News and press releases

BERLIN / VIENNA, 19 December 2016- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Secretary General Lamberto Zannier strongly condemned the fatal attack on the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Ankara today.

The OSCE Presence in Albania, in close co-operation with the National Chamber of Advocacy and the National School of Advocates, completed on 19 December 2016 the Second Edition of the Moot Court Competition, with an event held in one of the High Court’s trial rooms. Eight four-member teams, made of young lawyers who are students of the National School of Advocacy, participated in the event...

An OSCE-supported anti-corruption course was introduced at the National School of Judges of Ukraine on 9 December 2016 as a new tool to increase judicial integrity and accountability...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions on both 17 and 18 December compared with 16 December. The SMM observed heavy fighting in the areas around Svitlodarsk and Debaltseve. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and observed impacts on both sides of the contact line in Popasna and Kalynove. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access was again restricted; it recorded ceasefire violations in or around Petrivske.* The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines. The Mission monitored one border crossing point currently not under government control...

BISHKEK, 19 December 2016 – The OSCE Centre in Bishkek jointly with the Kyrgyz State Customs Service (KSCS) today launched a two-week training course for some 110 KSCS officers on using technological tools for customs control. The course aims to raise their capacity on the effective operation of these tools at checkpoints and customs clearance points...

A graduation ceremony for 44 students of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek’s two Masters Programmes in Politics and Security and Economic Governance and Development was held in the Kyrgyz capital on 16 December 2016...

Strong and independent national human rights institutions (NHRIs) act as a cornerstone of national human rights protection systems and as a bridge between the government and civil society, and they play a vital role in times when human rights and fundamental freedoms are under threat, a statement issued on 19 December 2016 by five global and regional bodies engaged in the protection of human rights said.