News and press releases

WARSAW, 31 January 2017 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today joined Canadian and international leaders in condemning Sunday’s attack on a Quebec City mosque and offering condolences to the families of the victims. In his statement, he supported the calls by those leaders to ensure inclusion and security for members of all communities...

KYIV, 31 January 2017- Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Ertugrul Apakan, today called for the immediate cessation of fighting in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area in eastern Ukraine...

VIENNA, 31 January 2017- With regard to the latest developments in eastern Ukraine, a spokesperson of the OSCE Chairmanship declared today:

ASTANA, 31 January 2017 – Factors leading to violent extremism, radicalization and terrorism and ways to effectively address the threat in different countries were the focus of a two-day international roundtable discussion organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the Centre for Military Strategic Research under the Ministry of Defence and the Prosecutor General’s Office, which began today in Astana...

While the legal framework in Lithuania provides a sound basis for the conduct of democratic elections, gaps and ambiguities in legislation should be addressed in an inclusive manner well in advance of the next elections, says the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 6 October 2016 parliamentary elections in the Baltic state.

In Donetsk and Luhansk regions the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations between the evenings of 27 and 28 January compared with the previous reporting period, and more between the evenings of 28 to 29 January, including an escalation of violence in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. The SMM followed up on reports of damage in several residential areas due to shelling. The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* There were ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area on 27 and 28 January. In violation of withdrawal lines the Mission observed tanks and howitzers near Avdiivka and a surface-to-air missile system near Hannivka. It visited two border areas currently outside of government control...

COPENHAGEN, 30 January 2017 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) today issued a statement following the apparent terrorist attack on a mosque in Quebec, Canada...