News and press releases

PARIS, 15 May 2018 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America), together with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, met with Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov on 15 May.

Good practices for maintaining the functional independence of prosecutors investigating high-profile cases were the focus of a study visit to Oslo by a group of prosecutors from Eastern European countries. The two-day visit organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro, jointly with the Norwegian Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector (CIDS) and the representatives of the Internal Affairs Ministry/Police Directorate, held a workshop to discuss the first draft of the 2019-2024 Police Human Resources Management Strategy on 9 and 10 May 2018 in Kolasin...

VIENNA, 15 May 2018- Following the introduction of an amendment to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which penalizes “facilitation” of foreign sanctions toward public or private persons of the Russian Federation, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir, today pointed to the threats it poses for media freedom and freedom of expression in the country...

SARAJEVO, 15 May 2018 – A two-day training course for 20 police officers from Canton Sarajevo, titled Preventing Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Leads to Terrorism: A Community Policing Approach, concluded today in Sarajevo...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 11 and 12 May compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 12 and 13 May, it recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty and damage to properties from gunfire in Dokuchaievsk and a residential area in Sakhanka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement areas and its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including again in Kozatske and at a location near the border with the Russian Federation.* It continued to facilitate access to the Donetsk Filtration Station for Voda Donbassa employees and heard ceasefire violations in the area, despite security guarantees being provided. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to power lines near Yuzhna-Lomuvatka. In Lviv, the SMM followed up on reports of an attack against members of the Roma community....

VIENNA, 14 May 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today raised concern over the assault against Khristo Geshov, a TV journalist from Cherven Bryag, in a letter to the Bulgarian authorities...