News and press releases

CHISINAU / BOLZANO, Italy, 26 September 2018- Best practices for developing and implementing bilingual and multilingual education programmes and curricula were the focus of a three-day study visit by a group of representatives from Moldova’s state and civil society institutions to the Autonomous Province of Alto Adige/South Tyrol in northern Italy, which concluded today. The visit was organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova and the Office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Embassy in Moldova...

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 slightly increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week...

This report is for the media and the general public. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM corroborated reports of civilian casualties and observed impact sites in Sakhanka. The SMM saw military

VIENNA, 25 September 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed his concern about the termination of the analogue distribution of public service broadcaster UA:PBC in Ukraine and repeated his call to the authorities to urgently resolve difficulties with funding the broadcaster’s activities...

VIENNA, 25 September 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today criticized the Austrian Interior Ministry’s instruction to boycott and restrict the flow of information to certain media outlets, and called on the Ministry of Interior to refrain from attacking the media...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 21 and 22 September. Between the evenings of 22 and 23 September, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on a civilian casualty in Popasna. The SMM observed damage as a result of shelling in residential areas in Yasynuvata, Pikuzy and Uzhivka. The SMM continued to observe civilians facing hardships crossing the contact line. The SMM saw military-type presence inside the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas; it was also restricted again near Zaichenko and Bezimenne, as well as near Novolaspa and Voznesenivka, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of agreed withdrawal lines in Sakhanka. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs and maintenance works to water infrastructure in Avdiivka, Yasynuvata and Stanytsia Luhanska, and to power lines in Zolote, as well as demining in Pishchane. The SMM observed a protest in Odessa and followed up on reports of an activist being shot later the same day...

ASTANA, 24 September 2018 – An OSCE-organized week-long simulation exercise on how to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking kicks off today at the Regional Hub for Countering Global Threats in Astana. More than 50 professionals from law enforcement, labour inspectorates, financial investigative units, prosecutorial offices, NGOs and social services from 14 OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation are participating in the live-action training...

VIENNA, 24 September 2018- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today denounced the arrest of three journalists from the Greek daily newspaper Fileleftheros on defamation charges and welcomed that the prosecutor decided not to immediately press charges, a move that led to their release. He called on authorities to decriminalize defamation...

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), in co-ordination with the BiH Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Co-ordination of the Fight against Corruption, organized a one-day workshop for the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) Anti-corruption Team and anti-corruption focal points within the ministries of the Herzegovina-Neretva cantonal government on 20 September 2018 in Mostar.

The OSCE-supported ninth annual Central Asian Leadership Programme (CALP) on Environment for Sustainable Development involving young leaders from the Central Asia and Afghanistan concluded on 23 September 2018 in Almaty, Kazakhstan...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM saw military presence inside the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas; it was also restricted near Betmanove and, again, near Verkhnoshyrokivske. The SMM observed weapons in violations of agreed withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs and maintenance works to water infrastructure in Stanytsia Luhanska, Avdiivka and near Artema...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM saw military presence inside the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as again near Verkhnoshyrokivske. Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of a multiple launch rocket system in violation of withdrawal lines near Buhaivka. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs and maintenance works to critical water infrastructure in Stanytsia Luhanska and Slovianoserbsk and to the Krasnohorivka gas distribution station between Marinka and Oleksandrivka, as well as demining in Pishchane. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a gathering regarding the status of non-Ukrainian ATO veterans...

The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on Turkey’s 24 June early presidential and parliamentary elections, published on 21 September 2018, recommends a review of legislation to bring it in line with international obligations and standards for

BELGRADE, 21 September 2018 – Beginning his second visit to the region since his appointment in July, the OSCE PA’s Special Representative on South East Europe, Mark Pritchard (United Kingdom), has met in Belgrade the past two days with a range of governmental and parliamentary leaders, as well as representatives of the international community and civil society...

Representatives of twenty municipal councils were introduced to an the OSCE training programme designed to promote democratic governance through improved work of local elected officials during the promotional events that took place in Ohrid and Skopje on 19, 20 and 21 September.

