News and press releases

COPENHAGEN, 1 February 2017 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights and humanitarian committee Chair Ignacio Sanchez Amor today expressed concerns about United States President Donald Trump’s executive order to halt the entry of refugees and the citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries into the United States, noting that this represents a major step backward in the international community’s efforts to develop a cohesive response to the refugee and migrant crisis...

The SMM recorded a higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk between the evenings of 29 and 30 January, with intense fighting in the areas of Avdiivka and Yasynuvata, compared with the previous 24 hours. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission followed up on civilian casualties and observed impact sites and damage to civilian houses from shelling in several locations. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* Video footage from the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska revealed ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area on 27 and 28 January. The Mission continued to monitor weapons withdrawal and observed weapons in violation of their respective withdrawal lines. It visited one border area currently outside of government control. The Mission monitored an ongoing blockade of a railway track near Hirske...

WARSAW, 31 January 2017 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today joined Canadian and international leaders in condemning Sunday’s attack on a Quebec City mosque and offering condolences to the families of the victims. In his statement, he supported the calls by those leaders to ensure inclusion and security for members of all communities...

KYIV, 31 January 2017- Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Ertugrul Apakan, today called for the immediate cessation of fighting in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area in eastern Ukraine...

VIENNA, 31 January 2017- With regard to the latest developments in eastern Ukraine, a spokesperson of the OSCE Chairmanship declared today:

ASTANA, 31 January 2017 – Factors leading to violent extremism, radicalization and terrorism and ways to effectively address the threat in different countries were the focus of a two-day international roundtable discussion organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the Centre for Military Strategic Research under the Ministry of Defence and the Prosecutor General’s Office, which began today in Astana...

While the legal framework in Lithuania provides a sound basis for the conduct of democratic elections, gaps and ambiguities in legislation should be addressed in an inclusive manner well in advance of the next elections, says the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 6 October 2016 parliamentary elections in the Baltic state.