News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Young people in Albania say NO to corruption
Publishing date: 24 June 2016
The OSCE Presence in Albania held a ceremony to award winners of a national essay competition for high school and university students called Young People Say NO to Corruption on 22 June 2016...
OSCE Special Representative for Transdniestrian Settlement Process says now is the time to fulfil remaining provisions of Berlin Protocol
Publishing date: 24 June 2016
CHISINAU, 24 June 2016 – The Special Representative of the German OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Cord Meier-Klodt, concluded today his fourth visit to the region in 2016 to meet with political representatives in Chisinau and Tiraspol...
Migration and human trafficking in focus of joint visit of OSCE Special Representative, Parliamentary Assembly humanitarian Chair, to Italy’s Lampedusa
Publishing date: 24 June 2016
CATANIA, Italy, 24 June 2016 – The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Madina Jarbussynova, on Thursday concluded a joint visit to Lampedusa and Catania, Italy, with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly humanitarian Chair in order to assess conditions among migrants and refugees and evaluate risks for human trafficking...
OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission meet on electoral reform in Armenia
Publishing date: 24 June 2016
On 24 June 2016, the working group of the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR held discussions with some representatives of the opposition on the on-going electoral reform in Armenia. It subsequently held a working meeting with Arpine Hohvanissyan, Minister of Justice and Davit Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff of the Government. Both meetings included discussions on the recent mutual agreement reached in Yerevan between the government and the opposition on the "organisational and technical mechanisms for oversight over the lawfulness of the electoral process".
Spot Report by OSCE Observer Mission at Russian checkpoints of Gukovo and Donetsk: Fifty-second Russian convoy of 45 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned through Donetsk Border Crossing Point
Publishing date: 23 June 2016
On 23 June 2016 at 07:05hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 45 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the 45 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 14:58hrs on 23 June...
Ahead of 20th anniversary of killing of Veronica Guerin in Ireland, OSCE Representative reminds of investigative journalism’s importance for democracy
Publishing date: 23 June 2016
DUBLIN 23 June 2016 – Ahead of the 20th anniversary of the murder of Irish journalist Veronica Guerin, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today reminded of the importance investigative journalists play for our societies and the fight to end impunity...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 22 June 2016
Publishing date: 23 June 2016
The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared to the previous day. In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded over 140 explosions during the night of 21 June and 15 during the day. The SMM was caught in mortar shelling in Vodiane. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded one small-arms shot. The SMM continued to observe long queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line and spoke to people who had spent the night in their vehicles between the respective last checkpoints. The Mission monitored a peaceful protest in Odessa. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on three occasions, all in areas outside government control...*