News and press releases

A team of experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) visited Skopje from 9 to 10 May 2018 to provide assistance to a working group mandated to review the Electoral Code. The working group was established by the Ministry of Justice of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and held its first session on 10 May.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed a fresh impact site on the eastern edge of Popasna. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Voznesenivka in Luhansk region, at the border with the Russian Federation*.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in co-operation with the Department for Human Resources of the Parliament of Montenegro, facilitated the final session of a train-the-trainers workshop for 11 parliamentary staff on 8-9 May 2018. The training seminar focused on principles of managing change, developing vision statements and project goals, adult learning principles and modern tools to support change in the working environment.

The OSCE Presence in Albania, in co-operation with the Municipality of Tirana and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), launched a call for applications for “Youth Trail 2018: Promoting OSCE Values among Youth” on 8 May 2018. The 2018 Youth Trail will be held from 20 to 24 June 2018 in Tirana.

VIENNA, 9 May 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir and Head of Mission of OSCE to Montenegro Maryse Daviet today strongly condemned the attack against journalist Olivera Lakić in Montenegro. Lakić, an investigative journalist with Vijesti newspaper was shot in the leg last night in front of her home, in an attack by three individuals. She was immediately hospitalized and, according to media reports, is currently in stable condition.

LISBON, 8 May 2018 – Governments, parliaments and international organizations should address the growing challenges associated with information and communications technology (ICT) by enhancing co-operation and implementing policies to bridge gaps in current legal frameworks, participants said today at a conference in Lisbon organized by the Portuguese Parliament and co-hosted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Ensuring that freedom of information and individual privacy are not infringed upon while countering cyber threats is equally important, they said...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area and its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including at a border area near Izvaryne (near the border with the Russian Federation)*. The SMM continued to facilitate access to the Donetsk Filtration Station for Voda Donbassa employees and heard ceasefire violations in the area, despite security guarantees. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to high-voltage power lines near Yuzhna-Lomuvatka, Almazna and Veselohorivka, and to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema.