News and press releases

VIENNA, 20 July 2016 – Presenting the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s work concerning the refugee and migrant crisis at a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today, Swiss parliamentarian Filippo Lombardi laid out the Assembly’s plan of action going forward, which includes monitoring the situation on the ground and developing policy recommendations for the OSCE and its participating States...

The SMM noted an increase in ceasefire violations recorded in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, including more than 600 explosions, of which approximately 400 were recorded by the SMM camera in Shyrokyne. In Luhansk region, the SMM noted an increase in ceasefire violations recorded, including more than 150 explosions, primarily near government-controlled Lobacheve and Stanytsia Luhanska. In government-controlled areas, and in violation of the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed four loaded MLRS near Kalynove, four MLRS and one towed howitzer in Makedonivka, and two self-propelled howitzers near Tarasivka. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis on both sides of the contact line in Avdiivka and Sakhanka. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure in government-controlled Shchastia and non-government-controlled Slovianoserbsk and Zolote 5. Its freedom of movement was restricted on seven occasions, five of which were in areas outside government control, near the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge...

VIENNA, 20 July 2016 – Possible roles for the OSCE in the context of the migration and refugee flows across the OSCE area were discussed today at a special meeting of the Permanent Council in Vienna...

COPENHAGEN, 20 July 2016 – Ignacio Sanchez Amor, the Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, today condemned the killing of journalist Pavel Sheremet, which took place earlier today in Kyiv, Ukraine...

KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic decreased at both BCPs.

VIENNA, 20 July 2016 – OSCE media freedom representative Dunja Mijatović today condemned the murder of journalist Pavel Sheremet in Kyiv, Ukraine...

The need for a risk management system for Tajikistan’s Customs Service and simpler procedures for transparency and accountability are key recommendations of an integrity assessment of the Customs Code, presented to international donors, private and international companies and NGOs by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan on 18 July 2016...