News and press releases

An inclusive and comprehensive revision of Serbia’s legal framework for elections is among the measures recommended by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in its final report on the country’s 2 April 2017 presidential election. To enhance the conduct of elections,

ANKARA, 8 June 2017 – A senior delegation of parliamentarians from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly today concluded a series of meetings in Istanbul and Ankara, and noted the extraordinary challenges faced by Turkey, including from terrorism, large migration flows, and the aftermath of the July 2016 failed coup...

MINSK, 8 June 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 7 June 2017:..

WARSAW, 8 June 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, today expressed profound concern over the alleged abduction and ill-treatment in custody of Azerbaijani journalist and human rights defender Afgan Mukhtarli...

International and national efforts to implement UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 and pursuant resolutions that aim to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and stop them from falling into the hands of non-state actors were discussed in the Forum for Security-Co-operation on 7 June 2017...

The Mission to Montenegro organized a discussion in Podgorica on 7 June 2017 focusing on the gender mainstreaming commitments of Montenegro’s municipalities stemming from the Memoranda of Understanding on gender equality that were signed between the Mission, the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and all 23 municipalities between 2007 and 2015...

Strengthening the capacity of government experts from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to resolve and investigate kidnapping situations was the focus of a four-day training course organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and in co-operation with the Spanish National Police from 5 to 8 June 2017 at the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) in Almaty, Kazakhstan...

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized a series of training courses for Turkmenistan’s customs and law enforcement officials on interdicting drugs and chemical precursors from 29 May to 7 June 2017...

On 7 June 2017, the 78th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held in Ergneti in an open and constructive atmosphere...

In Donetsk region the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations and fewer explosions compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations and more than eight times the number of explosions. The SMM confirmed three civilian casualties from Kruta Balka and observed impact sites in Pavlopil. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations in Zolote. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* In violation of withdrawal lines, an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted a tank near Bezimenne. The Mission monitored demining and facilitated electrical repairs at Donetsk Water Filtration Station. The SMM monitored one border area not under government control in Dovzhanskyi...

A training course on combating trafficking in human beings, organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the BiH Ministry of Security for officers of the Border Police and the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, concluded on 7 June 2017 in Sarajevo...

While the 15 March 2017 parliamentary elections in the Netherlands were conducted in a professional manner and characterized by a high level of public confidence in the election administration, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) recommends in its final report  that

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...

A five-day regional training course for 16 cybercrime and digital forensics investigators from Azerbaijan and Georgia focusing on using the Python programming language for the retrieval of digital evidence, started on 5 June 2017 in Tbilisi...

More than 70 representatives of Kyrgyzstan’s law enforcement bodies, the State Service for the Execution of Punishment (SSEP), the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Kyrgyzstan, the expert community and international organizations discussed the issues of violent radicalization in penitentiary facilities on 2 June 2017 in Bishkek...

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. Its access remained restricted there and in non-government controlled areas of Donetsk region.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines and noted weapons missing from holding sites. It confirmed a number of civilian casualties in the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk city, Krasnohorivka and Staromykhailivka, including the death of a woman and the wounding of a nine-year-old boy. The SMM also observed recent shelling damage in the Petrovskyi district and Staromykhailivka. The SMM visited a border area not under Government control...

VIENNA, 6 June 2017 – Responding to media enquiries, a spokesperson of the OSCE Chairmanship today said...

VIENNA, 6 June 2017- Reacting to the decision of the Abkhaz “military prosecutor’s office” to quit criminal prosecution in the case of the murder of Georgian citizen Giga Otkhozoria on 19 May 2016, announced at the 46th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Gali on 31 May 2017, a spokesperson of the OSCE Chairmanship said today...

Some 35 students from the five Central Asian countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan will attend an OSCE-supported annual summer school in Almaty from 5 June to 16 June 2017 on methods and tools for assessing and monitoring water and land resources in the Central Asian region...

VIENNA, 6 June 2017 – Senior officials from capital cities across the OSCE region and Vienna-based ambassadors of OSCE participating States met today in Vienna as part of the latest round of the OSCE Structured Dialogue on current and future security challenges, this time focusing on trends and developments in military force postures, exercises and how they interrelate with threat perceptions and military doctrines...

An art exhibition supported by the OSCE Presence in Albania is on show at the Fine Arts Gallery (FAB) in Tirana from 5 June 2017 to 12 June 2017 featuring the best entries submitted to the OSCE Presence by students of the Tirana University Faculty of Fine Arts on the themes of ‘Radicalization’ and ‘Dealing with the past’...

Between the evenings of 2 and 3 June the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 3 and 4 June the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24-hour period. The Mission followed up on civilian casualties in Kurakhove and Yasynuvata. The SMM observed damage to civilian houses and critical infrastructure. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere. An SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle spotted anti-tank mines near Pervomaisk inside the Zolote disengagement area and signs of additional reinforcement to government positions in the Stanytsia Luhansk disengagement area. It visited three border areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM monitored events in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk involving religious communities...

COPENHAGEN, 4 June 2017 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) issued a statement of condemnation and condolences following an attack in London Saturday night being investigated as an act of terrorism. At least seven people died and 48 were injured when a vehicle plowed into pedestrians on London Bridge, followed by three attackers stabbing restaurant- and pub-goers at nearby Borough Market...

VIENNA, 4 June 2017 – The targeting of innocent civilians in indiscriminate acts of violence is unacceptable and never justified, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier today following the terrorist attacks in London. They offered their condolences to the families of victims and wished a quick recovery to the injured...

