News and press releases

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek, in co-operation with the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry, organized a four-day training course for 20 officers on model neighborhood inspector held from 26 to 29 April 2016 at the community policing training center in Osh city...

VIENNA, 3 May 2016 – On World Press Freedom Day, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović, stressed the importance of free and independent media for the development of democracy...

The SMM observed a low number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, and none in Luhansk region. It observed the re-opening of the crossing route at Stanytsia Luhanska, the continued closure of the one in Olenivka, and high numbers of people crossing elsewhere. The Mission attempted to monitor in border areas outside government control but was prevented from doing so. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It observed the presence of numerous weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It was restricted in its freedom of movement, including at one heavy weapons holding area and at a border crossing point, both in areas not controlled by the Government...

CHERKASY, Ukraine, 2 May 2016 – Two six-day training courses for Ukrainian border control officers aimed at increasing their operational awareness to recognize original, forged and false documents, and in using forensic equipment to identify document forgery, started today in Cherkasy...

VIENNA, 2 May 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović was today awarded the Concordia Press Club Prize 2015 in the category of press freedom and freedom of information...

The SMM recorded a lower number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous day. It conducted further crater analysis related to the shelling in Olenivka. The Mission observed presence of weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works. The SMM observed long queues at checkpoints near the contact line. It observed a protest in Odessa...

BERLIN, 29 April 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed the agreement reached today by the Trilateral Working Group (TCG) on full respect of the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, starting with the orthodox Easter and May holidays...