News and press releases

To promote women’s leadership in addressing transnational threats, women professionals from across Central Asia convened for a Regional Expert Group Meeting on 3 and 4 June in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event focused on youth, gender and labour migration in the context of preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT).

Recognizing the urgency to proactively protect journalists, Montenegrin stakeholders are working toward establishing a national press safety mechanism. In support of this effort, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro assists Montenegro in crafting a roadmap towards the creation of such mechanism modelled on PersVeilig, a Dutch press safety mechanism launched in 2019.

VIENNA, 4 June 2025 — The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Jan Braathu, yesterday concluded his first official visit to Hungary where he held bilateral meetings with Hungarian authorities as well as consultations with journalists and civil society representatives. He also gave a keynote speech at the General Meeting of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) in Budapest.

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, held a workshop in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 29 and 30 May to support the country in developing a national competency framework and training strategy on cybercrime and electronic evidence.

On 2 and 3 June, the OSCE facilitated a study visit to Gibraltar for Moldova’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Hosted by Gibraltar’s Ministry of Justice, Trade and Industry, the visit aimed to deepen Moldova’s understanding of effective regulatory and operational responses to money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) risks linked to virtual assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).

VIENNA, 3 June 2025 – More inclusive policymaking is needed to promote tolerance and counter discrimination in the OSCE region, OSCE leaders said at a two-day meeting to discuss effective ways of building inclusive societies through dialogue and participation, 50 years after OSCE participating States reaffirmed the universality of human rights and committed to respect the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief for all.

WARSAW, 2 June 2025 – Yesterday’s presidential run-off in Poland was competitive and well managed, but the longstanding polarization between the country’s two main political camps and media bias contributed to an intensely contested campaign amidst ongoing controversies over the independence of some key electoral oversight institutions, international observers said in a statement today.

The OSCE and the Kingdom of Thailand marked the 25th anniversary of their partnership with a special workshop and a meeting of the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group, held in Vienna on 30 May and 2 June 2025.

The rising threat of technology-facilitated trafficking in human beings was the focus of a two-day OSCE seminar in Ashgabat from 29 to 30 May 2025. Jointly organized by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the OSCE Centre in

Cybersecurity experts and policymakers from Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus and Mongolia explored cyber norms and confidence-building measures (CBMs) at a workshop in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department on 27 and 28 May.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in close partnership with the State Agency for Personal Data Protection under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, has helped raise national awareness and improve institutional knowledge in the field of personal data protection. Over the past three

From 19 to 23 May 2025, four technical specialists from the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic took part in a study visit to Austria, focused on the use of mobile laboratory equipment for the chemical analysis of ammunition propellants. The visit was organized by the OSCE Programme Office

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) organized the VI Cycling Marathon for preschool children on 30 May 2025 in Djizak, marking another step in its ongoing efforts to promote environmental awareness, sustainable mobility and healthy lifestyles. This annual initiative brought together

To strengthen the role of women in peacebuilding and security across Central Asia, the OSCE Gender Issues Programme organized a two-day regional workshop on 27 and 28 May in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The event focused on advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and supporting the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 in Central Asia, with a focus on Turkmenistan.

SARAJEVO, 30 May 2025- The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) warmly welcomes the announcement of the Serbian Orthodox Church’s return to the work of the Interreligious Council of BiH. We believe that dialogue among people and communities is vital for BiH society, and that religious communities can play a very important role in this process. We commend the joint efforts of the leadership of the Islamic Community in BiH, Serbian Orthodox Church, Catholic Church and Jewish Community in BiH in engaging in constructive dialogue. The Mission remains ready to support the important work of the Interreligious Council in fostering mutual understanding and co-operation.

SARAJEVO, 30 May 2025 — The tenth South East Europe Media Conference (SEEMC), “Actioning Media Viability for Informed, Resilient Societies,” concluded today in Sarajevo.

