dialogue Academy for young women from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade concluded on 15 October 2017 in Stadtschlaining, Austria. The ten-day Academy was organized as part of the Follow Us Initiative, supported since 2012 by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Serbia, as part of their work to enhance women's participation in dialogue and conflict resolution and decision making processes.

GENEVA, Switzerland, 16 October 2017- The President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a summit today in Geneva, Switzerland. Foreign Ministers Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov also attended the meeting, which was organized under the auspices of 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). The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the summit.