News and press releases

A three-day training course organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan on the importance of religious dialogue and the role of religious leaders in efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT), promoting peace and building trust between various parties, commenced on 9 August 2016 in Dushanbe...

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared to the previous day. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations than during the previous day. The Mission followed up on civilian casualties in Kurakhove, and observed craters in and around Krasnohorivka, Svitlodarsk, Bohdanivka, Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove), Sakhanka and Horlivka. It noted the presence of tanks and towed howitzers at training areas, observed the presence of new mine signs and facilitated repair work to essential infrastructure. The SMM noted long lines at an entry-exit checkpoint near the contact line in Olenivka and monitored three border areas not controlled by the Government. The Mission observed a public gathering in Kyiv and monitored the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs). It faced two freedom-of-movement restrictions...

DUSHANBE, 9 August 2016 – Fostering gender-sensitive approaches in water management in Central Asia is the focus of today’s side event organized by the OSCE and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) during the High-level Symposium on implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 6 in Dushanbe...

VIENNA, 9 August 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed deep sorrow following the death of Željko Kopanja, journalist and owner of Nezavisne novine and Glas Srpske, who died on 8 August...

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations during the daytime of 6 August and a lower number of violations during the night of that day, compared to the respective time period of 5 August. An increase in the number of recorded violations was noted during the daytime of 7 August with almost triple the number of explosions as compared to the previous period. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in the daytime of 6 August compared to the day before. No violations were recorded during the night of 6 August and the whole day of 7 August. The Mission followed up on civilian casualties in Avdiivka, Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district and Yasynuvata, and conducted crater analysis in Petrovskyi district, Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove) and Sakhanka. It faced six freedom-of-movement restrictions, all but one in areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM followed up on media reports about the closure of the three crossing points at the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea. On the morning of 6 August, the SMM heard an explosion 3.9km east of its location in Luhansk city and saw a severely damaged vehicle at the scene. On the late morning of 7 August, the SMM experienced an earthquake whilst in its location in Mariupol...

MOSCOW, 8 August 2016 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 18 September State Duma elections in the Russian Federation. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the Russian authorities...

A two-day OSCE-supported mock election exercise for some 40 participants from the State Elections Commission (SEC) and Municipal Election Commissions (MEC) concluded on 5 August 2016 in Podgorica...