News and press releases

The OSCE Presence in Albania has completed a series of thematic training sessions aimed at enhancing environmental inspection and control at the municipal level. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen environmental governance and security across the country.

In response to security challenges in the region, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department held a training course on building psycho-emotional resilience for 32 border and customs officers working at the Uzbek-Afghan border, as well as private sector personnel operating at the Termez Cargo Centre, an international logistics terminal in Termez, Uzbekistan, from 24 to 26 March 2025.

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department held a workshop focusing on gender considerations in cyber/ICT security in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 25 and 26 March. The event gathered 23 cybersecurity experts and policymakers from Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and showcased practical ways to empower women to actively take part in shaping inclusive policies and strategies related to cybersecurity and cyber diplomacy.

Best practices in the application of risk-based supervision over all financial institutions (FI) were presented during an OSCE-organized seminar that took place on 25 and 26 March 2025 in Ashgabat. The two-day seminar facilitated the implementation of specific provisions of the Plan on Technical

On 26 March 2025, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe handed over a set of IT and office equipment to the Inter-ministerial Commission on Combatting Trafficking in Persons of the Republic of Tajikistan.

BUCHAREST, 25 March 2025 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 4 May repeat presidential election in Romania, following an official invitation from the national authorities.

The OSCE, with the support of the National Institute of Justice, conducted a practical workshop on virtual assets for judges and prosecutors in Chisinau, Moldova, on 24 and 25 March. This was the first OSCE workshop on this topic for representatives of the Moldovan judiciary after a series of trainings targeted at investigators, regulators and representatives of financial institutions.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) notes with concern recent attempts to restrict or prohibit media access to parliamentary sessions across Bosnia and Herzegovina, including at the municipal level. Access to information and the ability to report freely on matters of public

Both rounds of the presidential election as well as the constitutional referendum were well managed, and contestants campaigned freely despite concerns over illicit foreign interference and active disinformation efforts. The election administration worked professionally and demonstrated impartiality in its decision-making. Voters were offered a variety of political alternatives among presidential candidates, who were registered in an inclusive process. However, the manner in which the presidential election and referendum campaigns were conducted simultaneously, and media coverage that favoured the incumbent, did not provide fully equal opportunities. The regulation of the short second-round period limited campaign opportunities and the effectiveness of legal remedies, while overly burdensome financial reporting requirements together with limited disclosure of actual donations and expenditures negatively impacted the transparency of campaign finances in the second round. 

On 20 and 21 March, the parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Agriculture, Ecology and Spatial Planning, together with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, organized a workshop on the ecological perspective in spatial planning and eco-urbanism.

The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) shared its experience in tackling the multifaceted challenges posed by virtual assets during an event organized by the British Embassy and the Serious and Organised Crime Network in Riga, Latvia, on 20 March.

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 20 March 2025 – The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has launched a comprehensive series of policy briefs on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) aimed at addressing the growing challenges posed by misinformation, disinformation, digital manipulation, and ethical concerns in the media landscape.

On 13-14 March 2025, the workshop "SGBV Survivor-Centered Procedures and Communications in Courts" took place in Astana. Organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, the event brought together judges, legal practitioners, psychologists, and international experts to discuss good practices in handling sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases in courts.

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), in co-operation with the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, organized a study visit on the development of a cybercrime database for a delegation of Armenian practitioners from 18 to 20 March 2025 in Paris, France.

The OSCE supported a working group meeting on intelligence-led policing (ILP) for representatives of the Moldovan General Police Inspectorate (GPI) in Chisinau, Moldova, on 18 March. Participants discussed recent developments and the next steps in implementing ILP across the police force to enhance intelligence-driven decision-making and operational effectiveness in combating crime in Moldova.

Thirty police officers from the alpine units of Tirana, Fier and Shkodra participated in a specialized training programme in the mountains of Korça from 10 to 13 March 2025.

VIENNA/HELSINKI, 18 March 2025 — OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen concluded her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she engaged in discussions with high-level officials on fostering security, safety and stability in the country and throughout the region.

President of the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration (CCA) Emmanuel Decaux, Vice-President Erkki Kourula, Justice Mats Melin as well as Professors Christian Tomuschat, Vasilka Sancin, Verica Trstenjak, and Anne Ramberg held an information meeting with Representatives of States parties to the Convention on 10 March in Vienna.

The Moldovan General Police Inspectorate (GPI) introduced a canine (K9) handling masterplan developed with OSCE support in Chisinau, Moldova, on 17 March. Covering the years 2025 to 2028, this document sets a clear framework for enhancing the operational effectiveness of Moldova’s K9 police units.

