News and press releases

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons decreased at both BCPs. A Russian convoy of 21 vehicles crossed to Ukraine and returned to the Russian Federation...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission followed up on reports of damage to civilian properties caused by shelling and gunfire in Yasne. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas. The SMM camera recorded one explosion inside the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including again in Verkhnoshyrokivske (twice).* The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs of infrastructure in Shchastia and Artema. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control...

Opportunities, challenges and perspectives in combating and preventing human trafficking in Kyrgyzstan were the focus of a roundtable discussion organized by the Kyrgyz State Migration Service and supported by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek on 28 July 2017. The event was held ahead of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons on 30 July...

Between the evenings of 28 and 29 July the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 29 and 30 July, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside and near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access there and elsewhere remained restricted, including for the third consecutive day in Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in the south-western area of Donetsk city, in Avdiivka and near Miusynsk. The SMM followed up and confirmed reports of civilian casualties in Marinka, Khrustalnyi and Staromykhailivka; in the latter it also observed damage to a house caused by gunfire. The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance. The Mission visited three border areas not under government control...

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro recognizes the important role of the Ombudsman institution, and remains committed to strengthening its co-operation, said the Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Maryse Daviet, in a meeting with the Ombudsman, Šućko Baković, on 28 July 2017 in Podgorica...

An OSCE-supported five-day regional training seminar for some 30 law enforcement officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan on investigating financial crimes and recovering stolen assets began on 31 July 2017 in Astana...

A three-day training seminar and a public discussion of the legal acts and mechanisms regulating the police’s work in combating domestic violence concluded on 30 July 2017 in Kazakhstan’s Pavlodar Region...