News and press releases

ULAANBAATAR, 8 July 2017 – The first ever runoff in a presidential election in Mongolia, on 7 July, took place against a backdrop of legal uncertainty. Positively, the General Election Commission (GEC) issued clarifying regulations and administered the election in an efficient manner, and polling station staff facilitated voting on election day in a professional manner, the election observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement released today. The law was widely interpreted as prohibiting campaigning. Calling on voters to cast blank ballots in protest was a distinct feature of the runoff, the observers said...

DUSHANBE, 7 July 2017 – Ambassador Tuula Yrjölä, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, met Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Aslov Sirodjidin Muhridinovich in Dushanbe today. She gave an update on the transition of the “OSCE Office in Tajikistan” into the “OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe”, which came into effect on 1 July 2017, as mandated by the OSCE Permanent Council Decision 1251...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions, in Donetsk region, and more ceasefire violations, including a similar number of explosions, in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. The SMM’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* In violation of the withdrawal lines, the SMM saw ten multiple launch rocket systems near Khrustalnyi. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Mykhailivka-Almazna high-voltage power lines near Pervomaisk and repair works to water wells in the Stanytsia Luhanska area. The SMM visited one border area not controlled by the Government in Luhansk region...

Thirteen human rights defenders from across Ukraine took part in a train-the-trainers workshop on human rights monitoring organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) from 3 to 7 July 2017 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the OSCE Austrian Chairmanship, organized two separate meetings in Vienna on addressing the security needs of Jewish communities, on 6 and 7 July 2017. The 6 July event brought together Austrian

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) released a new publication providing guidance on the development and implementation of gender-sensitive legislation at a working lunch on gender issues organized on 7 July 2017, during the 26th annual summer session of the OSCE

Some 60 judicial professionals gathered at an international conference in Belgrade on 7 July 2017 to discuss the experiences of national and international professional associations of judges in safeguarding the independence of the judiciary...

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized a two-day workshop on gender equality for some 15 members and staff of the State Election Commission on 6 and 7 July 2017 in Podgorica...

CHISINAU, 7 July 2017 – Some 30 security sector professionals from Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine gathered for a three-day regional workshop on security sector governance and reform which concluded today in Chisinau...

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 decreased at both BCPs.

MINSK, 6 July 2017 – More than 260 parliamentarians from 55 OSCE countries and several Partners for Co-operation began debates today on political and security affairs, economic and environmental issues, and human rights and humanitarian concerns at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 26th Annual Session in Minsk...

MINSK, 6 July 2017 – 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 5 July 2017...

A two-day seminar on strengthening rule of law-compliant criminal justice responses to terrorism, which brought together over 30 practitioners from the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and prison management, concluded on 6 July 2017 in Prishtinë/Priština...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, although more explosions, in Donetsk region, and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region as in the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Zolote-5. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas and observed a calm situation. The SMM’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including again to Novoazovsk – an area close to the border. It observed removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) south of Stanytsia Luhanska and the presence of other UXO on a road east of Staromarivka. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Mykhailivka-Almazna high-voltage power lines near Pervomaisk...

KYIV, 6 July 2017 – Some 180 key anti-trafficking stakeholders and international experts met today in Kyiv for a two-day conference focused on streamlining efforts to combat labour exploitation...

ULAANBAATAR, 6 July 2017- A two-day national seminar on a community-policing approach to countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT), organized by the OSCE, concluded today in Ulaanbaatar. The seminar was the first of its kind to be held in Mongolia...

KYIV, 6 July 2017 – The first group of 20 Ukrainians gathered today in Kyiv for a four-day intensive training course on dialogue competencies, organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, although fewer explosions, in Donetsk region, and fewer ceasefire violations overall in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Luhansk city and Bakhmut, and observed damage to civilian properties due to gunfire in Yasynuvata. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas and observed a calm situation. The SMM’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The Mission monitored weapons on both sides of the contact line and observed weapons in violation. It observed the restoration of water in Avdiivka and continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Mykhailivka-Almazna high-voltage power lines and water wells near Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM visited two border areas not under government control. The SMM followed up on an incident at a Jewish centre in Lviv. The Mission saw long queues at the administrative boundary line between Kherson and Crimea...

