News and press releases

On 16 April 2015 at 07:14hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 62 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 17:45hrs on 16 April.

VIENNA, 16 April 2015 – The freedoms of association and assembly are the cornerstone of a vibrant, pluralistic and participatory democracy, and restrictions to these can only be allowed in line with relevant international standards and commitments, participants said today at the opening of a two-day OSCE meeting in Vienna...

SARAJEVO, 16 April 2015- OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier concluded yesterday a three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he met with high-level state officials, Srebenica municipal and religious leaders, and senior representatives of the international community...

The OSCE Office in Yerevan on 15 April 2015 donated equipment including 15 computers and three printer-scanner machines to the newly-established State Investigative Committee with the aim of enhancing the capacities and efficiency of this institution and its investigators, and to promote the

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and by security considerations*. Fighting continued unabated in the area of Donetsk airport; the SMM observed many ceasefire violations mainly around Avdiivka, Pisky, Spartak and Zhabunki. For the second consecutive day, fighting subsided in the Shyrokyne area but the humanitarian situation continues to be dire. The SMM monitored heavy weapons holding areas belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and observed that not all heavy weapons previously recorded remain in situ...

Some 40 civil society representatives from more than 25 OSCE participating States discussed the participation of associations in public decision-making processes at the Civil Society Forum organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 15 and 16 April 2015 in Vienna.

COPENHAGEN, 16 April 2015 – The Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today condemned the sentencing of Azerbaijani rights activist Rasul Jafarov to a lengthy prison term and called on the international community to recognize him as a prisoner of conscience...

VIENNA, 16 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned the murder of Oles Buzina, a Ukrainian journalist, writer and former editor of the newspaper Segodnya...

VIENNA, 16 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned the sentencing of Rasul Jafarov, a free expression and free media advocate and human rights defender in Azerbaijan, to six and a half years in a penal colony...

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 monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations* – observed ongoing intensive fighting in and around Donetsk airport with a considerable number of ceasefire violations, particularly around Avdiivka. The situation, however, remained relatively calm around Shyrokyne for the second consecutive day, and mostly calm in the rest of the Donetsk region and the Luhansk region...

UST-KAMENOGORSK, Kazakhstan, 15 April 2015 – An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion on public participation in the decision-making process on environmental matters took place today in Ust-Kamenogorsk, East Kazakhstan Region...

ASHGABAT, 15 April 2015 – Lawmakers from Turkmenistan discussed activities of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and opportunities to deepen their engagement in its work at a seminar conducted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat this week...

DOHA, 15 April 2015 – Two senior OSCE officials speaking on Tuesday at the Thirteenth UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which runs from 12-19 April in Doha, stressed the need for common efforts by regional and global organizations to more effectively combat transnational organized crime...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations* – observed a massive increase in the number of ceasefire violations, especially around Donetsk airport and Shyrokyne. Fighting continued in other areas but sporadically.

The first meeting of the Regulatory Reform Council, in Kyrgyzstan was opened on 9 April 2015 in Bishkek by Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Valery Dil, Minister of Economy Temir Sariev, and the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos. The aim of the event was to give a boost to the economic reform process in the country to stimulate growth and reduce corruption...

BAKU, 13 April 2015- The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Baku and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry organized a two-day conference on ensuring national security in the information age, which brought together more than 80 representatives from more than 30 government and private organizations in Azerbaijan as well as international experts on cybersecurity...

At 9.35hrs on 12 April, upon arrival at Donetsk railway station (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM witnessed heavy fighting between “DPR” and the Ukrainian Armed Forces in areas near the city visible from its position.

KYIV, 12 April 2015 — The Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, expressed his dismay that violence resumed in the eastern Ukrainian town of Shyrokyne yesterday, and today in and around Donetsk airport, and called upon all sides to exercise restraint.

Following an SMM-facilitated, three-day period of relative calm, at 18.35hrs on 11 April, the SMM – positioned on the eastern outskirts of government-controlled Berdianske (2km west of “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Shyrokyne) – heard a tank round being fired. It assessed it to have been fired from government-controlled territory approximately 500 metres from its position, and to have impacted in or around Shyrokyne.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and by security considerations*. The situation around Donetsk airport and Shyrokyne remained tense. The SMM observed several demonstrations in Luhansk city, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and Ivano-Frankivsk.

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the Anti-terrorism Centre of the State Committee on National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic (SCNS KR) conducted a five-day counter-terrorism training course from 6 to 10 April 2015 focusing on the radicalization process that leads to terrorism and effective preventive measures. The course was held at the SCNS KR Bakaev Institute in Bishkek.

BISHKEK, 9 April 2015 – The first meeting of the Regulatory Reform Council in Kyrgyzstan was opened today by Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Valery Dil, Minister of Economy Temir Sariev and the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos. The aim of the event was to boost the economic reform process in the country to stimulate growth and reduce corruption.

COPENHAGEN, 10 April 2015 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance, U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin, today expressed deep concern over the fatal shooting of Walter Scott by a police officer on 4 April in the U.S. state of South Carolina.

Measures to enhance the analysis of campaign finance by election observers were the focus of an expert roundtable organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 9 and 10 April 2015 in Warsaw.