Methane emissions monitoring and reporting in line with the Global Methane Pledge requirements were discussed during an OSCE-supported study visit to Berlin, Germany, that took place from 27 to 29 May 2025. Representatives from the State Concern “Turkmengas” and the Ministry of Environmental

How gender intersects with climate-related security risks was one of the questions explored by experts and practitioners at the “Gendered Perspectives on Climate and Security: Opportunities for Enhancing Equality in Resilience Strategies” workshop organized by the OSCE, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and adelphi on the margins of the 2025 Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development on 12 May 2025.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) today marks the conclusion of its project, Simulation-Based Training Exercise for Local Anti-Trafficking Structures in BiH, with a conference attended by approximately 35 in-person participants and additional online guests, including simulation

SARAJEVO, 28 May 2025 — The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Jan Braathu, concluded today his first official visit to in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) where he held three-days of bilateral meetings.

The use of new technologies in interaction between state institutions and media was in focus of an OSCE-organized training seminar that took place on 27 and 28 May 2025 in Ashgabat. The training seminar targeted officials of Turkmenistan’s key state institutions who are in charge of communications

As part of its ongoing commitment to support the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS), the OSCE Mission in Kosovo recently facilitated the second study visit to the North Carolina Justice Academy (NCJA) in the United States (US). Building on a previous course delivered to senior officials of

Practitioners from Moldova’s State Tax Service and the Ministry of Finance worked to enhance their understanding of virtual assets, their tax implications, and effective regulation and compliance mechanisms at a workshop organized by the OSCE from 26 to 27 May in Chisinau.

On 26 and 27 May 2025, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in co-operation with the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan, supported a series of high-level events dedicated to enhancing transport connectivity and trade facilitation across Central Asia. The three events included the Expert Group Meeting on Regional Co-operation for Transport Connectivity Simplification in Central Asia, the Second High-Level Working Group on the TUTIT (Tajikistan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Türkiye) Multimodal Corridor Digital Connectivity, and the Working Group on e-TIR Implementation in Central Asia.

As the renewable energy sector in Central Asia grows, so does the need for a skilled and inclusive workforce to support it. In response, the OSCE and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) officially launched the OSCE Regional Task Force on Education for Just and Inclusive

Thirty investigators from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Prosecutor’s Office developed skills in trauma-sensitive approaches for interviewing child victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking during a training event on 26-27 May. The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz),

Ambassador Michel Tarran, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, met with Prof. Dr. Mark Marku, Dean of University of Tirana’s Faculty of History and Philology, on 26 May 2025, to discuss strengthening collaboration and advancing Albania’s goals in the areas of media freedom and freedom of expression.

Over 140 participants from OSCE participating States, Asian Partners for Co-operation, international organizations, civil society and academia gathered in Vienna and online for the Third Inter-Regional Conference on the Impact of Emerging Technologies.

How to ensure gender differences and experiences are effectively addressed in advancing climate resilience and energy security in mountain regions in Central Asia was part of the discussions during the high-level Global Mountain Dialogue conference organized by Kyrgyz Republic in collaboration with international partners in Bishkek on 24 and 25 April.

Partnerships, crime reduction, and accountability and trust in law enforcement were some of topics in focus at a side event on “Building Police-Public Partnerships: Community-Oriented Policing and Community Engagement” organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section in Vienna, Austria, on 23 May

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with Greek document experts, held a training course on detecting forged documents and impostors at border crossing points for 193 future border police agents studying at the ‘Avram Iancu Training School for Border Police Agents’ in Oradea, Romania, on 22 and 23 May.

The Regional Explosive Hazards Training Center (REHTC) of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Tajikistan (MoD) hosted a regional training on Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Level 2, marking a significant step in enhancing Central Asia’s capabilities in mitigating explosive threats. The comprehensive training, which began on 28 April and ran until 16 May, was led by expert instructors from Tajikistan, underscoring the region’s growing self-sufficiency in this critical field.

From 18 to 23 May 2025, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe supported an exchange visit to Berlin and Munich, Germany, focused on best practices in green economy principles. The visit served as a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building for officials from Tajikistan involved in advancing the country’s green economy strategy.

Wilhelm Höynck, who served as the OSCE’s first Secretary General, passed away on 15 May 2025.

