News and press releases

CHISINAU, 25 February 2019 – Moldova’s 24 February parliamentary elections were competitive and fundamental rights were generally respected, but the campaign took place against the backdrop of disaffection with public institutions and was tainted by allegations of pressure on public employees, strong indications of vote buying and the misuse of state resources, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today...

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana supported a training seminar on conducting and monitoring public hearings as a tool for public participation in environmental decision making on 23 February 2019 in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan...

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. The Mission saw fresh damage caused by shelling in a residential area of non-government-controlled Holmivskyi. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside and near the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission saw multiple launch rocket systems in violation of the withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region. Its long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted four military jet aircrafts flying over government-controlled Lastochkyne, near the contact line. The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure in Luhansk region and demining activities in Donetsk region. Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas as well as at a checkpoint near non-government-controlled Styla.

Free and independent media are a cornerstone of every democratic society, said Head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro Maryse Daviet, opening a roundtable discussion on the country’s draft law on media on 22 February 2019 in Podgorica...

VIENNA, 22 February 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed serious concern over the sentence handed down to the editor of the Bastainfo.com online platform, Mustafa Hajibeyli, in Baku, Azerbaijan...

VIENNA, 22 February 2019 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 18th Winter Meeting concluded today in Vienna with lively debates on migration, counter-terrorism, gender issues, and combating corruption. With nearly 300 OSCE parliamentarians in attendance, Chairs of OSCE PA ad hoc committees, Special Representatives, and leaders of recent election observation missions presented reports at today’s closing plenary session...

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. Houses sustained damage caused by gunfire in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area and near the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM saw weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region. The Mission monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to essential civilian infrastructure in Luhansk region and demining activities in Donetsk region. Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas...