News and press releases

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. Small-arms fire was assessed as aimed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle flying over areas near non-government-controlled Almazna, Luhansk region.*

VIENNA, 14 May 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today following the brief detention of a journalist who was covering protests in the city of Nikšić, in Montenegro...

WARSAW, 13 May 2020 – Following the decision of Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court today to uphold the life sentence of human rights defender Azimjan Askarov, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expressed her deep disappointment...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. The Mission followed up on reports of two men injured by shelling in non-government-controlled Sakhanka, Donetsk region. The SMM observed shrapnel and

ODIHR recommendations on Uzbekistan 2019 elections ODIHR election observation mission recommends Uzbekistan to demonstrate genuine competition and full respect of election day procedures The 2019 parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan took place under improved legislation and with greater tolerance

From the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in Albania, the OSCE Presence has adapted its work to better respond to the needs of Albanian institutions, civil society and vulnerable groups. In close consultation with its key interlocutors, the Presence focused on emergency assistance, and immediate needs of host authorities. The Presence will continue to reshape its mid- to long-term support in line with its mandate and new requirements due to the pandemic...

VIENNA, 12 May 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concerns and denounced today the detention and imprisonment of journalists and freelance reporters for ‘participating in unauthorized events’ in Belarus. He calls for their immediate release...