News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations – including, however, more explosions – compared with the previous reporting period. It followed up on a report of a civilian casualty in Dmytrivka. The SMM observed damage to houses due to shelling in Uzhivka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas and, while there, observed calm situations at each one; its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Novolaspa and Siedove near the border with the Russian Federation. The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Novoaidar and Lysychansk. The Mission visited four border areas not under government control. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a gathering in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building and continued to monitor the gathering in front of the national Parliament building...

A team of election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) visited Tirana from 30 October to 2 November to present the  final report by the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission for the 25 June 2017 parliamentary elections in Albania. The report’s

VIENNA, 2 November 2017 – Representatives of Ukrainian and Russian journalists’ unions today, on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, called upon their governments to promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists and vigorously counter impunity of crimes against the media...

Best practices and internationally available tools to prevent and counter trafficking in cultural property and antiquities was the focus of a three-day international seminar designed to build the capacity of some 60 participants from different national services, which concluded on 2 November 2017 in Larnaca, Cyprus.

The Border Security and Management Unit (BSMU) of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, in close co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, organized a workshop from 31 October to 2 November 2017 on how to establish an Advance Passenger Information (API) system in Albania, aimed to prevent the movement of foreign terrorist fighters and combat terrorism and transnational crime.

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier is visiting Moldova from 30 October to 3 November 2017 to continue the institution’s long-standing engagement with the country on issues related to ethnic diversity and identity...

VIENNA, 2 November 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the decision by Azerbaijan’s authorities to drop criminal charges against prominent Azerbaijani journalist and media expert Mehman Aliyev and the news agency Turan...