News and press releases

WARSAW, 13 June 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed shock and grief today following the tragic shooting yesterday in a gay club in Orlando, Florida that left 50 people dead and another 53 wounded...

VIENNA, 13 June 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today conveyed her concern about a new law in Russia which imposes excessive responsibility on Internet search engines and websites for aggregation and distribution of online information...

COPENHAGEN, 13 June 2016 – Pointing to a loss of trust between OSCE countries in recent years, the rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly’s political affairs and security committee, Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden), has authored a report and draft resolution geared towards strengthening international dialogue and improving co-operation to meet common challenges facing the OSCE region. The resolution will be considered at the OSCE PA’s 25th Annual Session, being held in Tbilisi, Georgia, from 1 to 5 July...

VIENNA / BERLIN, 13 June 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier together expressed shock and deep sorrow regarding the deadly attack in Orlando...

COPENHAGEN, 13 June 2016 – In response to this weekend’s deadly shooting in Orlando, Florida, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) issued the following statement...

NEUM, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12 June 2016 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) organized a two-day alumni meeting for over 20 students who attended the OSCE-organized Youth and Security Summer School when it was held for the first time last year. The peace and security studies students of the Universities of Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka discussed current security challenges and ways to promote youth participation in the development of a comprehensive security policy for BiH...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared to the previous day. Several explosions occurred in the vicinity of the SMM near Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons; it also noted armoured combat vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun and an unmanned aerial vehicle in the security zone. The SMM continued to monitor the humanitarian situation and observed a demonstration against discussions surrounding an armed OSCE presence in Donetsk. It also monitored a series of demonstrations in Dnipro, Odessa and Kyiv. Armed “DPR” members kept the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected and the SMM faced one additional restriction on its freedom of movement, in an area not controlled by the Government...

VIENNA, 11 June 2016 – On the 15th anniversary of the murder of Serbian journalist Milan Pantić, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović called on authorities in Serbia to step up their efforts in investigating this and other journalist killings...

VIENNA, 10 June 2016- On the basis of the holiday ceasefire agreement of 29 April 2016, the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) and representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine have today conducted a video-conference, in order to discuss recent ceasefire violations along the line of contact...

The SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous day and some ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with none the previous day. Whilst at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, incoming fire impacted about 100 metres from SMM’s position. The SMM observed craters and damage caused by shelling in Donetsk city and other areas. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted heavy weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines; it also noted armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continued to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected; and the SMM faced four additional restrictions of its freedom of movement, mainly in areas not controlled by the Government. The Mission observed in Lviv civic activists demanding the dismissal of the mayor...

A series of assessment missions conducted by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), and the OSCE/ODIHR, focused on anti-corruption and anti-money laundering efforts in South East Europe, concluded on 10 June 2016...

ULAANBAATAR, 10 June 2016 – A three-day national anti-corruption needs assessment mission conducted by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, upon invitation of Mongolia’s Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC), concluded today in Ulaanbaatar...

Some 20 newly-recruited personnel of the Atlantis rehabilitation centre took part in a two-week capacity building training course, conducted in the premises of the penal colony in the village of Novopokrovka, which concluded on 10 June. The event was organized by the Kyrgyz State Service for Execution of Punishment (SSEP) and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek...

BISHKEK, 10 June 2016 – An OSCE-supported training course for 10 staff members of the National Security State Committee’s (NSSC) remand prisons on improving the prison service standards concluded today at the NSSC Institute in Bishkek...

The final public consultations on the content of the new National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of the UN SCR 1325 – Women, Peace and Security (2016-2020) was held on 10 June 2016 in Belgrade at the premises of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia...

ASHGABAT, 10 June 2016 – Some 30 journalists representing national broadcast, print and online media from across the country as well as journalism instructors from Turkmenistan’s institutions of higher education completed an OSCE-organized training course on journalism reporting skills in Ashgabat today...

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine and the Supreme Court of Ukraine organized on 10 June 2016 in Kyiv a joint roundtable discussion on protection of property in times of conflict, bringing together over 60 representatives of Ukrainian legislative and executive powers, leading judicial and law schools, as well as judges and international and local experts...