COPENHAGEN, 21 September 2018 – Several leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly have actively participated over the past two weeks in the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Italian OSCE Chairmanship, speaking at working sessions on democracy, fundamental freedoms, rights of migrants, human trafficking, and freedom of the media...

VIENNA, 21 September 2018 – In a letter to the authorities of the Russian Federation the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern regarding the proposed amendments to the country’s Code of Administrative Offences and the Criminal Code, which were adopted yesterday in the final reading by the lower house of parliament, the State Duma. The amendments, among other things, strengthen the penalties for the dissemination of ‘false’ information related to defamation and information that affects privacy protection...

A five-day training course on emergency first aid concluded on 21 September 2018 at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe...

ISSYK-KUL, Kyrgyzstan, 20 September 2018- The Aarhus Centres and Public Environmental Information Centres from 15 countries concluded today in Issyk-Kul a two-day meeting on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its goals...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed damage as a result of gunfire in a residential area of Dokuchaievsk. The SMM saw two new military positions inside the Zolote disengagement area, as well as military and military-type presence inside the Petrivske disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as again near Bezimenne and Zaichenko.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs and maintenance works to critical water infrastructure in Luhansk region, as well as repairs to houses in Avdiivka and demining in Pishchane. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored two public gatherings related to customs clearance, road maintenance and the use of biometric passports...

VIENNA, 20 September 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed his condolences following the news of a tragic death of a young journalist, who died yesterday while filming a police operation at a protest near Aachen in Germany...

Two OSCE-supported training courses for lawyers on development of professional competences and moral compensation for victims of torture and their relatives concluded on 18 September 2018 in Tajikistan. The first course was conducted on 14 and 15 September in Dushanbe, and the second was held on 17 and 18 September 2018 in the town of Guliston.

TBILISI, 20 September 2018 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) yesterday formally opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 28 October presidential election in Georgia. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the Georgian authorities...

Techniques to improve states’ support for victims of hate crime were the focus of an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 20 September in Warsaw on the margins of the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting. The discussions focused on how

VIENNA, 20 September 2018- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today denounced prison sentences handed out to the executives of the Hayatın Sesi TV channel in Turkey...

Experts and practitioners on gender equality and migration discussed the challenges facing women migrants and good practices to promote their rights at a side event organized by the OSCE Gender Section during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw on 18 September 2018.

MINSK, 20 September 2018 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups in Minsk on 19 September 2018:..

Trafficking in human beings is often gender-specific, as are its consequences, including the harm it causes and the recovery process for survivors, said participants in an event co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Office of the Special

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) visited Bucharest from 17 to 19 September 2018 to discuss the status of follow-up on ODIHR’s electoral recommendations with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Electoral Authority,

The under-representation of women in justice system institutions and its impact on justice system outcomes were the focus of a Women’s Power Breakfast in Warsaw on 19 September 2018, during the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting. The event was co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed damage as a result of shelling in residential areas of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as again near Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines in Kremenivka. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs and maintenance works to critical water infrastructure in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as demining and repairs at the Krasnohorivka gas distribution station between Marinka and Oleksandrivka. The SMM followed up on the situation of civilians living near and crossing the contact line in Maiorsk and Horlivka. In Kherson region, the Mission monitored the ABL in Chonhar...

VIENNA, 19 September 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed yesterday’s decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on an interim measure which indicates to the Ukrainian authorities to abstain from accessing the mobile telephone data of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) investigative reporter Natalya Sedletska...

In an effort to ensure that gender equality is a core component in legislative drafting, the OSCE Mission, in co-operation with the Parliamentary Committee for Gender Equality in Montenegro, held a training course on gender mainstreaming on 18 and 19 September 2018 in Podgorica...

An OSCE project to support criminal justice systems in Eastern Europe in their fight against gender-based violence, developed by the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD/SPMU), was launched on 20 and 21 September 2018 in Vienna...

