News and press releases

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous day. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and noted heavy weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM also noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted several times, mostly in areas not controlled by the Government, including once at the border. An SMM mini UAV crashed south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, and the SMM lost all communication with its long-range UAV while it was flying over “DPR” controlled areas.* The Mission observed several peaceful protests in Kyiv...

VIENNA, 3 June 2016 – OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier presented today the OSCE Handbook on Combating Corruption, which outlines an array of measures for preventing and combating corruption related to economic, legal and human rights issues...

Secretaries General and Deputy Secretaries General of Western Balkans parliaments, heads of human resources and information and communications technology departments, legal advisors and representatives of OSCE Missions in the region took part in a meeting on strategic and annual planning in parliaments in Podgorica, Montenegro on 1 and 2 June 2016...

Enhancing the capacity of civil society organizations to prevent and respond to hate crimes was the focus of a workshop organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Bucharest on 2-3 June 2016.

The role of women in creating safer communities was the topic of a roundtable discussion organized by the OSCE Mission to Skopje in co-operation with the Sector for Internal Affairs Kumanovo that took place in Lipkovo on 3 June 2016. Fourteen women from different ethnic backgrounds who engage with the community on a regular basis discussed how they can contribute to policing, safety and security in the communities...

VIENNA, 3 June 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said the recent acts of police violence toward journalists covering demonstrations in France are disturbing, and needs to be addressed...

Recognizing, investigating and prosecuting hate crime against people with disabilities was the focus of a workshop for police officers and prosecutors from Croatia, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in co-operation with the European Network for Independent Living (ENIL) and the Office of the Croatian Ombudsman for Persons with Disabilities, held in Zagreb on 2-3 June 2016.

BERLIN, 3 June 2016 – The resumption of talks in the 5+2 format signals a fresh impetus in the settlement process and provides new momentum to achieve real progress, said Ambassador Cord Meier-Klodt, Special Representative of the German OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process...

An analysis of Tajikistan’s three most recent amnesty laws and the findings of a study on the situation of persons released from confinement were presented at an OSCE-hosted roundtable discussion on 3 June 2016 in Dushanbe, which brought together some 30 representatives of the government, civil society and international partners...

At 18:16 (EET) on 2 June the SMM lost all communication with an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while it was flying at an altitude of 9,000ft in the area between “DPR”-controlled Korsun (31km north-east of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Shevchenko (28km north-east of Donetsk)...

OSKEMEN, Kazakhstan, 3 June 2016 – An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion for some 40 representatives of government, business, civil society and academia on public participation in environmental decision-making through Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) took place today in Oskemen, Eastern Kazakhstan Region...

Representatives of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) completed on 3 June 2016 in Tbilisi the third NHRI Academy, a week-long course led by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and organized jointly with the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), in partnership with the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs and the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia.

More than 60 school children from all over Ukraine participated in the Second Annual Human Rights School from 2 to 3 June 2016 in Odesa...

CHOLPON-ATA, Kyrgyzstan, 3 June 2016 – Measures to enhance tolerance among religious communities in Kyrgyzstan is in focus of an OSCE-supported meeting which concludes tomorrow in Cholpon-ata town in Issyk–Kul region, having brought together some 120 representatives of local self-government bodies, political parties, education and health sectors, academia, civil society, as well as elderly people and youth...

DUSHANBE, 3 June 2016 – The OSCE Office in Tajikistan today concluded a four-day training course in Dushanbe for 33 government officials, representatives of civil society and police on countering domestic violence...

Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 2 June 2016, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors described country engagement and highlighted the disturbing increase in hate speech. The statement covered the High Commissioner’s activities since her last statement to the

PARIS, 3 June 2016 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France) met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Brussels on 31 May and with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Paris on 2 June to discuss implementation of the decisions from the 16 May summit in Vienna. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, also participated in the meetings...

VIENNA, 2 June 2016 – Noting the investigation launched in Kyiv today, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, reiterated her call for a swift and transparent judicial procedure to identify those responsible of the disclosure of personal data of journalists accredited in the east of Ukraine...