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) organized a two-day roundtable on religious rites and practices and freedom of religion or belief in Amsterdam on 4 and 5 July with representatives from Jewish and Muslim communities and other interested stakeholders.

Hosted by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, a meeting of National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs from across the OSCE regional framework concluded on 30 June 2017 at the Hofburg, Vienna...

The OSCE Mission to Serbia in partnership with the European Union twinning project “Strengthening Capacities of the High Judicial Council and the State Prosecutorial Council” organized a conference on the relationship between the judiciary and other branches of government in Serbia, on 5 July 2017 in Belgrade...

MOSCOW / WASHINGTON D.C. / PARIS, 5 July 2017- The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs – Ambassador Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Ambassador Stephane Visconti of France, and Ambassador Richard Hoagland of the United States– have received information of renewed violence late in the evening on 4 July at Alkhanli village of Fizuli region that resulted in casualties, including civilians...

Good practices to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda were shared and actively discussed at a regional workshop on 4 July 2017 in Tirana, organized by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Presence in Albania. The aim of the workshop was to share

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Marinka and observed damage to civilian properties due to shelling in Uzhivka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near Stanytsia Luhanska area. The SMM’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including again to a border area not controlled by the Government in Novoazovsk.* The Mission monitored weapons on both sides of the contact line. It continued to follow up on the water and gas supply situation in Avdiivka and Yasynuvata and to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Mykhailivka-Almazna high-voltage power lines. The SMM visited one border area not under government control in Luhansk region...

Elections experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) met with electoral stakeholders in Tashkent on 3 and 4 July 2017 to present recommendations from ODIHR’s final report  on the 4 December 2016 early presidential election in Uzbekistan. The report’s findings

VIENNA, 4 July 2017 – Fostering the resilience of local communities, making migrants a resource for the socio-economic development of hosting societies, was discussed today in Vienna by almost 70 participants in an expert meeting hosted by the OSCE...

Fifteen police investigators specializing in investigating human trafficking and related crimes completed a training course organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova from 26 to 29 June 2017 to enhance their operational skills in online investigations into human trafficking...

Seven prominent Tajik women politicians, including a member of parliament, representing each of the registered political parties in Tajikistan, took part in a study visit to Finland from 29 May to 2 June 2017. The visit, part of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe’s programme to promote gender mainstreaming, was jointly organized by the Office, the Permanent Mission of Finland to the OSCE and the Foreign Ministry of Finland...

VILNIUS, 4 July 2017 – Journalists and human rights defenders, academics and civil society representatives gathered in Vilnius on Monday to discuss with state officials and decision-makers how to guarantee the safety of journalists. The conference, The Safety of Journalists – New Challenges and Responses, was opened by Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius...

A series of OSCE-supported professional managerial training courses for women organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) were launched on 3 July 2017 in an opening ceremony at the Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT)...

MINSK, 3 July 2017 – Held under the theme “Enhancing mutual trust and co-operation for peace and prosperity in the OSCE region,” the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 2017 Annual Session will begin Wednesday with keynote speeches by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen, and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz...

Between the evenings of 30 June and 1 July the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 1 and 2 July the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on reports of a fatality from Staromykhailivka, a civilian causality from Dokuchaievsk and observed impact sites in Marinka, Sakhanka and Uzhivka. The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas; it recorded a ceasefire violation in Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including a border area not controlled by the Government in Novoazovsk, as well as in Pokrovske, Oleksandrivka, Staromykhailivka and Kadiivka.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of respective withdrawal lines. The SMM monitored repairs to the power lines in Mykhailivka-Almazna and Vasylivka. Security arrangements were re-established around the SMM’s office in Donetsk city in the morning of 2 July; the Mission had asked the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination to ensure presence at the SMM’s office until further notice. The Mission visited four border areas not under government control in Izvaryne, Marynivka, Uspenka and Voznesenivka...

