News and press releases

CHISINAU, 22 February 2018 – Alfredo Conte, Adviser to the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, concluded a three-day visit to Moldova today. He met with the leadership in Chisinau and Tiraspol, the authorities in the Autonomous Territorial Unit (ATU) of Gagauzia and the resident Ambassadors of the 5+2 Mediators and Observers. His meetings set the stage for an upcoming visit to Moldova by the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Franco Frattini.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe donated winter clothing, table games, sports equipment as well as a refrigerator and a professional oven to the Reception Referral Centre for Minors on 21 February 2018 in Dushanbe.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe held a ceremony to mark its donation of humanitarian demining equipment to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defence and the National Mine Action Centre on 20 February 2018.

SARAJEVO, 21 February 2018 – It is essential to focus on the long-term benefits of political dialogue and compromise for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and not pursue short-term political gains, said OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger during a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which concluded today in Sarajevo.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a casualty from Spartak. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at three border crossing points in Luhansk region at the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Shymshynivka. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor repair works at a water pumping station in Artema, to a water pipeline between Berezove and Dokuchaievsk, as well as to powerlines between Orlivske and Pavlopil. The SMM visited six border areas outside government control. The Mission monitored gatherings in Chernivtsi, Kharkiv and Lviv on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of events at Maidan...

VIENNA, 21 February 2018- The United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in All its Aspects complements the OSCE’s work in this area and both are fundamental to the security and stability of participating States, said speakers at today’s OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation meeting in Vienna, held under Slovakia’s Chairmanship...

SARAJEVO, 21 February 2018 – The presentation of a report compiled by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina titled Trial Monitoring of Corruption Cases in BiH: A First Assessment brought together over 100 representatives of the judiciary, law enforcement agencies and the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today in Sarajevo. The report was developed within the framework of the project Assessing Needs of Judicial Response to Corruption through Monitoring of Criminal Cases and with the support of the United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

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 increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

THE HAGUE, 21 February 2018 – Embracing linguistic and cultural diversity alongside multilingualism and societal cohesion is a driver for peace, mutual understanding and friendly relations among peoples and states, said OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Lamberto Zannier in the following statement to mark International Mother Language Day.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The SMM visited five border areas outside of government control and was restricted in Luhansk region for the fourth day in five days.* The SMM observed continued interruption of mobile phone networks in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor repair work at a water pumping station in Artema. In Kharkiv region, the SMM followed up on media reports that commercial vehicles were unable to proceed after exiting Ukraine at the international border crossing point near Hoptivka. In Kyiv, the SMM continued to follow up on the incident at the Russia Centre for Science and Culture. In Kyiv and Odessa, the SMM monitored public gatherings.

London, 20 February 2018 – Hosted by the Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (OSR/CTHB), a second meeting of experts to discuss ongoing OSCE research on trafficking in human beings for the purpose of terrorist activities concluded yesterday in Hammersmith.

COPENHAGEN, 20 February 2018 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is deploying a mission of 42 international observers, including 33 parliamentarians from 22 countries, to Italy for the 4 March parliamentary elections. The observers arrive in Rome next week for two days of briefings before deploying for election day observation around the country.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 16 and 17 February, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 17 and 18 February, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM observed fresh damage, caused by gunfire and shelling, to civilian properties in residential areas of Horlivka and Pikuzy as well as to a building where a television station in Luhansk city is located. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at checkpoints near Betmanove and Kreminets as well as near Leonove and Izvaryne, in border areas close to the Russian Federation.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Novooleksandrivka. The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians living near the contact line in Betmanove and Pivdenne. The SMM visited five border areas outside of government control. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on reports of an incident at the Russia Centre for Science and Culture on 17 February and saw a group of people throwing eggs and stones at the building of the Centre as well as at a Sberbank branch office the following day. The SMM also monitored two gatherings in Kyiv and one in Kharkiv.

ROME / VIENNA, 19 February 2018 – The targeting of innocent civilians in indiscriminate acts of violence is unacceptable and never justified, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Italy’s Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger today following the terrorist attacks in Kizlyar, Dagestan, in the Russian Federation. They offered their condolences to the families of victims and wished a quick recovery to the injured...

An OSCE-organized training course on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation was held for 50 young professionals from the OSCE region and the Organization’s Partners for Co-operation from 12 to 16 February in Vienna. The course was held in the framework of the OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security and jointly organized by the OSCE together with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.