The SMM observed a similar 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 weapons and noted heavy weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM also noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continue to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected.* The Mission observed a peaceful protest in Ivano-Frankivsk, organized by family members of soldiers...

BERLIN, 2 June 2016- Strengthening parliamentary control and oversight of the security sector through raising awareness of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects is vital to building trust among OSCE participating States and to prevent conflicts, said participants at the start of a two-day conference in Berlin today...

DUSHANBE, 2 June 2016 – The OSCE Office in Tajikistan today donated equipment to the Border Troops of Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security that will be installed at border checkpoints in the newly-built terminal of Dushanbe International Airport to allow for advanced verification of passports...

ASTANA, 2 June 2016 – An OSCE-supported seminar focusing on the use of a technologically advanced passport verification system, the International Civil Aviation Organization’ Public Key Directory (ICAO PKD), concluded today in Astana...

BERLIN, 2 June 2016- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today welcomed the resumption of negotiations on the Transdniestria conflict from 2 to 3 June 2016 in the guesthouse of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, Villa Borsig, in Berlin...

The SMM observed a high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, although fewer than on the previous day. In Luhansk region, the Mission observed more ceasefire violations- all overnight – than on the previous day. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and shooting in Yasne and Stanytsia Luhanska. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. In Lviv, the SMM monitored protests in front of the regional council. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted several times, both in areas controlled and not controlled by the Government...

KYIV, 1 June 2016- Today, on the International Day for Protection of Children, Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) called upon the sides to do their utmost to bring normality to children’s lives in Ukraine...

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) announced on 1 June 2016 the funding of five civil society projects in Ukraine aimed at increasing awareness of hate crime in society.

DUSHANBE, 1 June 2016 – Two training courses- a four-week course organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan for 19 Afghan border police officers on patrolling and leadership, and a three-week joint operational planning course for ten Tajik border troops and ten Afghan border police officers- concluded today in Dushanbe...

To mark International Children’s Day on 1 June 2016, the OSCE Office in Tajikistan supported charity events for children with disabilities in Dushanbe and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO)...

VIENNA, 31 May 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today repeated her urgent call on authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) regarding the country’s public broadcasting system, following a decision by the Steering Board of the BiH Radio and Television (BHRT) to suspend all programmes as of 30 June 2016...

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

The SMM observed a high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, similar to the level observed on the previous day. With the exception of Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk region remained largely calm. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted several times, mostly in areas not controlled by the Government, and once at a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site...

ASTANA, 31 May 2016 – Expressing a strong belief in the role of inter-parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative for Central and Eastern Asia, Austrian parliamentarian Christine Muttonen, today called for greater unity and co-operation across the OSCE area in countering violent extremism...

BISHKEK, 31 May 2016 – To mark International Children’s Day on 1 June, the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry in co-ordination with the OSCE Centre in Bishkek organized a roundtable discussion on child trafficking, bringing together 25 representatives of state agencies, parliament, international organizations, civil society and the media...

Corruption risks, challenges in accountability and transparency as well as the legislative and regulatory frameworks in public procurement, customs and taxation, free competition and monopolies, were the focus of a workshop supported by the OSCE Office in Yerevan held on 28 and 29 May 2016 in Aghveran, in Armenia’s Kotayk region...

BERLIN, 31 May 2016 – To develop a powerful message against violent extremism, the OSCE in partnership with eYeka, a global community of talented creators, has launched a design contest today, the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier announced. Under the #LetsDoodle hashtag, the contest invites artists and designers to develop a cartoon character that will challenge the binary, us versus them, black-and-white thinking that often underpins violent extremist narratives...

The OSCE Mission to Moldova held the second in a year-long series of Civil Society Club meetings for NGOs from the left bank of the Dniester/Nistru River, which took place on 26 May 2016 in Chisinau and brought together 18 NGO representatives...

BERLIN, 31 May 2016 – Violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism can only be effectively addressed through a broad range of measures, co-ordinated in a joint international effort, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Germany’s Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said today as they opened a high-level OSCE-wide Counter-Terrorism Conference in Berlin...

