News and press releases

The final report on the 8 June early general election in the United Kingdom, published on 28 August 2017 by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), contains several recommendations to improve campaign finance regulations and further strengthen the legal framework for

On 25 August 2017, the OSCE Mission to Moldova supported a retreat for 28 representatives of NGOs from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River in the village of Merenesti. The event provided a platform for practical discussions on running an NGO. Participants were selected based on their motivation to foster co-operation between NGOs from the either side of the river...

Forty-six teachers from vocational schools throughout Moldova completed a Train the Trainer programme and learned new techniques for achieving gender equality and improving their skills in the promotion of women’s rights in the field of education. The training course, organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, took place from 22 to 25 August 2017 in Chisinau...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours, following the recommitment to the ceasefire. In government-controlled Arkhanhelske, the Mission heard small-arms fire assessed as targeting its unmanned aerial vehicle.* The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas; its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in government-controlled Trokhizbenka and at a weapons permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.* The Mission observed self-propelled howitzers in government-controlled Oleksandropil in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM observed, for the first time, the presence of 25 anti-tank mines about 600m north-west of the entry-exit checkpoint near Marinka. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance to the power plant in Shchastia. The SMM visited one border area not under government control in Luhansk region. The Mission followed up on reports of explosions in Kyiv. It also monitored a gathering in Odessa...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 22 and 23 August compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 23 and 24 August, it recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, but fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Berezove and Raihorodka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations in the Zolote area. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including in Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The SMM observed damage to civilian properties and infrastructure in Sakhanka, Pervomaisk, Malynove and Orikhove-Donetske. The Mission visited three border areas not under government control. It observed public celebrations in several locations and followed up on reports of an explosion in Kyiv...

VIENNA, 25 August 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today called for the immediate release of prominent Azerbaijani journalist and media expert Mehman Aliyev...

VIENNA, 25 August 2017- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the Danish authorities’ swift and thorough investigation of the killing of the Swedish freelance journalist Kim Wall, whose body was identified earlier this week...