News and press releases

SKOPJE, 1 November 2016 – A two-day conference on education rights in diverse societies began today in Skopje bringing together some 100 representatives from state institutions, civil society, academia, international community and all communities in the country...

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with 30 October, although it recorded over 40 explosions assessed as artillery rounds in Horlivka. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations (57 explosions assessed as artillery rounds) compared with 30 October. It continued to follow up on reports of civilian casualties in Makiivka. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and was restricted in its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM monitored a number of heavy weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. It monitored five border areas currently not under government control. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure...

On the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, on 31 October 2016 in Kyiv, highlighted the importance of the engagement of women in bringing stabilization and normalization to Ukraine...

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations on 29 October compared with the day before, followed by a decrease on 30 October. In Luhansk region, the SMM also recorded more ceasefire violations on 29 October compared with the day before, and a decrease on 30 October. It followed up on reports of civilian casualties and shelling in Makiivka. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and was restricted in its freedom of movement in all three areas.* Repairs to essential infrastructure in areas east of Mariupol, enabled by SMM facilitation and monitoring of adherence to the ceasefire, were interrupted by firing in the area. The SMM observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines. The SMM observed a march in Lviv...

VIENNA, 31 October 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned the arrest of the editor-in-chief of the Turkish daily newspaper Cumhuriyet, Murat Sabuncu, and three of its columnists, Güray Öz, Aydın Engin and Kadri Gürsel, the latter is also a member of the board of the International Press Institute...

Ways to ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in public life and political affairs were discussed at a conference co-organized in Helsinki on 31 October 2016 by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Finland’s Ministry for Foreign

CHISINAU, 31 October 2016 – The first round of Moldova’s first direct presidential election in 20 years provided ample opportunity for voters to express their preference for a new head of state. Fundamental freedoms were respected. The campaign was competitive, though marred by widespread abuse of state resources, biased media coverage and a lack of transparency in campaign finance, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today. The election administration worked in a professional and transparent manner, and voting and counting were largely assessed positively by the observers...