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine and the International Renaissance Foundation supported a training session for eight board members of the Association of Legal Clinics in Ukraine on strategic planning, which was held in Bucha, Ukraine, on 30-31 May 2016...

ASHGABAT, 31 May 2016 – Some 25 law-enforcement and military officials, at an OSCE-organized training course that concluded in Ashgabat today, discussed practices of responding to terrorism threats to large public events...

On both Saturday and Sunday, the SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with 27 May. The Mission followed up on allegations of shelling on both sides of the contact line. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles and newly laid mines in the security zone. The SMM monitored the situation of civilians at checkpoints and observed border areas not controlled by the Government. In Chernivtsi, the SMM monitored a peaceful march to celebrate a Jewish holiday. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on three occasions in areas not controlled by the Government. East of Shyrokyne, near a “DPR” checkpoint, an armed man fired warning shots and pointed his weapon at the SMM, forcing the patrol to leave the area...

VIENNA, 30 May 2016 – Senior representatives of Russian and Ukrainian journalists’ unions today agreed to co-operate on steps to increase journalists’ safety and professionalism as they met again in Vienna. The meeting was hosted by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović with the purpose of planning further joint activities to improve the situation for media working in and around Ukraine...

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Astrid Thors visited Moldova from 23 to 25 May 2016 to discuss issues including the draft integration strategy developed with HCNM’s assistance to the Bureau for Interethnic Relations, relations between Chisinau and the autonomous territorial

DUSHANBE, 30 May 2016- Some 90 participants, including government officials and civil society representatives, are coming together in Dushanbe today for a meeting organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan to discuss human rights issues specific to the country, ahead of the annual OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw...

The SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous day. An SMM foot patrol came under small-arms fire near Yasynuvata. The Mission followed up on allegations of shelling between 24 and 26 May near Stanytsia Luhanska and of casualties. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on six occasions, including when it lost all communication with its long-range unmanned aerial vehicle near Horlivka...

BAKU, 28 May 2016 – Concluding a two-day visit to Azerbaijan today, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on the South Caucasus Kristian Vigenin (MP, Bulgaria) reiterated the need for increased parliamentary communication in favour of efforts for a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict...

On 27 May an SMM foot patrol comprised of ten members (including a paramedic) was near “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) to follow up on a reported incident involving a “DPR” member injured by sniper fire. The SMM was accompanied by the Russian Federation Armed Forces Major General at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) and seven armed “DPR” members. The incident had allegedly occurred during a period for which the SMM jointly with the Ukrainian and Russian Generals at the JCCC had facilitated adherence to the ceasefire, in order to enable “DPR” members to recover the bodies of three armed “DPR” members reportedly killed in action the previous day...

At 09:28, the SMM lost all communication with its long-range unmanned aerial vehicle flying over “DPR”-controlled Ozerianivka (35km north-east of Donetsk), on the south-western outskirts of “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk). Emergency procedures were activated but the UAV did not respond. Shortly before communications were lost, the UAV had spotted a multi-purpose tracked vehicle (MTLB) with a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm) mounted on top...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared to the previous day. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling and civilian casualties. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft weapon in the security zone. The SMM observed the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO), monitored the situation of civilians at checkpoints, and observed border areas not controlled by the Government. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on seven occasions. The SMM monitored the situation of demobilized veterans in Chernivtsi and Lviv regions...

KYIV, 27 May 2016 – The Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Ertugrul Apakan today expressed his dismay at two violent incidents putting SMM members in danger and preventing the Mission from effectively monitoring the situation in the conflict-affected east of Ukraine. An SMM patrol came under small-arms fire during a foot patrol in Avdiivka-Yasynuvata area in Donetsk region on 27 May; none of the patrol members was injured. Also today, the SMM’s long-range unmanned aerial vehicle was downed while flying near “DPR”-controlled Horlivka...

BERLIN, 27 May 2016 – Following two recent incidents targeting the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) in the country’s east, OSCE Chairperson-in Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement...