News and press releases

ASTANA, 27 September 2016 – An OSCE-supported regional discussion on trade facilitation through enhancing regional transit for public and private sector representatives from Central Asia and the South Caucasus as well as specialized trade and transport organizations began today in Astana...

ASTANA, 27 September 2016 – The OSCE-supported two-stage Canine Explosive Search Training Programme co-organized by the Austrian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the US Embassy in Kazakhstan concluded today in Astana...

Twenty youth activists from across the OSCE region participated in a workshop on countering hate crime organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) from 25 to 27 September 2016 in Warsaw.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region both on 24 and 25 September, including 154 and 21 explosions, respectively, with almost all concentrated in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata area, compared with 209 in the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the SMM noted a relatively calm situation, with one explosion recorded compared with ten in the previous reporting period. The SMM observed heavy weapons in violation of withdrawal lines and armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian injured in Avdiivka and occupation of civilian buildings by armed formations in Yasynuvata. The SMM monitored the situation of civilians living near the contact line and of civilians at checkpoints. The Mission monitored three border areas currently not under government control. The Mission was restricted in its freedom of movement, including in disengagement areas near Petrivske and Zolote and noted a calm situation in the wider Petrivske, Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote areas. The SMM monitored commemoration events along the administrative boundary line between the mainland and Crimea...

On 20 September 2016, the OSCE Mission to Moldova supported a lecture for 28 first-year vocational students in the autonomous region of Gagauzia about the benefits of state guaranteed legal assistance. The lecture was given by two law students from Comrat State University who previously participated in the Mission’s project to train future lawyers to deliver free legal aid...

SARAJEVO, 26 September 2016 – A five-day training course for 19 law enforcement representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro on introductory open source digital forensics started today in Sarajevo...

Effective co-operation between international organizations to counter hate crimes was at the centre of discussion at a side event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw on 26 September 2016.