News and press releases

BISHKEK, 9 April, 2016 – Thirty-five young people gathered in Bishkek today for the start of a two-day Model OSCE conference, simulating a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, to discuss challenges to cross-border water management in Central Asia...

BERLIN, 9 April 2016- Gernot Erler, Special Representative of the Federal Government of Germany for the OSCE Chairmanship, today issued the following statement on OSCE reports of increasing violations of the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and on the safety of OSCE monitors:...

In Donetsk region, the SMM observed a slightly higher number of ceasefire violations. In Luhansk region a low number of ceasefire violations were recorded. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted weapons missing from storage sites, as well as weapons in violation. The Mission visited two border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government, despite denial of access to several border areas. It encountered other of freedom-of-movement restrictions in non-government-controlled areas.* An SMM vehicle was hit by a bullet and an SMM monitor was threatened at gunpoint...

SARAJEVO, 8 April 2016 – On occasion of International Roma Day, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina organized several events in Tuzla, Prnjavor and Zivinice to raise public awareness on serious economic, social and political challenges the Roma community continues to face in BiH...

A group of eight women politicians from all registered political parties in Tajikistan, including a member of parliament, paid a visit to Albania from 2 to 8 April 2016 to strengthen inter-regional co-operation and share experiences on empowering women in political life. The visit was jointly organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and the OSCE Presence in Albania...

BERLIN/WARSAW, 8 April 2016 – Political leaders must play a primary role in in countering discrimination and prejudice against Roma and Sinti and improving their situation, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister, and Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said today, on the occasion of International Roma Day../

BELGRADE, 8 April 2016- On the occasion of International Roma Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, the United Nations Country Team in Serbia, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade reaffirm our strong commitment to equality and non-discrimination...

The fundamentals of trial monitoring were the focus of a training event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the Educational Human Rights House, from 6 to 8 April 2016 in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Bringing together 26 lawyers representing

VIENNA, 8 April 2016 – More than 60 representatives of Aarhus Centres, local authorities, state agencies for emergency situations, NGOs and international and regional organizations concluded in Vienna today a two-year project on community-based disaster risk reduction...

At 9:45hrs on 7 April, while an SMM patrol, comprised of four SMM members in two armoured vehicles, was 3.5km north-east of Snizhne (“DPR”-controlled, 72km east of Donetsk) near the administrative boundary between Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the driver of the front SMM vehicle heard the trunk window crackling. After stopping to inspect the vehicle, the SMM noted on the lower right part of the trunk window a hole, 5mm in diameter, assessed to be caused by a bullet...

KYIV, 7 April 2016 – Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), expressed concern today regarding the highest level of ceasefire violations in the Donetsk region since the sides recommitted to the ceasefire in September 2015. He noted as particularly troubling the extremely high number of incidents involving the use of heavy weapons and mortars...

The SMM observed a slightly lower number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In Luhansk region the situation remained relatively calm, with a low number of ceasefire violations recorded. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and facilitate and monitor repair works on the water supply system in Slovianoserbsk. The SMM followed up on a report of shelling in Kominternove. The Mission visited two border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government. It encountered freedom of movement restrictions on both sides of the contact line*...

SLOVIANSK, Ukraine, 7 April 2016 – The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, at a ceremony in Sloviansk, Donetsk region today, presented representatives of the Infrastructure Ministry’s State Special Transport Service with 15 sets of protective equipment, including vests and helmets, which are to be delivered to local deminers working along transport routes in the east of the country...

SKOPJE, 7 April 2016- Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje Nina Suomalainen today congratulated the Roma community in the country ahead of the International Roma Day on 8 April, and expressed her wish for harmony and co-existence amongst all communities...

TASHKENT, 7 April 2016 – The implementation of traffic management and effective road safety measures were the focus of an OSCE-supported roundtable discussion for some 40 representatives of the Interior Ministry, Parliament, state agencies, media and civil society, and a two-day seminar for 25 traffic police officers, held in Tashkent from 5 to 7 April...

