News and press releases

The first Olympiad on multilingualism in Central Asia that specifically focused on the mother tongues of the region, State and official languages, as well as foreign languages was held in Karaganda, Kazakhstan from 4 to 6 May 2017. Organized by Karaganda State University, in co-operation with the

KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, RUSSIAN FEDERATION. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs).

VIENNA, 10 May 2017- Consolidating international efforts is the only way to tackle current security threats at the global level, representatives of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) told the Forum for Security Co-operation in today’s session held under Russia’s Chairmanship. This is the first time that the SCO leadership addressed the OSCE within FSC’s Security Dialogue...

TASHKENT, 10 May 2017 – OSCE PA President Christine Muttonen concludes today a three-day visit to Uzbekistan, during which she has discussed the country’s ongoing reforms and potential areas for co-operation with the OSCE and the Parliamentary Assembly...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region but more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24-hour period – including the use of a multiple launch rocket system. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* An armed man discharged his weapon 50m from an SMM patrol in Sosnivske. The SMM monitored a border area currently not under government control. In Kharkiv, Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk and Odessa, the Mission observed gatherings marking “Reconciliation and Commemoration Day”...

TIRANA, 9 May 2017 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 18 June parliamentary elections in Albania. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the Albanian Government...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. In Donetsk region the Mission recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations on 6 and on 7 May compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region it recorded more ceasefire violations on 6 May compared with the previous reporting period but fewer on 7 May. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere. The SMM assessed impact sites and damage to residential areas caused by shelling. It observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines, as well as mines and unexploded ordnance, predominantly in non-government-controlled areas. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable the transfer of bodies to government-controlled areas via the Shchastia bridge, as well as repairs to the Donetsk Water Filtration Station. The Mission monitored two border areas currently not under government control...