News and press releases

An OSCE-supported two-day training seminar on human rights protection mechanisms for some 280 representatives of the government, students and civil society concluded in Aktobe, Kazakhstan on 19 May 2016...

A memorandum of understanding signed on 19 May 2016 by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development, and the Union of Government Employees NGO aims to enhance the transparency and accountability of the community civil service of Armenia’s municipalities, local self-government bodies, and to improve relevant legislation, bringing it in line with international standards to reduce corruption in public administration...

DUSHANBE, 19 May 2016- Today seventeen female border professionals from Afghanistan and five border officials from Tajikistan graduated from a ten-day border management awareness course at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe, Tajikistan...

The OSCE Mission to Moldova organized a follow-up training event Vadul-lui-Vodă on 13 and 14 May 2016 for 14 law students from Bălţi, Cahul, Chişinău and Comrat aimed at raising public awareness of state guaranteed legal aid in Moldova...

BERLIN, 19 May 2016 – Co-operation on good governance is fundamental to strengthening economic stability and security said participants at the start of the two-day Second Preparatory Meeting of the Annual OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum, today in Berlin...

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 19 May 2016 – The Regional Office for Central Asia of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Bishkek today completed a three-day training course for defence lawyers on developing effective litigation strategies before the UN treaty bodies...

VIENNA, 19 May 2016- Challenges and opportunities in updating conventional arms control and confidence- and security-building measures were the focus of Wednesday’s OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation held in Vienna, under the Forum’s Chairmanship of Poland...

The SMM observed a relatively low level of violence in Donbas. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and visited a border area not controlled by the Government. The SMM noted long queues at checkpoints and monitored the situation affecting civilians living near the contact line. It followed up on reports of shelling in “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk and on reports of casualties due to an explosion in Donetsk city. The SMM also monitored the situation of IDPs. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on three occasions...

BERLIN, 18 May 2016 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened the OSCE business conference “Connectivity for Commerce and Investment” in the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin today, with close to 1000 high-ranking official and business representatives from the entire OSCE region and beyond attending...

BERLIN, 17 May 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today issued the following statement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict:

TBILISI, 17 May 2016 – A five-day training course for law enforcement representatives from Georgia and Azerbaijan on introductory open source IT forensics and network investigations started on Monday in Tbilisi, Georgia...

MOSTAR, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), 17 May 2016 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina today hosted a peer-to-peer meeting for cantonal and district war crimes prosecutors on the legal qualification of enforced disappearance and on applying substantive law in less complex war crimes cases...

The Launch Meeting of the OSCE Gender Equality Platform for Border Security and Management was held in the premises of the Finnish Customs School in Helsinki on 17-18 May 2016 bringing together representatives from across the OSCE region to discuss women’s leadership and empowerment in border security and management...

The SMM observed a relatively low level of violence in Donbas. The Mission observed the presence of hardware in the security zone. It monitored the situation of civilians at checkpoints near the contact line. The SMM visited border areas not controlled by the Government. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on three occasions on both sides of the contact line....*

The OSCE Mission to Moldova on 13 May 2016 organized the first in a year-long series of meetings of the Human Rights Club for lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. The event, held in Tiraspol, brought together 27 lawyers to discuss the work of forensic experts and the benefits of co-operating with such experts in order to better represent their clients’ needs...

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 17 May 2016 – Some 25 community leaders, heads and members of rural councils, religious leaders and youth from the Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken regions gathered for a one-day training course on preventing human trafficking, and discussed how to foster co-operation with relevant state institutions across the country...

VIENNA, 17 May 2016- The recent attack against Petar Panjkota, reporter with RTL television, in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is unacceptable and must be fully investigated, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said today...

ELBASAN, Albania, 17 May 2016 – The OSCE Presence in Albania, with support from the German government, yesterday in Elbasan hosted a performance of a play reflecting on Albania’s totalitarian past...

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...

VIENNA, 16 May 2016- The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State of the United States of America John Kerry, and State Secretary for European Affairs of France Harlem Desir, representing the co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, met today with President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to advance a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict...

