News and press releases

ASTANA, 29 February 2016 – Factors underlying violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism and the ways to effectively address this threat in Central Asia and beyond were the focus of an international roundtable discussion organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the Centre for Military Strategic Research under the Ministry of Defence, in Astana today...

The SMM continued to observe a lower number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk compared to earlier in the week. The situation in Luhansk was relatively quiet, with many ceasefire violations related to live-fire exercises. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and saw heavy weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines in areas not controlled by the Government in Donetsk region. It facilitated and monitored demining and repair works on both sides of the contact line and observed an exchange of detained persons. The SMM encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions, all in areas not under government control.* The Mission monitored two public gatherings in Kyiv and observed the spots where two statues had been toppled in Kharkiv region.

VIENNA, 26 February 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern about recent media freedom developments in Ukraine...

The SMM observed a reduced number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with previous days. In Luhansk, all ceasefire violations observed were assessed to be part of training. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It facilitated and monitored repairs to essential infrastructure on both sides of the contact line in Luhansk region. The SMM encountered freedom of movement restrictions, all in areas not under government control*. The SMM observed a protest outside a TV station in Kyiv. The SMM facilitated dialogue between Church representatives in Ivano-Frankivsk region...

Lessons learned and recommendations for further reforms in policy, legislation and practice developed over the course of a project to promote the security of religious communities in Ukraine were the focus of an event organized by the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Kyiv on 25 and 26 February 2016.

Tajikistan’s Government on 9 February 2016 approved a National Action Plan, drafted with the support of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre and the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004), on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their components and means of delivery. A corresponding resolution on the Plan’s further implementation by designated governmental structures was signed by the country the same day...

VIENNA, 26 February 2016 – The decision of the Constitutional Court to release journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül is a much needed step in the right direction in Turkey, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, said today...