News and press releases

A civil society expert workshop and discussions amongst OSCE delegations on the topic of Dialogue in Search of Social Cohesion, organized by the 2016 Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE Mediterranean Contact Group and hosted by Spain, concluded on 24 May 2016 in Madrid...

The SMM observed a similar level of violence in Donetsk region both on 21 and 22 May as compared to 20 May and observed an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region on 21 May and fewer on 22 May- compared to 20 May. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis in government-controlled Avdiivka. Some 600 people gathered in front of the residence of SMM monitors in Donetsk city. It also monitored events on the occasion of the “Day of Heroes” in Lviv and a protest in Chernivtsi. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on eight occasions, exclusively in areas not controlled by the Government...

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 23 May 2016 – The first in a series of OSCE-supported training seminars on profiling techniques at the border checkpoints to help counter transnational crime began today in Almaty.

ISSYK-KUL, Kyrgyzstan, 23 May 2016 – Some 30 competitively-selected Kyrgyz journalists from Batken, Bishkek, Jalal-Abad and Osh, cities completed a four–day training course in Issyk-Kul region on Sunday on media reporting on violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT)...

BELGRADE, 22 May 2016 – The European Union Delegation to Serbia and The OSCE Mission to Serbia have taken note of the wide-ranging personnel changes at Radio Television Vojvodina (RTV) undertaken by the newly appointed managing board...

The SMM observed a slightly higher level of violence in Donbas compared to the previous day. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission monitored the situation affecting civilians living near the contact line. It also monitored a demonstration in Kyiv. The operation of the Mission’s ceasefire monitoring equipment was stopped by armed “DPR” members in Donetsk city and its activities were restricted on five other occasions, mainly in areas not controlled by the Government...

VIENNA, 21 May 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today criticized the recent mass detentions of members of the media in Kazakhstan...