The SMM observed a slightly higher level of violence in Donetsk region both on 14 and 15 May as compared to the previous two days and recorded a low number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region on 14 May and none on 15 May. The Mission observed the presence of weapons and hardware in the security zone. It noted the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance. The SMM monitored the situation affecting civilians near the contact line and at checkpoints on both sides of the contact line. It visited border areas both in government- and non-government-controlled areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on three occasions on both sides of the contact line...*

On 16th May 2016, the 66th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Ergneti, co-facilitated by Kęstutis Jankauskas, the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), and Ambassador Guenther Baechler, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus...

On 5-6 May, the OSCE Mission to Moldova held a training event on advanced interviewing skills and techniques for judges and prosecutors handling cases of human trafficking, in particular cases of children who have witnessed or suffered sexual abuse or exploitation. A total of 30 judges and prosecutors took part in the event, held at the National Institute of Justice in Chisinau...

The SMM observed a slightly higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared to the previous day. The Mission observed weapons within withdrawal lines and others in holding areas. Armed men pointed weapons at the SMM at the unmanned aerial vehicle ground control station in a government-controlled area. The SMM observed the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance. The Mission followed up on the proliferation of weapons in areas outside of the Anti-Terrorism Operation (ATO) zone...

SARAJEVO, 14 May 2016 – Challenges in investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as well as potential solutions to these obstacles was the focus of a conference which concluded today in Sarajevo, having brought together more than 40 members of the judiciary, international law experts, government and diplomatic representatives...

WARSAW, 14 May 2016 Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today welcomed Thursday’s rejection on third reading by the Jogorku Kenesh, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, of draft legislation that would have imposed unnecessarily cumbersome reporting requirements for non-governmental organizations (NGOs)...

ISTANBUL, Turkey, 13 May 2016 – Concluding a one-week official visit to Turkey today, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Madina Jarbussynova, commended recent changes to the legislative framework that will improve victim protection and identification...

Strengthening women’s lobbying in public and political life in the OSCE region was the focus of a panel discussion in Warsaw on 13 May 2016, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in co-operation with the Polish Congress of Women. The event was organized as part of the 8th Annual Congress of Women, which brought together some 5,000 women from Poland and across Europe.

In Donetsk region, the SMM noted an increase in the number of recorded ceasefire violations compared with the previous day. In Luhansk region it continued to note a low level of ceasefire violations. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair to essential infrastructure, and at one occasion “DPR” members prevented it from doing so. The Mission monitored the situation affecting civilians in areas near the contact line. It monitored an area close to the border not under government control. The Mission observed a protest in Kyiv...

CALAIS, 11 May 2016 – The refugee and migrant crisis is impacting all of Europe with implications in humanitarian, economic and security dimensions, and therefore requires a continent-wide, multidimensional response, said parliamentarians at the conclusion of a field visit to Calais today...

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors visited Croatia from 9 to 10 May 2016. During her visit, Thors focused on promoting the effective implementation of the Constitutional Act on the Rights of National Minorities, in particular the provisions regarding languages and scripts;

TIRANA, 13 May 2016 – Challenges, good practices and needs in the fight against trafficking in human beings were the focus of a regional meeting of National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators from South-Eastern Europe hosted on Thursday by the OSCE Presence in Albania and the Albanian National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator, together with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development...

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 13 May 2016 – The OSCE Programme Office in Astana, in co-operation with the International Centre for Journalism MediaNet and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Kazakhstan concluded today the seventh annual Central Asian Forum on Internet Development in Almaty...

Challenges posed by the migration and refugee flows and their impact on European security was the focus of an event jointly organized by the OSCE and the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) in Athens on 10 May 2016. The security implications of mass movements of people for regional and sub-regional stability, the role of international organizations, and co-operation and co-ordination among relevant actors, were among the issues highlighted...