Strengthening rule of law-compliant criminal justice responses to terrorism was the aim of a two-day seminar for over 30 Montenegrin practitioners from relevant government agencies, which concluded on 19 September 2018 in Budva...

The role of national referral mechanisms (NRMs) in protecting the rights of trafficked persons was addressed in an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw on 18 September 2018, on the margins of the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

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 slightly decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. On the night of 16-17 September, the Mission heard small-arms fire 30-50m from its position. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement areas. Inside the Petrivske disengagement area, the SMM saw Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers and a recent extension of a trench assessed as belonging to the armed formations. The Mission’s access remained restricted in the disengagement areas, as well as in Bohdanivka and again near Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines near Ocheretyne, Shyroke, Novoamvrosiivske and Khrustalnyi. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs and maintenance works to critical water infrastructure in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as demining and repairs at the Krasnohorivka gas distribution station between Marinka and Oleksandrivka and repairs to houses in Avdiivka. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a protest in front of the General Prosecutor’s Office, where it saw protestors clash with police officers...

Representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan participated in an OSCE-supported two-day regional seminar “Combatting financing of terrorism: best practices within the OSCE region”. The event concluded in Ashgabat on 18 September 2018.

An OSCE-supported two-day training seminar on applying a risk-based approach to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism for some 80 representatives from the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the Financial Monitoring Committee and the second-tier banks concluded on 18 September 2018 in Almaty, Kazakhstan...

Experts and representatives of armed forces, defence ministries, military trade unions and professional associations from a range of OSCE participating States shared experiences and good practices in protecting armed forces’ right to freedom of expression while ensuring operational effectiveness at

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and none in Luhansk region between the evenings of 14 and 15 September, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 15 and 16 September, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM observed a fresh crater caused by shelling near Dovhe. It recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas. The Mission’s access remained restricted in the disengagement areas as well as again near Verkhnoshyrokivske, Yuzhna-Lomuvatka and Zaichenko, and in Novoazovsk and Dovzhanske, near the border with the Russian Federation in non-government-controlled areas.* The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station as well as to water infrastructure in Artema and between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata...

Challenges and good practices in ensuring human rights-compliant assembly policing in the Western Balkans region and related available resources were explored and presented at an event in Warsaw on 17 September 2018, during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting. Some 40 representatives of

New, youth-specific tools and research aimed at assisting policymakers and youth stakeholders working to enhance youth wellbeing and political engagement in the OSCE region were introduced at an event in Warsaw on 14 September 2018. Youth experts and practitioners, as well as representatives of

SKOPJE, 17 September 2018 – Ambassador Clemens Koja of Austria, appointed by the Italian OSCE Chairmanship as the Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, took office today. He succeeds Nina Suomalainen who completed her term as Head of Mission in April...

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe handed over technical equipment as a donation to the Media Academy of Tajikistan’s State Television and Radio Committee. The handover ceremony took place in the premises of the Media Academy in Dushanbe on 15 September 2018...

A two-day train-the-trainer course for Kazakh government officials on countering terrorist financing was organized by the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, in partnership with the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime's Global Programme against Money Laundering (UNODC/GPML) and the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism (EAG), from 14 to 15 September 2018, at the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations near all three disengagement areas. The SMM’s access remained restricted in the disengagement areas, as well as again near Verkhnoshyrokivske and Yuzhna-Lomuvatka.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of agreed withdrawal lines near Myrne. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance work at the Donetsk Filtration Station as well as to water infrastructure in Stanytsia Luhanska, Slovianoserbsk and between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata, and to facilitate demining and repairs at a gas distribution station between Marinka and Oleksandrivka.

CHISINAU, 14 September 2018 – The OSCE Mission to Moldova expresses its concern with regards to a pontoon bridge laying military exercise conducted by the so-called Transdniestrian Armed Forces (TDAF) in the Security Zone near Tiraspol on 14 September.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) teamed up with other organizations working in the area of promoting democracy today in publishing an agenda to focus attention on the constructive and concrete steps that different actors can take to respond to populism by strengthening democracy.