An OSCE-organized Tactical Medical Training of Trainers (ToT) Course, took place from 20 to 22 May 2025 in Ashgabat. The course brought together thirty-one participants, including border guards who work in remote areas serving as first responders to emergencies and incidents, and specializing in

The OSCE has reaffirmed its commitment towards strengthening cybersecurity measures in Tajikistan through two specialized practical training courses conducted at its Programme Office in Dushanbe from 12 to 16 May and from 19 to 22 May 2025. Thirty-two law enforcement officials (31 men and one woman) from the Ministry of Internal Affairs participated in two intensive five and four-day courses focused on enhancing their capabilities in usage of open-source cybercrime intelligence and modern investigation techniques.

SARAJEVO, 21 May 2025- Following the adoption of the Law on financing of political organizations before the Republika Srpska National Assembly (RSNA), the OSCE Mission to BiH cautions authorities in Republika Srpska that the adoption of such a law risks (i) expanding the space for political corruption and creating unequal treatment between governing and opposition parties; and (ii) undermining the right of all political actors in Republika Srpska to pursue their political objectives through democratic means. Moreover, it does not establish adequate sanctions for violations of provisions of this law. The OSCE Mission to BiH calls on the RSNA to reassess its adoption.

From 19 to 21 May, the OSCE Secretariat in collaboration with the Government of Andorra, the US Mission to the OSCE, and University of Andorra co-organized the first-ever Model OSCE in Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra. The three-day event brought together 25 young people with diverse backgrounds from

To help drive Kyrgyzstan’s transition to clean energy and meet its growing demand for renewables, the OSCE organized a joint initiative in Bishkek focused on both high-level policy dialogue and technical training. This effort was carried out in partnership with the Kyrgyz State Technical University

SARAJEVO, 21 May 2025 – In a decisive step toward strengthening protections for survivors of domestic violence and violence against women, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission) convened a meeting today in Sarajevo to advance the implementation of the new legal framework in the Federation of BiH (FBiH).

On 19 and 20 May 2025, the Albanian School of Magistrates in close co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania held a specialized capacity-building training aimed at strengthening the skills of judges and prosecutors in investigating and adjudicating complex money laundering cases. About 70 judges and prosecutors participated at the training, including 13 judges and prosecutors from the Academy of Justice of Pristina.

On 20 May 2025, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe facilitated a coordination meeting between the newly elected members of the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians — comprising 23 women — and representatives from government institutions and development agencies.

On 20 May 2025, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe hosted the second quarterly meeting of the Working Group on Macro, Private and Financial Sector Development and Regional Trade Facilitation. The Working Group is part of the Development Co-ordination Council, the main co-ordination body streamlining the work of the international community in Tajikistan.

The online component of the 2025 OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security concluded on 16 May.

Seventeen representatives from Ukraine’s demining agencies underwent a two-and-a-half month training to obtain an international qualification in explosive ordnance disposal. Organized by the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine with support from the European Union, the training programme concluded on 18 May and included a combination of theoretical and practical exercises in line with the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).

WARSAW, 19 May 2025 – The first round of Poland’s presidential election offered voters a genuine choice between political options, but it took place against a background of deep political polarization that also impacted some key state institutions involved in the electoral process, international observers said in a statement today.

BUCHAREST, 19 May 2025 – In the strongly-contested second round of Romania’s repeat presidential election, fundamental freedoms of assembly and association were respected. However, defamatory rhetoric, biased media, and persistent inauthentic behaviour online, alongside regulatory gaps and fragmented responses by institutions, limited voters’ opportunity to make an informed choice and impacted public trust, international observers said in a statement today.

From 12 to 16 May, the PCUz organized a study trip to Finland for representatives of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan to gain insight into Finland’s best practices, environmental policies and legislative frameworks. The visit aimed to support

The OSCE is helping strengthen Montenegro’s ability to combat arms and human trafficking through targeted training for border and criminal police officers. From 13 to 16 May in Bar, Montenegro, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), in close co-ordination with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, trained 15 officers from Montenegro’s Police Directorate as part of its ongoing support for border security and management.

From 16 to 18 May 2025, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in close co-operation with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, successfully concluded a three-day training programme held in Nurek aimed at strengthening the skills of young professionals in the water sector.