News and press releases

KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, RUSSIAN FEDERATION. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs).

VIENNA, 10 May 2017- Consolidating international efforts is the only way to tackle current security threats at the global level, representatives of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) told the Forum for Security Co-operation in today’s session held under Russia’s Chairmanship. This is the first time that the SCO leadership addressed the OSCE within FSC’s Security Dialogue...

TASHKENT, 10 May 2017 – OSCE PA President Christine Muttonen concludes today a three-day visit to Uzbekistan, during which she has discussed the country’s ongoing reforms and potential areas for co-operation with the OSCE and the Parliamentary Assembly...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region but more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24-hour period – including the use of a multiple launch rocket system. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* An armed man discharged his weapon 50m from an SMM patrol in Sosnivske. The SMM monitored a border area currently not under government control. In Kharkiv, Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk and Odessa, the Mission observed gatherings marking “Reconciliation and Commemoration Day”...

TIRANA, 9 May 2017 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 18 June parliamentary elections in Albania. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the Albanian Government...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. In Donetsk region the Mission recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations on 6 and on 7 May compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region it recorded more ceasefire violations on 6 May compared with the previous reporting period but fewer on 7 May. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere. The SMM assessed impact sites and damage to residential areas caused by shelling. It observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines, as well as mines and unexploded ordnance, predominantly in non-government-controlled areas. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable the transfer of bodies to government-controlled areas via the Shchastia bridge, as well as repairs to the Donetsk Water Filtration Station. The Mission monitored two border areas currently not under government control...

A series of five workshops held Kosovo-wide for healthcare providers on how to identify, refer and treat victims of domestic violence, organized by the OSCE Mission, concluded on 8 May 2017. The workshops were organized jointly with the Ministry of Health and Kosovo Police, and aimed at strengthening the response of healthcare providers in domestic violence cases...

WARSAW, 8 May 2017- Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), following emerging information about a recent execution in Belarus, today once more called on the country’s government to introduce an immediate moratorium on executions, as a step towards complete abolition of the death penalty...

A five-day training course on human rights education concluded on 6 May 2017 at the OSCE Office in Tajikistan...

LEINSWEILER, 8 May 2017 – An OSCE Parliamentary Assembly seminar held this weekend in Leinsweiler, Germany, focused on the question of how the renewed competition for geopolitical spheres of influence is impacting security in the OSCE area. Hosted by the German Delegation to the OSCE PA, the seminar addressed specific themes related to collective security, economic co-operation and the effects of geopolitical competition on the societies of countries involved...

KYIV, 8 May 2017 – The Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, condemns the sexual harassment of an SMM patrol member by an armed man in the non-government controlled area of Donetsk region, which took place on 5 May...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The Mission recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in an incident in which an armed man sexually harassed a female patrol member. The SMM assessed impact sites and damage to residential areas caused by shelling. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government controlled areas. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to a gas pipeline in Zhovte, and power lines in Krasni Partizan and between Mykhailivka and Kadiivka. The SMM monitored one border area currently not under government control...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region but fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Avdiivka. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM observed demining activity as well as the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO). The Mission monitored two border areas currently not under government control...

An OSCE-organized course on TV coverage of major events for editors and camera operators from Turkmenistan’s TV channels concluded on 5 May 2017 in Ashgabat...

A group of 30 Italian prosecutors and judges improved their ability to address hate crime during a training course co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) on 5 May 2017 in Milan, Italy. The event, part of ODIHR’s Prosecutors and Hate Crimes Training

A workshop organized by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo for around 20 Roma and Ashkali grassroots activists and civil society organizations from the Gjilan/Gnjilane and Ferizaj/Uroševac municipalities on how to shape better local policies for the benefit of communities concluded on 3 May 2017...

ATHENS, 5 May 2017- The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Madina Jarbussynova, on Friday concluded a visit to Athens, Lesvos and Thessaloniki to discuss how best to support first responders in identifying potential victims of trafficking among large flows of migrants and refugees...

An OSCE-supported textbook for secondary school students on environmental awareness was launched at a roundtable discussion on improving secondary education on 5 May 2017 in Astana...

COPENHAGEN, 4 May 2017 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) and Special Representative on the South Caucasus Kristian Vigenin (MP, Bulgaria) expressed regret about today’s announcement that it has not been possible to reach agreement to extend the mandate of the OSCE’s Office in Yerevan. The Office is expected to close in the coming months...

ATHENS, 4 May 2017 – Greece has taken important steps towards improving conditions in migrant and refugee camps, but the disproportionate responsibility it is assuming underlines the urgent need for a cohesive, balanced and co-ordinated response to migration, said members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee on Migration today...

DUSHANBE, 4 May 2017- The fourth Cross-Border Research Conference on “the Dilemma of Migration” concluded today at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe, Tajikistan...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region – including, however, fewer explosions – compared with the previous reporting period. It followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Marinka, Dokuchaievsk and Horlivka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM recorded a ceasefire violation inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to a gas pipeline in Zhovte. The SMM monitored a border area currently not under government control. In Kharkiv, the Mission monitored the situation of internally displaced persons. In Odessa it continued to monitor the commemoration of events that took place on 2 May 2014 in the city...

The annual presentation of Kazakhstan’s National Human Rights Commissioner’s (Ombudsman) Report took place on 4 May 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan...

Austria’s 2017 OSCE Chairmanship is bringing together military as well as civilian experts on 4 and 5 May 2017 to discuss current and future challenges to security in Europe with a special focus on military aspects of security. The Intersessional OSCE Dialogue on Military Doctrines is hosted by Austria’s Federal Ministry of Defence at the National Defence Academy in Vienna...

