News and press releases

BAKU, 10 February 2020 – The restrictive legislation and political environment prevented genuine competition in Azerbaijan’s early parliamentary elections, international observers said in a preliminary statement published today. Although some prospective candidates were denied the right to stand, candidate registration was otherwise inclusive. Despite the large number of candidates, voters were not provided with a meaningful choice, due to a lack of real political discussion, the statement says.

Darko Brajović, National Programme Officer in the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, met on 6 February 2020 with Executive Director of the Association of Youth with Disabilities Marina Vujačić. They discussed ways to ensure that persons with disabilities can participate in electoral processes in Montenegro.

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. The Mission monitored adherence to

KYIV, 7 February 2020 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, concluded today his official visit to Kyiv, where he held discussions with the authorities, the media community and international organizations, focusing particularly on two new draft laws, on Media and on Countering Disinformation respectively.

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded a similar number of  ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. It followed up on reports of an injury to a man in non-government-controlled Holubivske due to shelling. An SMM patrol heard small-arms fire

VIENNA, 7 February 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, strongly condemned today the attack on Novaya Gazeta’s investigative journalist Elena Milashina and lawyer Marina Dubrovina in Grozny, the capital of the Chechen republic of the Russian Federation.

VIENNA, 7 February 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today over the absence of the independent media outlet N1 among channels offered by cable operators affiliated with the Telekom Serbia network. Telekom Serbia is a joint stock company predominantly owned by the state.

Albanian high-level officials, civil society activists and representatives of embassies gathered on 7 February in Tirana to discuss achievements in the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Albania and the way ahead. The OSCE Presence in Albania together with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare organized the event.

VIENNA, 7 February 2020 – Despite the positive impact of recent disengagement in the three agreed areas and the reconstruction of the bridge near Stanytsia Luhanska, a comprehensive ceasefire remains an essential element for progress, said the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Yaşar Halit Çevik, in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council yesterday in Vienna.

A delegation from Azerbaijan’s Government travelled to Dublin on 5 and 6 February 2020 to learn about co-operation between the public and private sectors in fighting cybercrime. The officials visited the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ireland’s police force, the Garda Síochána, the regional headquarters of Microsoft, eBay, PayPal and Google, as well as University College Dublin.

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. The Mission monitored adherence to a

VIENNA, 6 February 2020 – Following yesterday’s search of the editorial office of 1+1 TV channel, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, called on the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that media activities are not obstructed and confidentiality of sources is respected.

WASHINGTON D.C., 6 February 2020 – OSCE PA President George Tsereteli testified yesterday in front of the United States Helsinki Commission at a hearing on “The Power and Purpose of Parliamentary Diplomacy”.

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It saw six weapons both in

SKOPJE, 5 February 2020 – At a press conference today in Skopje, the OSCE Mission to Skopje, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Council of Media Ethics, called for awareness to prevent hate speech in the media, especially during the pre-election period...

TIRANA, 4 February 2020 – At a high-level OSCE Chairmanship conference today, participants called for a co-ordinated effort, incorporating the experiences of targeted communities, to curb the tide of anti-Semitism in the OSCE region. This year’s annual event, organized by Albania’s 2020 OSCE Chair, brought together OSCE officials, representatives of participating States, Partners for Co-operation, international organizations and civil society to assess current challenges and share good practices in responding to anti-Semitism.

Summary Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Small-arms fire was assessed as aimed at SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles near government-controlled Yurivka and the non-government-controlled Kuibyshevskyi district of

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...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 31 January and 1 February, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Between the evenings of 1 and 2 February, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and

VIENNA, 3 February 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, said today that he is relieved that Mykola Semena’s suspended sentence came to an end.

BAKU, 31 January 2020 – During a visit to Azerbaijan ahead of next week’s parliamentary elections, OSCE PA President George Tsereteli reiterated the importance of international election observation missions in assessing and improving electoral processes in the OSCE region.

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. Civilian buildings were damaged by shelling in non-government-controlled Berezivske, in Luhansk region. Small-arms fire was assessed as aimed at an SMM

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. The SMM monitored adherence to

VIENNA / BELGRADE, 31 January 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Andrea Orizio, welcomed yesterday’s adoption of the new Strategy for the Development of the Public Information System in Serbia...

WARSAW, 31 January 2020 – Following amendments to legislation on ‘foreign agents’ that places further restrictions on human rights organizations in the Russian Federation, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said...

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier focused on issues related to language and education during a visit to Moldova from 28 to 31 January 2020. In Chisinau, Zannier met members of the parliament, where he discussed the law regulating the functioning of languages in Moldova.

The results of a project on preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) in prisons and probation services were presented by the OSCE Presence in Albania on 31 January 2020 in Tirana...

BERLIN, 31 January 2020 – The second high-level meeting of the Franco-German initiative for the comprehensive control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans, supported by the OSCE, was held today in Berlin. The meeting focused on progress evaluation and provided an occasion for Western Balkans representatives and their international partners to present the results reached thus far, as well as their proposals for further activities under the 2024 Roadmap...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. A man was injured by an explosive device in Marinka in Donetsk region. The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas

GENEVA, Switzerland, 30 January 2020 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) met separately and jointly with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Geneva on 28-30 January. They were joined in their meetings by the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk.

VIENNA, 29 January 2020- The 20th Anniversary of the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Summit was marked at today’s meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) in Vienna, held under Turkey’s FSC Chairmanship. Speakers described the Summit as a “bridge-builder to the 21st century”, which could inspire OSCE participating States to step up a co-operative and constructive approach to addressing security challenges by reminding them of past common efforts to ensure peace, stability and security...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations

MINSK, 29 January 2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its working groups in Minsk on 29 January 2020...

Judge Joanna Korner CMG QC concluded today her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina devoted to assessing the implementation of the recommendations provided in her earlier, 2016, OSCE-supported Report on war crimes processing at the state level in BiH...

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 compared to the previous week.

Summary Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission saw fresh shrapnel damage to a civilian property in Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district. Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 24 and 25 January, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Between the evenings of 25 and 26 January, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in

WARSAW, 27 January 2020 – As we mark 75 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, the OSCE calls for greater efforts to counter anti-Semitic prejudice and build tolerant societies free from hatred.

VIENNA, 25 January 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today strongly denounced the verbal attacks and intimidation against a journalist of Slobodna Dalmacija, Andrea Topić, in Croatia...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle flying over areas near non-government-controlled Krasnyi Yar, in Luhansk region.* The

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. A member of the armed formations

Experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final reports and recommendations of the observation missions to the 2019 presidential and early parliamentary elections in Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv from 21 to 24 January 2020.

CHISINAU, 23 January 2020 – The new Special Representative of Albania’s OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting, today concluded his first visit to Moldova in his new capacity.

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. A man was injured by an explosive device in non-government-controlled Pankivka. The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at

VIENNA, 23 January 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed today his concerns about several provisions in Ukraine’s new draft law on disinformation...

The Digital Platform for Public Participation, an online platform connecting residents and local institutions, was launched in Prizren on 22 January 2020 by Mayor Mytaher Haskuka and the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. The SMM saw mines near

On the occasion of the Day of Journalists, 23 January, the Head of the OSCE to Montenegro, Maryse Daviet, congratulats journalists in the country...

KYIV / STANYTSIA LUHANSKA, 21 January 2019- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, today concluded a two-day visit to Ukraine. Rama called for strengthened efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis in and around Ukraine, which he cited as the most pressing challenge to the security and stability in Europe today...

Summary Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. A man was injured by an explosive device in non-government-controlled Zhovte. The Mission continued monitoring the security