News and press releases

SKOPJE, 28 April 2014 – Fundamental freedoms were respected and candidates were able to campaign without obstruction in the 27 April elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, but shortcomings identified in the first round of the presidential election two weeks earlier, including the blurring of state and party activities and biased and unbalanced media coverage in favour of the ruling party, either persisted or were more pronounced, international observers said in a statement issued today...

INTERLAKEN, Switzerland, 28 April 2014 – The OSCE, with its comprehensive approach to security linking politico-military, economic and environmental and human rights objectives, was well-placed to assist participating States in preventing and combating terrorism, said Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter at the opening of an international counter-terrorism conference today.

BERN, 27 April 2014 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter condemned the detention of a group of military inspectors from OSCE participating States and of their Ukrainian hosts in Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine, and called for their release. One military inspector was set free today for health reasons, he confirmed. While this is a positive step, the OSCE continues to work at all levels – through the Special Monitoring Mission on the ground in Ukraine as well as through high-level political contacts – to assist for the release of all the detained persons, he said...

Western and Central Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well the southern part of the country, remained calm. The situation continued to be tense in Luhansk region and particularly tense in Donetsk region. The Special Monitoring Mission got confirmation that the military observers carrying out an inspection under the OSCE Vienna Document had been taken captive by forces of the self-proclaimed mayor of Sloviansk.

BELGRADE / TIRANA / PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 25 April 2014- Swiss Foreign Minister and Chairperson-in-Office, Didier Burkhalter, drew a positive conclusion from his two-day visit to the Western Balkans. In his meetings with high-level representatives of the authorities in Belgrade, Tirana and Prishtinë/Priština, he received strong backing for the engagement of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship in the region...

Western and Central Ukraine, including Kiev, as well as many regions of the southern part of the country, were calm. In the regions neighbouring Donbas some tensions continued – they resulted either from the political polarization or fears of possible activities of armed opponents of the government. The situation continued to be tense in Luhansk and, in particular, Donetsk regions.

ASHGABAT, 25 April 2014 – Mechanisms to re-enforce the fight against corruption and money laundering were highlighted at a two-day training workshop organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, which ended in the capital today...

VIENNA, 25 April 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern about the disappearance in Donetsk of Julia Shustraya and Mikhail Pudovkin, a journalist and a cameraman with LifeNews...

BISHKEK, 25 April 2014 – A two-day OSCE-supported working visit of the representatives of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to monitor the work of Kyrgyzstan in countering money laundering and the financing of terrorism concluded today in Bishkek...

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator launched the Webspace of Safety – an Internet portal created to inform children about risks and threats posed by explosive hazards present in Ukraine...

Based on monitoring teams’ observations, the situation in Luhansk remained stable; Donetsk remains characterized by heightened tensions; Kharkiv and Odessa remain relatively calm; and the rest of Ukraine is calm...

VIENNA, 24 April 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic today warned about the continuing attacks on journalists and deterioration of media freedom environment in eastern Ukraine with new incidents involving media representatives...

On 23 April 2014, the OSCE Presence in Albania held a meeting where the State Minister for Local Government Issues, Bledi Çuçi, briefed ambassadors of OSCE participating States and representatives of key international institutions in Tirana on the process of administrative territorial reform. The reform was launched by Albania’s government to enable local government units to offer high-quality services to the citizens and better manage human resources...

DUSHANBE, 24 April 2014 – A two-day OSCE workshop “Enhancing Mine Action Programme’s Contribution to Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery” started in Dushanbe today...

DUSHANBE, 24 April 2014 – Sixteen officers from border agencies of Afghanistan and Tajikistan completed today a Border Management Awareness Course supported by the OSCE and UNDP...

A letter of intent on organizing activities to support the police of Kyrgyzstan in fighting organized crime was signed on 24 April 2014 by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau...

ASHGABAT, 24 April 2014 – An OSCE-organized course on conducting regional joint investigations and controlled delivery operations to combat drug trafficking ends in Ashgabat tomorrow...

KYIV, 23 April 2014- Recent violent events in the Donetsk region are distressing and entirely inconsistent with the spirit of the Geneva statement agreed by the European Union, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States, the head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Ambassador Ertugral Apakan said today...

BERN, 23 April 2014 – Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Didier Burkhalter, will visit Belgrade, Tirana and Prishtinë/Priština from 24 to 25 April 2014 to meet with political leaders and discuss Switzerland's engagement in the region as OSCE Chair...

Western, Central Ukraine, including Kiev, as well as many regions of the southern part of the country remained calm. In the regions neighbouring the Luhansk and Donetsk districts some tensions continued – they resulted either from the political polarization or fears of possible activities of armed opponents of the government. The situation in the Luhansk and especially the Donetsk regions was tense with no significant signs of de-escalation...

VIENNA, 23 April 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today criticized new legislation increasing government regulation of the Internet in the Russian Federation...

ALMATY, 23 April 2014 – An OSCE-supported training seminar on preventing money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism in the banking sector began today in Almaty...

VIENNA, 23 April 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called on the President of Kyrgyzstan to veto a bill that could reintroduce criminal defamation in Kyrgyzstan...

An OSCE-supported guidebook on the role of the public and of journalists during criminal proceedings before the courts was launched in Skopje on 23 April 2014...

The second day of Easter passed quietly in the overwhelming majority of Ukrainian regions, including Odessa and Kherson. Huge tension remained in Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk districts) related to the activities of opponents of the Government, some of whom were armed, and due to the continued occupation of administrative buildings. The situation was cause for increased concern in Luhansk, where local separatists elected their own governor and called for a referendum on joining Russia.