VIENNA, 7 April 2016 – The OSCE Permanent Council today decided to extend the mandate of the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian border checkpoints of Gukovo and Donetsk by three months, until 31 July 2016...

VIENNA, 6 April 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called upon Canadian authorities to improve reporters’ rights to protect confidential sources in the wake of a court decision ordering the disclosure of materials relating to a terrorism investigation...

KONJIC, 6 April 2016 – More than 50 media professionals, law enforcement agencies’ spokespersons and prosecutor’s offices’ public relations personnel from BiH convened in Konjic today in a conference on the role of media in countering violent extremism to discuss the challenges they face in reporting on violent extremism and terrorism. The conference was organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, in co-operation with the BiH Security Ministry...

CHISINAU, 6 April 2016- On 5 and 6 April 2016, visits to Chisinau and Tiraspol were made by the mediators and the observers in the Permanent Conference on Political Issues in the Framework of the Negotiation Process on the Transdniestrian Settlement in the 5+2 format...

In Donetsk region, the SMM continued to record a high number of ceasefire violations – fewer explosions, but more single shots compared to the previous day. In Luhansk region the situation remained relatively calm, with a single firing incident recorded. The SMM observed long lines at checkpoints close to the contact line. The Mission reached three border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government. It encountered freedom of movement restrictions on both sides of the contact line...

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

VIENNA, 6 April 2016 – A new OSCE publication intended to promote a comprehensive approach to security sector governance and reform was launched yesterday at an event in Vienna hosted by the OSCE Group of Friends of Security Sector Governance and Reform...

TALDYKORGAN, Kazakhstan, 6 April 2016 – An OSCE-supported two-day training seminar for some 130 representatives of the government, civil society and judiciary on human rights protection mechanisms began today in Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan...

ULAANBAATAR, 6 April 2016 — Strengthening protection and preparedness against cyber-attacks aimed at industrial control systems is the focus of a two-day table-top simulation starting today in Ulaanbaatar and organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department with the support of the Government of Mongolia...

The SMM observed a higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, noting an increase in the area of Yasynuvata and around Donetsk airport, compared to the previous day. In Luhansk region the situation remained relatively calm, with a low number of ceasefire violations recorded. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, facilitate and monitor repair works, and monitor the situation affecting civilians on both sides of the contact line. The Mission encountered freedom of movement restrictions mainly in areas not controlled by the Government.* In Odessa the SMM observed a public gathering...

VIENNA, 5 April 2016- At a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Ambassador James Warlick, representing the three Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group, and the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, informed the 57 OSCE participating States about recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

VIENNA, 5 April 2016- Representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group countries (Russian Federation, the United States of America, France, Belarus, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Turkey) as well as the incoming Austrian OSCE Chair (2017) and the outgoing Serbian OSCE Chair (2015) strongly condemn the outbreak of unprecedented levels of violence along the Line of Contact...

A two-day training course, the first in a series of three, entitled “Promoting Free Access to Government-Held Information”, organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan jointly with the Armenian Justice Ministry, was launched on 5 April 2016 in the capital...

The SMM observed a lower number of ceasefire violations on 2 and 3 April respectively compared to 1 April, with similar levels recorded on both days in Donetsk region, but an increase was noted on 3 April in the area of Yasynuvata. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded no ceasefire violations. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling. The SMM visited border areas not controlled by the Government. The Mission encountered freedom of movement restrictions in areas not controlled by the Government, including in border areas.*...

PODGORICA, 4 April 2016- In response to articles carried in various media outlets, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro would like to clarify its role regarding the upcoming elections. While the Mission has contracted an international senior-level expert to advise the State Election Commission (SEC) on their technical preparations for the parliamentary elections anticipated for this autumn, the Mission does not observe elections...

More than 75 experts are taking part in an online forum being organized by the OSCE from 4 to 15 April 2016 on how to better prevent and manage terrorist kidnapping and hostage-taking cases. Training, the protection of victims and the role of media are topics particularly in focus...

CHERKASY, Ukraine, 4 April 2016 – A five-day training course for Ukrainian border control officers aimed at increasing their operational awareness to detect forged travel documents started today in Cherkasy. This course will be followed by an advanced train-the-trainer programme from 11 to 16 April 2016...