Trends and new challenges for media were the focus of a conference to mark World Press Freedom Day organized by the Tajik Media Council and different media associations, with the support of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and international media donors on 3 May 2017 in Dushanbe...

Some 30 officials representing financial institutions, relevant ministries, law enforcement and regulatory bodies of Turkmenistan participated in an OSCE-organized seminar on best practices in combating the financing of terrorism that concluded on 3 May 2017 in Ashgabat...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM observed a fresh impact site inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. It followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Donetsk city and Yasynuvata. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Luhansk city. In Odessa and Kherson, the SMM monitored the commemoration of the events that took place on 2 May 2014 in Odessa...

An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion on the further development and reformation of the legal profession took place on 28 April 2017 in Astana...

This report is for the general public and the media. SUMMARY 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. On 27 April the sixty-second

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine is co-operating with the country’s Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Social Policy, the National Police and the State Border Guard Service to develop and distribute 150,000 information cards with Dos and Don’ts for visitors during the Eurovision Song Contest, taking place from 7 to 13 May 2017 in Kyiv...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations, including of ceasefire violations. The Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24-hour period. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* Small-arms fire occurred close to the SMM inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM monitored two border areas currently not under government control. In Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Odessa, the Mission monitored gatherings marking 1 May...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the incident of 23 April near Pryshyb, which limited the Mission’s observations, including of ceasefire violations. Between the evenings of 28 and 29 April the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, while between the evenings of 29 and 30 April it recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations – including, however, fewer explosions – compared with the previous 24 hours...

An OSCE-supported five-day training course on risk profiling at border checkpoints to assist authorities in countering transnational threats concluded in Astana on 28 April 2017...

An OSCE-supported public council meeting at the Ministry of Internal Affairs to discuss ways to enhance the level of trust between law enforcement and the public took place in Astana on 28 April 2017...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the incident of 23 April near Pryshyb, which limits its observations, including of ceasefire violations. An explosion and small-arms fire occurred close to the SMM near Molodizhne and Kruta Hora. The Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Yasynuvata. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM observed for the first time the presence of a mine hazard sign inside the security zone near Popasne. The SMM monitored the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints. The SMM monitored a border area currently not under government control. The SMM monitored a protest outside the Russian Federation Consulate in Odessa...

On 28 April an SMM patrol consisting of six members and two armoured vehicles was positioned at an “LPR”-checkpoint approximately 1.5km south-west of “LPR”-controlled Molodizhne (63km north-west of Luhansk) speaking with an armed “LPR” member. At 12:17, the patrol members were proceeding to their vehicles to depart the area when the same “LPR” member began waving his hand at the SMM, indicating that the patrol should depart quickly. At 12:20, from inside their vehicles, the SMM heard an explosion assessed as an airburst about 50-100m north-west. At the same time, the SMM saw a cloud of black smoke rising above the mentioned location; no impact was observed from the distance. The SMM could not assess the cause of the explosion. The SMM immediately left the area and returned safely to its base in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk)...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the incident of 23 April near Pryshyb, which affected its observations, including of ceasefire violations. The Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region but fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted at all three and elsewhere.* The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure in Luhansk region. The Mission continued to monitor the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. The SMM visited a border area currently not under government control near Voznesenivka...

WARSAW, 28 April 2017 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), today condemned last night’s attack on the Assembly members in Skopje and called for urgent steps to resolve the situation peacefully...

Improving the ability to record, investigate and prosecute hate crimes was the focus of two training-of-trainers events for police officers and prosecutors, respectively, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in Reykjavik this week. The events were part

An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion on media legislation in Kazakhstan took place in Astana on 28 April 2017...

Today, we met to discuss yesterday's very serious incidents at the Parliament and review the security situation.

VIENNA, 28 April 2017- The OSCE Permanent Council issued in Vienna yesterday a declaration of support for the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine following the tragic incident in eastern Ukraine on 23 April in which an SMM patrol member was killed in the line of duty by an explosion...

VIENNA, 27 April 2017 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier firmly condemn tonight’s attack on the Parliament building in Skopje. Violence can not substitute for political solutions. Such solutions must be found within the democratic processes in a responsible manner...

MINSK, 27 April 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 three working groups in Minsk on 26 April 2017:..

On 27 April 2017 at 07:04 (Moscow time), the sixty-second Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 15 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the 15 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 14:58 on 27 April...

VIENNA, 27 April 2017- Following today’s decision of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, the OSCE Centre in Bishkek will be transformed into the “OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek” as of 1 May 2017...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but, following the serious security incident that involved an SMM patrol on 23 April near Pryshyb, its monitoring in eastern Ukraine continued to be conducted with some security restrictions, which affected its observations, including of ceasefire violations. The Mission continued assessing the site of the 23 April incident. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted at all three and elsewhere.* The SMM saw damage from gunfire inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and near Zhovte. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs to power lines near Nyzhnoteple...

ASHGABAT, 27 April 2017- An OSCE-organized training course on security procedures at aviation checkpoints and analysing X-ray images for aviation security and law-enforcement personnel concluded today in Ashgabat. The practical training course brought together 19 officials from the Aviation

Twenty-three Finnish police officers, 17 men and six women, participated in a train-the-trainers course organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) from 25 to 27 April 2017 in Tampere, Finland, as part of its Training against Hate Crime for Law-Enforcement

Twenty-six human rights defenders from across Ukraine worked on effective human rights advocacy strategies and improved their skills in holding dialogue with state authorities and working with the media during a training event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) from 24 to 27 April 2017 in Odesa.