On 17 February 2018, the SMM followed up on media reports of an incident at the building where the Russian Centre for Science and Culture “Rossotrudnichestvo" is located, at 2A Borysohlibska Street in Kyiv. At 13:15, the SMM saw multiple phrases (such as "Death to Russia") in Ukrainian language freshly spray-painted on the interior walls of the building on the ground floor and in the staircase leading to the second floor. The SMM also saw scattered chairs and furniture, broken information boards, and the flag of the Russian Federation which had been torn apart.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. Small-arms fire hit an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle near Sentianivka. In Dnipro, the Mission followed up on the condition of a three-year-old girl who had been injured by the explosion of unexploded ordnance in Krasnohorivka on 6 February. The SMM observed fresh damage to civilian properties in residential areas of Dokuchaievsk caused by gunfire.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed fresh damage to civilian properties, including schools, in residential areas of Dokuchaievsk caused by gunfire. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area and near the Zolote disengagement area.

VIENNA, 16 February 2018 – Today’s court decision to imprison journalists for life constitutes an unparalleled level of suppression of dissenting voices in Turkey, Harlem Désir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and David Kaye, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression said today.

VIENNA, 16 February 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the release of the German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel.

The Rector of the Kyrgyz Presidential Academy of Public Administration, Almaz Nasyrov, participated in the joint session of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation and the OSCE Permanent Council on Security Sector Governance and Reform (SSG/R) on 14 February 2018 in Vienna, Austria.

Tirana, 16 February 2018- Providing criminal justice practitioners without IT specialization with a general overview of how all types of criminal activities may be facilitated on the Internet was the focus of a one-week training course hosted by the OSCE from 12 to 16 February 2018 at the Albanian Security Academy in Tirana.

VIENNA, 15 February 2018- The OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today approved the Organization’s budget for 2018.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed fresh damage caused by gunfire to a house in Hranitne and to a wall at the Donetsk Filtration Station. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Mineralne and Nova Tavriia.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Bila Hora. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to essential infrastructure near Marinka and Yasynuvata. The Mission visited a border area not under government control. The SMM followed up on reports of alleged arson in Lviv.

Vienna, 15 February 2018 – Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Kono today met with Secretary General Thomas Greminger at the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, where they discussed Japan’s continuing engagement within the OSCE Asian Partnership and possible areas of further co-operation. The visit was the first ever to the OSCE by a Japanese foreign minister.

CHISINAU, 15 February 2018- The first meeting in the 1+1 format between the Moldovan and Transdniestrian Chief Negotiators, Cristina Lesnic and Vitaly Ignatiev, respectively, took place in Chisinau on 15 February.

VIENNA, 15 February 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the decision of the Russian judicial authorities to release the Uzbek journalist Khudoberdi Nurmatov, also known under his penname Ali Feruz, a contributing journalist to Novaya Gazeta, and allow him to leave the country

MINSK, 14 February 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 14 February 2018:

VIENNA, 14 February 2018 – The OSCE, because of its comprehensive approach to security, is well positioned to support States on their national Security Sector Governance and Reform programmes, said speakers at today’s joint meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation and Permanent Council in Vienna...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty from Hranitne. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske and Zolote disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Siedove, an area near the border with the Russian Federation, in Manhush and near Donetsk city’s Kirovskyi district.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Donetsk city’s Kirovskyi district. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works to a pumping station near Artema and a dam near Nelipivka. The Mission visited a border area not under government control.

A training course designed to improve co-operation between police officers and prosecutors in addressing hate crimes in Bulgaria was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in the city of Veliko Tarnovo on 13 and 14 February 2018. Twenty-five police

The Interior Minister of Tajikistan, Colonel General Rahimzoda Ramazon Hamro, addressed the OSCE participating States in the Hofburg Conference Centre, Vienna, on 12 February 2018. Interior Minister Rahimzoda was invited by the Secretary General Thomas Greminger and the Spanish Chair of the Security Committee, Ambassador Victoria Gonzalez Roman, to open this year’s first session of the Security Committee.

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 increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed a calm situation in all three. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Kozatske, Voznesenivka and at two permanent storage sites and a heavy weapons holding area in non-government-controlled areas.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Mariupol. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to essential infrastructure near Krasnyi Lyman, Raivka and Artema. The Mission visited three border areas not under government control. The SMM observed gatherings in Kyiv and Odessa.

TIRANA, 13 February 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, concluded a two-day visit to Albania. During his visit, Désir met with Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Media Committee and media actors in the country.

