News and press releases

MOSCOW, 19 September 2016- The 18 September State Duma elections in the Russian Federation were transparently administered by the Central Election Commission, but challenges to democratic commitments remain. The legal framework can serve as an adequate basis for elections, but the electoral environment was negatively affected by restrictions to fundamental freedoms and political rights, firmly controlled media and a tightening grip on civil society, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today...

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 19 September 2016 – The OSCE-supported seventh annual Central Asian Leadership Programme (CALP) for some 40 young environmental leaders and decision-makers from the state, non-governmental, academic and business sectors of Central Asia and Afghanistan on sustainable development goals and improved co-operation began today in Almaty, Kazakhstan...

The SMM noted a calmer security situation in Donetsk region, including 39 explosions compared with 425 during the previous reporting period...

SARAJEVO, 17 September 2016- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ Regional Representation for South-Eastern Europe (UNHCR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to BiH welcome the decision of the BiH Council of Ministers to form a Co-ordination Team to follow the implementation of rights of refugees and displaced persons under Annex VII of the Dayton Peace Accords...

VIENNA, 16 September 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović expressed serious concern about the reported confiscation of equipment and deletion of recorded footage taken by Russian journalist Oksana Sazonova and Ukrainian journalist Sergey Belous in Prishtinë/Priština...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region including 425 explosions compared with the previous reporting period (670 explosions). The SMM observed no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. It observed damage to civilian infrastructure in Donetsk region and facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line. The SMM observed the presence of unexploded ordnance and also followed up on an uncontrolled detonation near Stanytsia Luhanska bridge...

VIENNA, 16 September 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called on Serbian authorities to fully investigate acts of intimidation and threats directed at several journalists...