A two-day training seminar on the methods of efficient water management for some 25 students from Kazakhstan’s five leading academic institutions concluded on 10 June 2016 in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan...

Berlin, 9 June 2016 – In his opening remarks at the 10th Conference for German staff in International Organizations, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier paid tribute to Germany’s support for to Organization’s work: “Germany’s contribution to the OSCE is exemplary, both in terms of political and financial support, as well as through the provision of qualified seconded experts who make up the greater part of our staff.

VIENNA, 9 June 2016 – Over 100 law enforcement experts, academics and representatives from international and regional organizations as well as the OSCE’s 57 participating States and Partners for Co-operation, gathered in Vienna today for the two-day OSCE Annual Police Experts Meeting, which focuses on a modern policing decision-making model...

SARAJEVO, 9 June 2016 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), in co-operation with the Fojnicani-Maglaj Association, facilitated today a visit to the National Museum of BiH in Sarajevo for 50 students and teachers of Zepce’s Fra Grga Martic and Maglaj primary schools and their branch schools in Bradici and Tujnica...

An SMM national staff member who had been held in Donetsk city was released. The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day. Luhansk region remained calm with no ceasefire violations recorded. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons; it noted armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft gun in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continued to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected; the SMM faced two additional restrictions on its freedom of movement, both in border areas not controlled by the Government...

VIENNA, 9 June 2016 – Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, highlighted the value of the Human Rights Convention and called on the 57 OSCE participating States to “put these shared standards and common laws at the heart of our approach to stability in Europe and beyond.”...

BATUMI, 9 June 2016 – The Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) stakeholders discussed today in Batumi how the Initiative can contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and transition to green economy at an ENVSEC side event on the occasion of the Eighth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference...

VIENNA, 9 June 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the removal of a provision increasing prison terms for defaming elected officials and judges from a bill being considered by the Italian Senate...

ASTANA, 9 June 2016 – A two-day training seminar on promoting court information for some 25 representatives of the supreme and regional courts of Kazakhstan began today in Astana...

Equal access to justice for women and men was the focus of an OSCE-supported forum on 9 June 2016 in Kyiv, which brought together over 80 representatives of the national justice system, legislative and executive authorities, the Ombudsman Office, regional and international organizations and NGOs...

DUSHANBE, 8 June 2016 – A one-year learning course on Border Security and Management for Senior Leadership (BSMSL) was launched with an introductory meeting that took place in Dushanbe from 6-8 June...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day. Luhansk region remained calm with no ceasefire violations recorded. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted heavy weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines; it also noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continued to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected, and prevented the SMM from accessing Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The Mission has been working to verify the whereabouts and ensure the safe return of an SMM national staff member missing since 7 June. The SMM observed the situation at the administrative boundary line between Kherson and Crimea...

VIENNA, 8 June 2016 – Accreditation for foreign correspondents should not be a precondition for a journalist to obtain a visa or to enter a country, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said today as she presented a set of recommendations on the accreditation of foreign journalists for implementing the right to freedom of information...

DUSHANBE, 8 June 2016 – The annual forum of the OSCE–Tajikistan Task Force took place today in Dushanbe, with high-ranking officials from the OSCE and the Tajik government as well as representatives of civil society highlighting their recent major achievements and identifying priorities for national and regional co-operation in 2017...

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic decreased at both BCPs...

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Serbia, for the second consecutive year, will organize the Dialogue Academy for Young Women as part of the Follow Us initiative. The initiative gathers prominent women from politics, academia, media and civil society from Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština and supports the process of dialogue, reconciliation and confidence-building between the two societies...

International standards and good practices concerning the human rights of armed forces personnel were the focus of an event, co-organized by OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the European Organization of Military Associations (EUROMIL) in Riga on 7 June 2016.