VIENNA, 22 April 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed deep concern about new cases of detention and attacks on journalists in eastern Ukraine...

DONETSK, Ukraine, 22 April 2014 – A team from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine led by Mark Etherington, Deputy Chief Monitor, made a statement following their meetings in Donetsk today...

KYIV, 22 April 2014 – OSCE Chief Monitor in Ukraine Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan today called for the immediate release of the head of police of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, who was abducted by armed people yesterday night...

Bern, April 22, 2014- Swiss Foreign Minister and Chairperson-in-Office, Didier Burkhalter, commended first steps undertaken by the Ukrainian authorities to initiate the implementation of measures agreed upon in the Joint Statement on Ukraine of April 17, 2014.

Over the holiday weekend the situation in the western and central Ukraine was calm. Tensions remained in the Donbas- the separatists continued the occupation of the building of the state security service (SBU) in Luhansk as well as several other administrative buildings in Donetsk Oblast. Due to the proximity to this region, the situation in parts of southern and eastern Ukraine remains tense. Both proponents of the unitary Ukraine and separatists declared that their implementation of the Geneva statement depends on the mutual, synchronized disarmament and vacation of buildings.

ASTANA, 21 April 2014 –A four-day OSCE-supported training seminar on prosecutorial oversight of the use of laws to combat drug abuse and drug trafficking began today in Astana.

A week-long study visit for twelve representatives of Kyrgyzstan’s security agencies to learn about combating extremism and terrorism concluded on 19 April 2014 in Turkey.

A course for ten frontline Kyrgyz police officers on intelligence and investigation techniques in fighting organized crime ended on 19 April 2014 in Turkey.

OSCE supports senior Kyrgyz officials visit to international forum on anti-corruption OSCE Centre in Bishkek supported participation of eight representatives from the Economy Ministry of Kyrgyzstan, including Minister, at the 16th Anti-Corruption network steering group meeting in Paris, France on 16 to 18 April 2014.

KYIV, Ukraine, 19 April, 2014 –Acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia and the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), Amb. Ertugrul Apakan, met today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the participants of the 17 April Geneva meeting – the European Union, the Russian Federation and the United States.

Teams of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) gauged reaction to the Geneva Statement of 17 April. The situation in Western and Central Ukraine remains calm. In Luhansk and Donetsk districts it is tense owing to the continued activity of armed opponents of the central government. In the southern part of the country and in other parts of Eastern Ukraine, the situation was assessed as stable and relatively calm.

DUSHANBE, 18 April 2014 – A week-long course on border delimitation and demarcation concluded at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe today.

The situation in Western and Central Ukraine remains calm, whereas in Luhansk and Donetsk districts it is tense due to the activity of armed opponents of the central government, and Ukrainian special forces conducting a “counter-terrorist operation”. In the southern part of the country and in other parts of Eastern Ukraine some tension was felt and, overall, the number of roadblocks in Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Kherson and Odessa appeared to have increased.

DUSHANBE, 18 April 2014 – Twenty-two officers from Tajik border enforcement agencies completed today an OSCE-supported training course on senior management skills.

ASHGABAT, 18 April 2014 – An OSCE-supported course for parliamentarians and lawyers on the contemporary techniques of drafting legislation concluded in Ashgabat today.

UST-KAMENOGORSK, Kazakhstan, 18 April 2014 – An OSCE-supported training seminar for journalists on environmental reporting with a special focus on green economy issues began today in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Eastern Kazakhstan Region.

Bern, April 17, 2014- Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter welcomed the outcome of the discussions between the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine, the United States and the Russian Federation as well as the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who met today in Geneva.

VIENNA, 17 April 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned the seizure of the television tower in Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine...

BATKEN, Kyrgyzstan, 17 April 2014 – Improving the infrastructure for tourism in Kyrgyzstan’s southern province of Batken, including lowering the risk posed by natural disasters in the region, was the focus of an OSCE-supported international forum, which took place today...

CHISINAU, 17 April 2014 – The Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Ambassador Jennifer Brush, met today with a US Congressional delegation during their visit to Moldova. The delegation included Senators John McCain, John Barrasso, John Hoeven, and Ron Johnson, who represent several committees in the US Congress.

YEREVAN, 17 April 2014- Ambassador Angelo Gnaedinger, OSCE Special Representative for the South Caucasus, held consultations with high-ranking officials of Armenia in Yerevan from 15-17 April 2014...

The situation in Western and Central Ukraine (Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi) remained calm and stable on 16 April with a routine police presence. In Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Kherson and Odessa districts the situation is stable. On highways in these areas, roadblocks have been built to secure districts from forces opposed to the Kyiv government. In Luhansk and Donetsk the situation was cause for serious concern due to the ongoing occupation of some administrative buildings and capture of other strategic locations by armed individuals.

KYIV, 17 April 2014- The OSCE’s National Dialogue Project in Ukraine completed its field work today. The project was deployed in March 2014 to explore how the OSCE can contribute to social cohesion and tolerance amid the current crisis...

ASTANA, 17 April 2014 – An OSCE-supported training seminar on countering cybercrime in Kazakhstan with a focus on detecting, preventing and disclosing cybercrime, countering fraud in electronic banking and computer forensics, started today in Astana...

The situation in Western and Central Ukraine (Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi) remained calm and stable with a routine police presence. Teams judged the situation in Kharkiv, Odessa and Kherson to be calmer, but the situation remained tense in the Dnepropetrovsk region, where roadblocks were being built to protect the region from groups opposed to the Kyiv government. In Luhansk and Donetsk the situation was cause for serious concern due to the ongoing occupation of some administrative buildings and capture of other strategic locations by armed individuals.