This report is for the media and the general public. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, following a renewed commitment to ceasefire for 24 hours from midnight on 1 June. The Mission observed multiple impact

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, following a renewed commitment to ceasefire for 24 hours to mark the “International Day for Protection of Children”. The Mission followed up on allegations of civilian casualties in Avdiivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The Mission heard three bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire near Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM saw for the first time a mine hazard sign near Teplychne. The Mission facilitated and monitored water drilling in Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM monitored public gatherings in Kyiv and Lviv and a small protest in Kharkiv...

Representatives of National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) from OSCE participating States and Council of Europe member States discussed a draft compilation of European rules related to the administrative detention of migrants at a consultative meeting organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic

COPENHAGEN, 2 June 2017 – Nilza Sena, Portuguese Member of Parliament and Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s economic and environmental committee, responded with deep disappointment following the announcement of the U.S. President Thursday to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, adopted by consensus on 12 December 2015. The formal withdrawal is expected to go into effect in November 2020...

Representatives of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) from 27 OSCE participating States attended the 2017 NHRI Academy, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) from 29 May to 2 June 2017 in Poznan, Poland.

Twenty Kyrgyz Border Service Officers improved their skills in map reading, pathfinding and providing first aid in the field during a course held from 8 May to 2 June 2017 at the Gissar Training Centre in Tajikistan, as part of the third phase of the OSCE’s Patrol Programming and Leadership Project...

Draft amendments to Ukraine’s Law on the Privatization of State–owned and Municipal Print Press were presented by lawyers of the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine (SCTRBU), the Ukrainian Association of Media Business (UAMB), the Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) and the Human Rights Platform NGO on 24 May 2017 in Kyiv, concluding a process supported by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine...

In Donetsk region the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, but fewer explosions, compared to the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage from shelling and shooting in Novotoshkivske and Dokuchaievsk, respectively, and followed up on allegations of civilian casualties in Novoazovsk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and heard a shot of small-arms fire inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM facilitated and monitored repair works to high voltage power lines in Zolote and to water well drilling in Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM visited one border area outside of government control in Luhansk region. The SMM monitored gatherings in Odessa region and Lviv...

Global efforts are needed to address the challenges associated with scientific and technological progress and its impact on security and arms control, said speakers at the session of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation held on 31 May 2017 in Vienna...

VIENNA, 1 June 2017 – The OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today approved the Organization’s budget for 2017...

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the Parliament of Kazakhstan co-organized a roundtable discussion followed by an expert dialogue in Astana on 1 June 2017 on the application of the law on the access to information...

PODGORICA, 1 June 2017- A workshop on how to establish an Advance Passenger Information (API) system in Montenegro in alignment with international standards, to help the country’s authorities better regulate the exit, entry and transit of air passengers, was organized by the OSCE from 30 May to 1 June 2017 in Podgorica...

VIENNA, 1 June 2017- Following today’s decision of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, the OSCE Office in Tajikistan will be transformed into the “OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe” as of 1 July 2017...

A team of experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) visited Podgorica from 29 May to 1 June 2017 to present the final report of the ODIHR election observation mission (EOM) for the 16 October 2016 parliamentary elections in Montenegro. The report’s findings

An OSCE-supported Canine Explosive Search Training Programme co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the United States Embassy in Kazakhstan concluded on 24 May 2017 in Astana...

In Donetsk region the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions, compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations. The Mission observed damage to houses due to shelling in Pervomaisk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and monitored repair works to a power line near Pervomaisk and a water pumping station in the northern outskirts of Luhansk city. The SMM monitored gatherings in Kyiv and Lviv...

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine supported a five-day training course for officers of pilot mobile police teams on responding to cases of domestic violence from 22 to 26 May 2017 in Dnipro...

The last of three public expert discussions on the establishment and functioning of the High Anti-Corruption Court was held in Odesa, Ukraine on 30 May 2017, where experts and representatives of the civil society and the media voiced their opinions on how to create a Court that is efficient, transparent, fair and meets the principles enshrined in the country’s constitution...

Defining concrete steps to ensure access to identity documents for vulnerable Roma in Ukraine was the focus of a roundtable event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the State Migration Service of Ukraine, on 30 and 31 May 2017 in Odesa.

VIENNA, 31 May 2017 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier today condemned the bombing in the Afghan capital. They offered their condolences to the bereaved and wished the wounded a speedy recovery...

The OSCE Mission to Moldova held a training event for youth from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River between 26 and 28 May 2017 aimed at enhancing youth participation in civic life. The event gathered 39 students and teachers from across Moldova, including from the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, and was held in Vadul-lui-Vodă – a town by the river...

Representatives of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and European Union bodies, as well as experts and activists from civil society groups, came together in Brussels on 30 May 2017 for the Joint Day of Action against Anti-Semitism and Anti-Muslim Hatred and

VILLACH, 30 May 2017 – At a two-day conference concluding today in Villach, Austria, more than 20 OSCE parliamentarians from 13 countries explored ways to improve public support for national minorities in areas such as education, culture, and language...

YEREVAN, 30 May 2017 – OSCE Secretary Lamberto Zannier had meetings today with Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian during his visit to Yerevan...

In Donetsk region the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including fewer explosions compared with the previous 24-hour period. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions. The Mission observed multiple impact sites in Krasnohorivka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. The SMM heard explosions near the Zolote disengagement area and observed the removal of unexploded ordnance in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* An SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle spotted a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM continued to monitor demining and repairs to a water well near Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM also visited centres for internally displaced persons in Lyman, Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka and Horlivka...

The practical integration of gender perspectives and human rights-compliant approaches into the work of police internal oversight bodies was the topic of a training seminar organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) for the newly created Human Rights Directorate of the Ukrainian National Police in Kyiv on 29 and 30 May 2017. Participating in the seminar were 24 participants (17 women and 7 men) from both the central and regional offices of the Directorate and representatives of the Interior Ministry.