Complying with human rights standards when countering terrorism at borders was the focus of training organized jointly by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC) from 6 to 10 April 2015 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

The second of two OSCE-supported expert meetings on the harmonization of some legislative acts in line with provisions of the new Criminal Executive Code of Kazakhstan took place on 10 April 2015 in Almaty.

DUSHANBE, 10 April 2015 – Twelve instructors from the Border Police of Afghanistan today completed an eleven-day Train-the-Trainer course at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe.

KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, Russian Federation, 9 April 2015. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both BCPs. The overall cross-border traffic slightly decreased at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs)...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements” which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations*. The SMM observed ceasefire violations in the Donetsk region, especially around Donetsk airport, while in the area of Shyrokyne it observed sporadic mortar and small-arms and light-weapons exchanges. The SMM revisited three “DPR” and four Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas...

VIENNA, 9 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović expressed concern today that the Parliament of Cyprus approved a measure criminalizing the denial of war crimes...

VIENNA, 9 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the announcement of a new forensic investigation into the death of Serbian journalist Dada Vujasinović, who was found dead in her apartment this day 21 years ago. Mijatović also called on the authorities to fully investigate this and all other killings of journalists...

VIENNA, 9 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today strongly condemned a serious cyberattack on the French television network TV5Monde which blocked their television broadcasts, websites and social networks for several hours...

BELGRADE, 8 April 2015 – OSCE’s Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, and OSCE Envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, met today in Belgrade to plan further steps in responding to crisis in Ukraine...

KYIV, 8 April 2015 – The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova, stressed the importance of raising awareness about human trafficking among monitors from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) at the end of a two-day training designed to improve their ability to spot this heinous crime...

SARAJEVO, 8 April 2015 – On the occasion of the International Roma Day, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina Ambassador Jonathan Moore called today on state authorities to allocate necessary resources and implement the Roma Action Plans on Housing, Education, Health and Employment...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements” which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations*. The SMM observed an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in the Donetsk region, especially around Donetsk airport. The SMM monitored the situation in the area of Shyrokyne and assessed the security situation as remaining tense. The SMM monitored five heavy weapons holding areas belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In Luhansk region, the SMM observed the security situation to be relatively calm...

VIENNA, 8 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned the recent libel conviction and sentence imposed on journalist Kostas Vaxevanis for stories written about banking practices in Greece...

COPENHAGEN, 8 April 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) today called for an immediate end to the intimidation of OSCE monitors in Ukraine and reiterated the need for the monitors to have unfettered access throughout the country...

ASTANA, 8 April 2015 – The presentation of a guidebook on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) developed jointly by experts from the OSCE and the Committee of Financial Monitoring of the Finance Ministry took place today in Astana...

BELGRADE/WARSAW, 8 April 2015 – Ivica Dačić, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister, and Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), called today for greater efforts to ensure Roma and Sinti participation in social, political and cultural life. On the occasion of International Roma Day, they stressed that a focus on youth, including on education, is key to providing Roma communities with greater opportunities...

TIRANA, 8 April 2015 – On the occasion of International Roma Day, the OSCE Presence in Albania announced today the start of a project aimed at educating Roma and Egyptian women voters ahead of the local government elections on 21 June. More than 140 women will participate in seven training sessions across the country, which will focus on topics related to the right to vote, family-voting and vote-buying...

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 8 April 2015 – “The Kosovo Roma community remains on the margins of the society, therefore more needs to be done to ensure their full social inclusion,” Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, said today on the occasion of International Roma Day...

BELGRADE, 8 April 2015 – On the occasion of the International Roma Day, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Peter Burkhard, voiced the need for continued action to improve the situation of members of the Roma community in Serbia and create conditions for the full inclusion of Roma into wider society...

SKOPJE, 8 April 2015- The Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Ralf Breth, congratulates the Roma community on the occasion of the International Roma Day, April 8. The OSCE Mission joins the Roma community, as well as relevant Non-Governmental Organizations and state institutions, in celebrating and reflecting on our joint work to promote human rights and social inclusion...

On 7 April, while traveling east on road E58 toward a “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”) checkpoint in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol, 99km south of Donetsk), the SMM was halted by an improvised “DPR” roadblock, located on the northern edge of Shyrokyne (“DPR”-controlled). As the SMM approached the checkpoint on foot, a patrol member immediately encountered warning shots of heavy machine gun fire to his right, and semi-automatic rifle fire to his left...

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek and Kyrgyz State Customs Service launched a one-day campaign on 1 April 2015 at the Kyrgyz Customs Training Centre in Leninskoe, near Bishkek, to raise awareness among media on the work of the customs service and the OSCE-supported Training Centre...

VIENNA, 7 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović is calling on the new government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to deal with pressing issues that could further undermine the fragile media freedom situation in the country, including the sustainability of public broadcasting and implementation of the digital switchover...

VIENNA, 7 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed new legislation to foster the development of public broadcasting in Ukraine...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements” which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations*. The situation around Donetsk airport and Shyrokyne remained tense. The SMM observed a vehicle of the Ukrainian Armed Forces hitting an anti-tank mine in Berdianske (government-controlled, 18km east of Mariupol) resulting in two deaths and one injury...