VIENNA, 3 July 2017 – The OSCE today launched a guidebook on intelligence-led policing, an innovative approach to law enforcement that strengthens pro-active planning and decision-making. The guidebook is a practical tool for policymakers, law enforcement decision-makers and criminal analysts...

The OSCE Mission to Moldova gathered 18 civil society representatives from Transdniestria on 29 June 2017 for the second in a series of Civil Society Club meetings organized this year. The event, held in Parcani, focused on improving NGOs’ public outreach and ability to better meet local needs...

Senior officials from the OSCE Secretariat and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) signed a document on 3 July 2017 in Vienna to strengthen mutual co-operation with the aim of enhancing the capacities of law enforcement in the fight against transnational threats, including serious and organized crime...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, and more in Luhansk region – including almost 300 explosions overnight while in Popasna – compared with the previous reporting period.The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations assessed as inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolotedisengagement areas.

Armed men threatened to shoot SMM monitors in Vesela Hora. The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, including a sharp increase in the number of explosions compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of casualties in Donetsk city and Borzhykivka. The SMM observed impact sites in Pikuzy. The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including again in Novoazovsk near the border with the Russian Federation. The SMM visited one border area not under government control...

Some 30 representatives of Turkmenistan’s law-enforcement bodies and other relevant institutions and ministries participated in a roundtable discussion on the national and regional implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 (2004) on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction on 29 and 30 June 2017 in Ashgabat...

VIENNA, 30 June 2017 – The OSCE website (www.osce.org) is as of today available in all six of the Organization’s official languages – English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish, extending the OSCE’s outreach to millions more people across the world...

A two-day workshop on implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Kazakhstan concluded on 30 June, 2017 in Astana...

The fifth in a series of OSCE-supported five-day training courses on risk profiling at border checkpoints to assist sixteen officers of the Border Service of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee in countering transnational threats by using risk profiling at border checkpoints concluded in Aktobe, Kazakhstan on 30 June 2017...

While noting that contestants in Bulgaria’s 26 March 2017 early parliamentary elections could campaign freely and that the legal framework is generally conducive to holding democratic elections, the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) includes among its recommendations the review of suffrage rights and arrangements for voting abroad, and permitting the use of languages other than Bulgarian.

The first in the series of training courses for Public Council members concluded on 30 June 2017 in Dushanbe. The course was jointly organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and the international organization Saferworld...

A two-day workshop on the introduction of new technology in the electoral process was opened on 29 June 2017 in Podgorica...

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...

The OSCE Mission to Moldova held a training event on raising awareness about free legal aid for 21 law students from Balti, Cahul and Chisinau on 26 and 27 June 2017. As a result of the event, held at Vadul-lui-Vodă, participants will go on to organize a series of public events in rural areas addressing the most widespread legal issues facing vulnerable members of the community...

BISHKEK, 29 June 2017 – A three-day anti-corruption needs assessment mission by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities concludes today in Bishkek...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, however, fewer explosions than in the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded a significant increase in ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period, mostly east and south-east of Popasna. The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including again in Novoazovsk.* The SMM assessed an impact site in Sentianivka. It facilitated and monitored repairs to electricity lines and water pipes near Zolote. The SMM visited four border areas not under government control where it continued to see vehicles with “DPR” plates enter or leave Ukraine. The Mission monitored celebrations of Constitutional Day in Dnipro and Kharkiv and a protest in Kyiv...

The OSCE Office in Tajikistan held an interactive workshop for 15 young journalists and students of journalism from the Khatlon region and Dushanbe in its central office in the capital on 28 and 29 June 2017...

The first of five workshops on Open Government Partnership (OGP) at the local level was held on 28 June 2017 in Vranje for representatives of local municipalities from Pcinja and Jablanica....