News and press releases

VIENNA, 7 April, 2017 – Fostering a better understanding of threat perceptions is the focus of discussions among senior officials from capitals and ambassadors of the participating States to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna (Kahlenberg) today...

WARSAW, 7 April 2017 – Stronger efforts to include Roma and Sinti communities and a commitment to capitalize on the potential they offer for European societies is key to sustainable results in improving the situation of Roma and Sinti, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today in a statement ahead of tomorrow’s International Roma Day...

The third in a series of OSCE-supported five-day training courses on risk profiling at border checkpoints to assist in countering transnational threats concluded in Astana, Kazakhstan on 7 April 2017...

A two-week regional course for military officers from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on pre-deployment for peacekeeping operations concluded on 6 April 2017 in Almaty, Kazakhstan...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours, despite a recommitment to the ceasefire on 1 April. The Mission followed up on two reports of civilian casualties in Troitske and Verkhnotoretsk. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* It continued to observe weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and observed demining activity as well as the restoration of operations at the Donetsk Water Filtration Station. The Mission monitored a border area currently not under government control. The SMM noted no changes and a calm situation at the blockade sites near Hirske and Buhas. Shots were fired near an SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle on the outskirts of Luhansk city. The SMM followed up on a recent incident when a hand grenade was reportedly detonated in a café in Dnipro. In Balakliia, the SMM saw repair work underway and that a local school resumed operations following explosions at the ammunitions depot...

Strengthening the preparedness of NGO staff working in regions where they face a high risk of becoming a target of kidnapping for ransom is the focus of a three-day training course organized by the Transnational Threats Department of the OSCE Secretariat from 4 to 6 April 2017 in co-operation with the Spanish Guardia Civil’s Centre of Excellence for Special Training (CAE) in Logroño...

VIENNA, 6 April 2017 – The mandate of the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk was extended by three months to 31 July 2017 following a consensus decision today by participating States at the OSCE Permanent Council...