The work to repair the damaged roof of the Plemetin/Plemetina social housing building, home to 180 Roma and Ashkali community members, concluded on 29 January 2018. The repair was made possible with financial support from Caritas Luxembourg, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, the Embassy of Luxembourg and the municipality of Obiliq/Obilić.

The importance of promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief as a core component of ensuring sustainable security in Kazakhstan was highlighted by participants in a meeting organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Astana on 13 February 2018.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 9 and 10 February compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 10 and 11 February compared with the previous 24 hours. Small arms were again fired near an SMM patrol and toward an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed a calm situation in all three. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Siedove near the border with the Russian Federation and in Styla.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Styla and Donetsk city. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to essential infrastructure near Pervomaisk. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control.

The OSCE Mission to Serbia, in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education, launched the Basics of Child Safety handbook, a vital guideline for schoolchildren, teachers and parents, on 12 February 2018 in Belgrade.

Addressing the needs of Jewish communities in Poland was the focus of a meeting organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 13 February 2018 in Warsaw. The meeting was held in co-operation with the Polish Interior Ministry, the General Police Headquarters of

BAKU / YEREVAN, 11 February 2018- The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America), together with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, met with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on 7 February and President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan on 9 February. In both capitals, they also held consultations with the respective Foreign Ministers.  The Co-Chairs also travelled to Nagorno-Karabakh on 9-11 February to meet with de facto authorities and visited specific locations in the Zangelan, Kubatly, Agdam, Lachin, and Kelbajar districts...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. Small arms were fired near SMM patrols near Verkhnoshyrokivske and Vidrodzhennia and toward an SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Pervomaiske. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed a calm situation in all three areas. The Mission’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Samiilove and at a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled area.* The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to essential infrastructure near Artema and Pervomaisk. The Mission visited a border area not under government control. The SMM followed up on the situation of internally displaced persons in Pokrovske. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored two gatherings...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. In Svitlodarsk, the SMM recorded widespread use of multiple launch rocket systems. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed a calm situation in all three. The Mission’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including near Kreminets. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Topolyne and near Oleksandropil. In Novooleksandrivka, the SMM saw a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint for the first time. The Mission saw large numbers of anti-tank mines for the first time near Shyrokyne. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works on essential infrastructure near Artema and Krasnyi Lyman. The Mission visited three border areas not under government control. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on reports of a raid and seizure of assets of a media company, and in Kherson, the SMM monitored a gathering...

Elections experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) undertook a mid-term review visit to Kyiv from 7 to 9 February 2018 to collaboratively assess the status of follow-up on ODIHR’s electoral recommendations.

WASHINGTON, 9 February 2018 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli (Georgia) and Secretary General Roberto Montella are wrapping up a visit to Washington, where they met this week with Members of Congress and officials from the U.S. National Security Council and State Department. In discussions, Tsereteli and Montella have noted the essential role of the OSCE as a forum for dialogue and stressed the importance of continued U.S. engagement in the Organization...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of three children injured by the explosion of unexploded ordnance in Krasnohorivka. The SMM observed damage caused by gunfire to civilian properties in a residential area of Dokuchaievsk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works to essential infrastructure near Artema, Kadiivka and Maiorsk. The SMM monitored a transfer of pre-conflict detainees from non-government- to government-controlled areas in Donetsk region; it also monitored the transport of mortal remains from government- to non-government-controlled areas in Luhansk region. The Mission visited a border area not under government control. In Kyiv, in front of the Parliament building the SMM saw about 500 people carrying flags and banners demanding higher pensions...

WASHINGTON, 8 February 2018 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli and Secretary General Roberto Montella are in Washington this week, where they participated in a forum on geopolitics in South East Europe on Tuesday. The event at the U.S. Senate featured remarks from prime ministers and members of parliament, who addressed challenges facing the region of South East Europe, as well as members of the U.S. Congress...

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier visited Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region from 5 to 7 February 2018 to assess inter-ethnic relations in the region. His visit to this western region of Ukraine was a follow-up to his trip to Kyiv in December 2017...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and while present in Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote it observed calm situations. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Manuilivka and to a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled part of Donetsk region.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Makiivka and Novoamvrosiivske. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repair and maintenance works to essential civilian infrastructure near Vasylivka, Artema and Kadiivka. The Mission visited a border area not under government control. The SMM observed a gathering at the Polish consulate in Lviv...

VIENNA, 7 February 2018 – The work of international actors, including the OSCE’s contribution, in supporting the implementation of the 2004 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 on preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons was explored at today’s OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) meeting in Vienna, held under Slovakia’s Chairmanship...