Access to justice in courts of administrative jurisdiction in times of conflict, protection of human rights and application of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) case law were in the focus of an OSCE-supported seminar on 6 and 7 June 2016 in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, which brought together some 60 judges working in the administrative courts relocated from Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as local and international experts...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to each of the previous two days, and noted a high number of ceasefire violations, including 266 explosions, in Luhansk region compared to none on 4 and 5 June. The SMM conducted crater analysis in government-controlled Krymske and at the “LPR” checkpoint on the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. It continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to essential infrastructure in the Zolote-Pervomaisk area and in Veselohorivka. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM monitored gatherings in Odessa. Its freedom of movement was restricted on four occasions on both sides of the contact line...

COPENHAGEN, 7 June 2016 – Following today’s car bombing in a central tourist district in Istanbul, killing 11 and wounding dozens, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) issued the following statement...

The OSCE Office in Yerevan, in close co-operation with the Armenian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MLSA), organized a roundtable discussion on the economic integration of migrants in Armenia on 3 June 2016...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region both on 4 and 5 June as compared to 3 June, and observed a similarly high number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region on the night of 3 June – compared to the previous night and fewer during the remainder of the reporting period – compared to 3 June. In particular, a sharp increase of violence was noted in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata area and south-east of Svitlodarsk. On both sides of the contact line, the Mission conducted crater analysis and observed damages to civilian houses caused by shelling; on one occasion, the SMM observed a dead person. The SMM noted that a “DPR” checkpoint had been relocated closer to a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to essential infrastructure. The Mission’s operations were restricted by the sides on several occasions...

Application of modern forensic standards in the judiciary with a particular focus on treatment of evidence, forensic analytics and quality control, as well as DNA analysis and crime scene investigation were the focus of an OSCE-supported seminar on 3 June 2016 in Danilovgrad, Montenegro...

BANGKOK, 6 June 2016 – Joining forces in combatting violent extremism, terrorism and human trafficking, building interstate confidence in cyber space and promoting sustainable development and good migration governance is critical to ensuring comprehensive security in the OSCE area and its neighborhood, emphasized participants at the opening of the OSCE Asian Conference in Bangkok today...

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 6 June 2016 released a publication to assist OSCE participating States in better following up on recommendations from final reports by election observation missions.

An OSCE Programme Office in Astana-supported workshop on international best practices in irregular migration management and readmission procedures for 10 Internal Affairs Ministry and National Security Committee officials started took place on 6 June 2016 in Astana...

The SMM observed a lower level of violence in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous day. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons; it noted also armoured combat vehicles and other hardware in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continue to keep the power supply to the SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected.* The Mission could neither locate nor recover any debris at the presumed crash site of an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Korsun.

NEW YORK, 3 June 2016 – The OSCE is a platform for co-operation in countering global criminal challenges through police peace operations, said the Head of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department’s Strategic Police Matters Unit, Guy Vinet as he addressed the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UN COPS) today in New York.

DUSHANBE, 3 June 2016 – Twenty-two officials from customs and border agencies of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan completed today the Risk Analysis and Management in Border Security Course at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

VIENNA, 3 June 2016 – In his address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna yesterday, Georgia’s Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze reiterated his country’s firm commitment to OSCE’s confidence-building measures in the face of security challenges in Europe and its efforts to tackle transnational threats.

BISHKEK, 3 June 2016 – Wrapping up a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, which has included meetings with the Speaker of the Parliament, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials at the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Special Representative for Central and Eastern Asia and Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Christine Muttonen spoke to students today at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek on conflict prevention and peace-building, noting the strengths of the OSCE’s approach, as well as areas for improvement...

BERLIN, 3 June 2016 – Some 20 OSCE parliamentarians were in Berlin this week for an OSCE Code of Conduct conference focused on strengthening parliamentary control of the security sector. The event, which took place 2-3 June, highlighted the important role that parliaments play in both the oversight of armed forces and in increasing the level of political support for the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects, particularly in the context of emerging security challenges...

WARSAW, 3 June 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed concern today over yesterday’s sentencing by a court in Dushanbe of two leaders of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT) to life imprisonment, and 11 other high-ranking party officials to jail terms ranging from two to 28 years...