News and press releases

Some 60 high-level officials, including parliamentarians, governmental officials and members of international and non-governmental organizations attended the first-ever high-level conference organized by Moldova’s Ministry of Defence on small arms, light weapons and conventional ammunition safety and stockpiles management. The conference on 16 February 2017 was held with the support of the OSCE Mission...

SOFIA, 22 February 2017 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally open a limited election observation mission (LEOM) for the 26 March 2017 early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria...

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek, with €20,000 donated from the proceeds of the OSCE Charity Ball 2017, launched a project on 15 February 2017 to provide lasting psycho-social relief and assistance to victims of January’s Dacha-Suu plane crash on the outskirts of the Kyrgyz capital. The project is being implemented jointly with the Kyrgyzstan-based Child Rights Defenders League and the National Red Crescent Society of the Kyrgyz Republic...

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 increased at both BCPs...

On 21 February 2017 at 07:20 hrs (Moscow time), the fifty eighth Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of ten vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the 10 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 15:38 hrs on 21 February.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24-hour period. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, but more explosions compared with the previous 24-hour period. The SMM, in co-ordination with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), facilitated and monitored repair of power supply to the Donetsk Water Filtration station and Avdiivka. The Mission observed restoration of electricity in Avdiivka. In areas not under government control the SMM observed a number of weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines in Luhansk region. The Mission continued to observe the blockade of railway tracks near Hirske. In various cities the SMM observed generally peaceful demonstrations commemorating the events on Maidan in Kyiv three years ago. In Kharkiv, the SMM followed up on media reports of an alleged shooting incident on the night of 17 February...

YEREVAN, 21 February 2017 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 2 April parliamentary elections in Armenia. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the Armenian authorities...