News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE parliamentarians to observe Russian parliamentary elections
Publishing date: 13 September 2016
COPENHAGEN, 13 September 2016 – Former President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Ilkka Kanerva will lead the OSCE’s short-term observer mission to the 18 September vote in the Russian Federation. Kanerva, a member of parliament from Finland, was appointed Special Co-ordinator to lead the mission by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in July...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 11 September 2016
Publishing date: 12 September 2016
The SMM recorded a sharp increase of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region on both 10 and 11 September, including 515 and 116 explosions respectively, compared with 36 explosions recorded in the previous period...
Belarus elections efficiently organized, long-standing systemic shortcomings remain, international observers say
Publishing date: 12 September 2016
MINSK, 12 September 2016 – The 11 September parliamentary elections were efficiently organized and there were visible efforts to address some long-standing issues, but a number of systemic shortcomings remain, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today. The legal framework restricts political rights and fundamental freedoms and was interpreted in an overly restrictive manner. Media coverage did not enable voters to make an informed choice and, despite an overall increase in the number of candidates, including a significant number from the opposition, the campaign lacked visibility, the statement says...
OSCE trains Kazakhstan’s border service in profiling techniques
Publishing date: 12 September 2016
The fourth in a series of five OSCE-supported training seminars on profiling techniques at border checkpoints to help counter transnational crime started on 12 September in Karasu, Southern Kazakhstan...
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Special Representative Sajdik calls for sustainable ceasefire in Ukraine during Russian Federation visit
Publishing date: 12 September 2016
BERLIN, 12 September 2016- The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, had meetings in Moscow, from 8 to 10 September, with the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, the Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladislav Surkov, as well as with the representatives of the Russian Federation in the TCG, Boris Gryzlov and Azamat Kulmukhametov...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 9 September 2016
Publishing date: 10 September 2016
The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period...
Dialogue, trust and security in Central Asia in focus at OSCE-supported Central Asian Youth Network
Publishing date: 10 September 2016
ISSYK-KUL, Kyrgyzstan, 10 September 2016 – The second two-day seminar of the OSCE-supported Central Asian Youth Network (CAYN) began today in Kara-Oi village, Issyk-Kul region, for around 40 university students, new members of the CAYN and alumni from Afghanistan, Central Asia and Mongolia...