News and press releases

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 compared to the previous week.

MOSCOW / PARIS / WASHINGTON, D.C., 31 March 2020- The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) have taken note of the so-called “general elections” in Nagorno-Karabakh, the first round of which took place on 31 March.

TIRANA / BRUSSELS / GENEVA, 31 March 2020- As we mark the date when the 51st round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) was supposed to take place (31 March- 1 April 2020), we, the Co-Chairs of the GID (UN Representative Cihan Sultanoglu, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Rudolf Michalka and EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar), remain fully engaged to help address the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic.

On 28, 29 and 30 March, members of the armed formations again denied attempts of the SMM to travel towards non-government-controlled areas – seven times in Donetsk region, and three times in Luhansk region, along official crossing routes...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 27 and 28 March, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. Between the evenings of 28 and 29 March, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer

THE HAGUE, 30 March 2020 – The deadline for receiving nominations for the Max van der Stoel Award 2020 has been extended to 30 April 2020. The award of 50,000 euros recognizes extraordinary and outstanding achievements in improving the position of national minorities in the OSCE participating States...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. The SMM saw that the entry-exit checkpoints near