News and press releases

TBILISI, 9 October 2016 – The 8 October parliamentary elections in Georgia were competitive, well-administered and fundamental freedoms were generally respected. The otherwise calm and open campaign atmosphere was, however, impacted by allegations of unlawful campaigning and some incidents of violence, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, including 363 explosions compared with the previous reporting period (848 explosions). In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including 29 explosions compared with nine during the previous reporting period, while 23 of the explosions were attributable to live-fire exercises outside the security zone. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; the SMM was restricted in its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM observed pullback of forces and hardware from the disengagement area both in Petrivske and Bohdanivka following the announcement by both Ukrainian and Russian Armed Forces representatives to the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) about the start of disengagement. The Mission monitored the withdrawal of weapons and saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM monitored the situation of internally displaced persons in Odessa...

At 17:45 on 7 October, an SMM patrol visited the Oktiabr mine (“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre) to inspect the SMM camera located at the site. While on the first floor of the mineshaft tower where the camera is installed, the SMM heard movement in the upper levels...

The SMM recorded a significantly higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of shooting in Marinka. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; the SMM was restricted in its freedom of movement in all three areas. The SMM monitored the situation of civilians living near the contact line and of civilians queuing at entry-exit checkpoints. The SMM visited border areas outside government control, as well as border areas in Chernihiv and Vinnytsia...

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro in co-operation with the Union of Municipalities supported the first constituent session of the co-ordination team for the management of the Municipal Project Managers Network on 5 October 2016 in Podgorica...

An OSCE-supported presentation on information and accounting system of Montenegro’s Berane municipality for 40 officials from the local secretariats of finance, chiefs of accounting in local governments and representatives of the Finance Ministry took place on 5 October 2016 in Podgorica...

BUCHAREST, 7 October 2016 – Representatives from Turkmenistan’s financial institutions and law-enforcement bodies concluded today in Bucharest a study visit, organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, focused on mechanisms to counter corruption and money laundering...