COPENHAGEN, 2 April 2016- Following reports of increased fighting along the Line of Contact in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) and the OSCE PA Special Representative on the South Caucasus, Kristian Vigenin (MP, Bulgaria), today called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. They issued the following joint statement:...

The SMM continued to observe a high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a higher number of ceasefire violations than the previous day. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling. It facilitated the safe passage of civilians between Ukrainian Armed Forces and “LPR” checkpoints in Luhansk region. The Mission encountered freedom of movement restrictions in areas not controlled by the Government, including in border areas*...

BERLIN, 2 April- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is actively involved in the efforts to de-escalate the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He is extremely concerned about the situation, as the ceasefire violations seem to have reached a new quality compared to previous years...

BERLIN, 2 April 2016- With respect to the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said today in Berlin:...

MOSCOW / WASHINGTON / PARIS, 2 April, 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) express grave concern over the reported large-scale ceasefire violations that are taking place along the Line of Contact in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. We strongly condemn the use of force and regret the senseless loss of life, including civilians...

BERLIN, 1 April 2016- Gernot Erler, Special Representative of the Federal Government of Germany for the OSCE Chairmanship, issued the following statement today on the decision by the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan to release the lawyer and human rights defender Intiqam Aliyev from imprisonment on 28 March 2016...

Mainstreaming social services for former prisoners in the framework of ongoing criminal justice reforms and institutionalization of integrated social services was the aim of the OSCE-supported workshop co-organized with the Offenders’ Rehabilitation Center of Armenia’s Ministry of Justice on 31 March- 2 April 2016 in Aghveran, Kotayk region of Armenia...

VIENNA, 1 April 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the sentences of five people for the killing of journalist Rasim Aliyev in August 2015 in Baku...

The SMM observed a further increase in the number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a low number of ceasefire violations. It monitored and facilitated repairs of essential infrastructure. The SMM observed the marking of mined areas in the security zone. It followed up on reports of shelling. The SMM facilitated the safe passage of civilians stranded between Ukrainian Armed Forces and “LPR” checkpoints in Luhansk region. The Mission reached a border crossing point in an area not controlled by the Government. The SMM was restricted in its freedom of movement mostly in areas not controlled by the Government*...

DUSHANBE, 1 April 2016 – Twenty-five officials from border security and management agencies of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan today completed a week-long workshop at the OSCE Office in Tajikistan on the role of effective border delegates...

Vienna, 1 April 2016- OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier today expressed deep sadness as news of former German Foreign Affairs Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher’s passing was announced. He extended his heartfelt condolences to OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the family and friends of the late minister, and to the German people.

COPENHAGEN, 1 April 2016 – On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) congratulated the thousands of parliamentarians involved in the OSCE PA for their immense contributions to the OSCE process and people since 1991...

BISHKEK, 1 April 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev yesterday signed an agreement on extending the current operating modalities and academic independence of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek...

The SMM observed a sharp increase in the number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a low number of ceasefire violations. It facilitated dialogue within the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination. The SMM observed the marking of mined areas in the security zone. It followed up on reports of injured civilians. The Mission reached one border crossing point in areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM was restricted in its freedom of movement in areas not controlled by the Government, including in the border area*...

VIENNA, 31 March 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović wrote today to Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs asking for more information about the shutting down of the sputniknews.lv news portal...

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities co-organized a conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 28 to 29 March 2016 on education challenges in multilingual and multicultural contexts in Central Asia. The conference, organized with the French Institute for Central Asian Studies (IEFAC), UNICEF

ASHGABAT, 31 March 2016 – Ten high level-officers from the State Border Service of Turkmenistan took part in a roundtable meeting that took place today. The meeting was organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat in co-operation with the State Border Service of Turkmenistan to assess the needs of the national border guards with the aim of enhancing their border patrol capacities...

SKOPJE, 31 March 2016 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the early parliamentary elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, scheduled for 5 June. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the authorities...