In Donetsk region, the SMM noted a decrease in the number of recorded ceasefire violations compared with the previous day. In Luhansk region it continued to note a low level of ceasefire violations. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair to essential infrastructure. The Mission observed mine hazard signs near an entry-exit checkpoint and continued to observe the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance. It monitored an area close to the border not under government control and was prevented from monitoring in another*. The Mission monitored the situation affecting civilians in areas near the contact line...

CHISINAU, 12 May 2016 – The Special Representative of the German OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Cord Meier-Klodt, today concluded a visit to the region, which included meetings with the chief negotiators in Chisinau and Tiraspol...

Implementing gender mainstreaming in the work of local governments and election campaigns was the focus of an OSCE-supported training seminar for some 40 high-level local government executives and local district legislators from South Kazakhstan region in Shymkent on 12 May 2016...

ASHGABAT, 12 May 2016 – OSCE-organized practical training courses for some 43 officials from the Aviation Security Service and Aviation School of Turkmenistan Airlines, as well as the Transport Police Service of the Interior Ministry, the State Customs Service and State Border Service on X-ray for baggage and passenger screening at airports, concluded today in Ashgabat...

ASTANA, 12 May 2016 – Current trends and challenges in ensuring the rights of the individual in modern society are the main topics of an OSCE-supported international conference in the framework of annual ”Shaikenov Readings”, which began today in Astana...

VIENNA, 12 May 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, remain fully committed to mediating a lasting settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict...

In Donetsk region, the SMM noted a sharp increase in the number of recorded ceasefire violations compared with previous days. In Luhansk region it continued to note a low level of ceasefire violations. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and to observe mine hazard signs in the security zone. The SMM noted long queues at the contact line. It monitored a demonstration by veterans in Ivano-Frankivsk. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on numerous occasions.*...

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

VIENNA, 11 May 2016- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern about the safety of journalists and media workers in Ukraine following an incident where personal information of journalists was leaked...

YEREVAN, 11 May 2016 – Methodologies for measuring efforts to support a green national economy in Armenia were presented today at a workshop jointly organized in Yerevan by the OSCE Office and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)...

VIENNA, 11 May 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned an attack on a television crew on Tuesday in Obilic, near Prishtinё/Priština...

In Donetsk region, the SMM noted a lower number of ceasefire violations compared with the previous day, with over 80 explosions recorded. In Luhansk region it noted a low level of violence with 16 explosions recorded. The Mission observed the presence of numerous weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on 9 May military-style parades in Donetsk and Luhansk cities. The Mission observed 9 May commemorations across the country. Most of those events passed off peacefully with the strong presence of law enforcement, while in several occasions the SMM saw minor incidents of scuffles and altercations...

VIENNA, 10 May 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović condemned an attack on journalist Eduard Ilnica in Tirana Monday night, and called on the authorities in Albania to carry out a swift and thorough investigation into the incident...

Challenges and opportunities that an increasing diversity of religions and beliefs pose for public institutions, religious communities, and societies across the OSCE region were the focus of an event, hosted by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Permanent Mission of Spain to the OSCE on 10 May 2016, in Vienna.

A workshop focusing on strengthening citizens’ participation in community-based efforts to reduce disaster risk and the impact of natural hazards was held on 6 May 2016 in Yerevan, Armenia. The event was organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, in co-operation with the Fund for Disaster Risk Reduction National Platform...

In Donetsk region, the SMM noted an increased number of ceasefire violations on both 7 and 8 May, compared to 6 May. In Luhansk region, it noted a low level of violence with less than 10 explosions recorded. The Mission observed the presence of hardware in violation of the respective withdrawal lines and continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM noted the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance. It continued to observe equally high numbers of civilians waiting to travel across the contact line, as before the weekend, and monitored the humanitarian situation of civilians affected by the conflict. The SMM visited one crossing point at the border in areas not controlled by the Government. The Mission monitored the situation of internally displaced persons in Kherson and observed a ceremony for “Reconciliation and Commemoration Day” in Lviv. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on ten occasions, all but one in areas not controlled by the Government...*