On 17 and 18 March 2025, the OSCE conducted an introductory workshop for financial institutions on investigating the criminal use of virtual assets in Armenia. The workshop brought together representatives from the Central Bank of Armenia, the Financial Monitoring Center, and private banks. The aim

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) is holding a two-week training programme for 22 State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) officers in Warsaw, Poland, from 17 to 28 March. This event kicked off the third year of the OSCE-led Mobile Training Team (MTT).

VIENNA, 17 March 2025 – Independent media are essential in providing factual, unbiased reporting that counters propaganda, promotes informed public debate and ensures accountability, OSCE leaders said at the opening of a two-day conference to discuss the role of media in conflict and humanitarian crises against the background of international law today.

On 12 March 2025, a regional seminar on methods for testing ammunition propellants, aimed at enhancing ammunition safety and strengthening regional co-operation, took place in Bishkek. Organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek in partnership with the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) condemns all forms of violence, including those targeting political actors, journalists and other citizens.

A two-week Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Level 1-2 training course for 14 officers from Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense and Border Troops was completed on 15 March 2025 in Gharm, Tajikistan. The course, aimed at enhancing practical skills and knowledge, was jointly conducted by training officers from the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the Regional Explosive Hazards Training Centre under Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense.

HELSINKI/WARSAW/ANKARA, 15 March 2025 — Stronger efforts are required to address and combat intolerance against Muslims as prejudice and violence against Muslims have become serious challenges in an increasing number of countries worldwide, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said in a statement marking today’s International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

The OSCE organized a series of meetings focused on risk identification, analysis and management for representatives from the Moldovan General Police Inspectorate (GPI) and the Moldovan General Inspectorate of Border Police (GIBP) in Chisinau, Moldova, from 12 to 14 March.

Young leaders from twelve political parties gathered in Budva from 11 to 13 March to discuss strategies for the inclusion of youth in political decision-making processes, and to develop teamwork and collaboration for advocating dialogue and co-operation, in the context of the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda.

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department held a side event on the role of women in organized crime and drug trafficking on the margins of the 68th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs on 14 March 2025 in Vienna, Austria.

From 3 to 14 March 2025, eight technical specialists from the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic completed a training course on propellant stability assessment. The course was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the United Kingdom Home Office held an expert round table on the use of new and emerging technologies in crime investigations on the margins of the UK government’s 2025 Security and Policing Conference in Farnborough, UK on 11 and 12 March. Law enforcement officials, technology experts and academics from several OSCE participating States explored the transformative impact of digital technologies on crime-solving efforts.

A security dialogue held at the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) on March 12, 2025, sought to promote the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in the political-military processes and security structure under the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda.

The draft RS (Republika Srpska) Constitution directly violates the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina and represents a dangerous attempt to disrupt the state's legal framework, weaken institutional integrity, and intensify political divisions. All elected officials and members of any parliament, including RS National Assembly delegates, carry the responsibility to recognize, prevent and avoid processes that pose a threat to democracy, the constitutional order and the stability of the country.

In a significant step towards enhancing financial system security and integrity in Moldova, the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering (FIU Moldova), with the support of the OSCE, unveiled the country’s National Risk Assessment on Virtual Assets on 11 March, in Chisinau.

MOSCOW/VIENNA, 12 March 2025 — OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu concluded his official visit to Moscow today.

In recognition of International Women’s Day, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo supported a series of impactful activities aimed at empowering women, advancing gender equality, and raising awareness of women’s contributions across various fields. The activities, spanning over the course of the week,

HELSINKI/VIENNA/WARSAW, 8 March 2025 – Increased efforts and resources to ensure gender equality and equal opportunities for women and girls everywhere regardless of their background or circumstances are needed, say OSCE leaders on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

HELSINKI/VIENNA, 7 March 2025 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen and OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu issued the following statement regarding several laws and measures adopted by the Republika Srpska National Assembly on 27 February and entered into force on 6 March that challenge the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Joint statement on the occasion of the International Women’s Day by Ingrid Macdonald, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luigi Soreca, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

On 6 March 2025, an event marking the centenary of the women’s movement in Kyrgyzstan and highlighting the role of women in societal development took place with the support of the OSCE Programme Office and its partners at the National Historical Museum of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department held a two-week training course on detecting forged documents and impostors at border crossing points for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) in Krakow, Poland, from 24 February to 7 March. The course enhanced the knowledge of 28 Ukrainian border guards on international document standards, security features, printing techniques, and emerging trends in the forgery of travel documents.

On 28 February 2025, the International Round Table “Improving the Effectiveness of the Justice System in Kazakhstan: Achievements and Initiatives” took place in Astana. The event was organized under the extrabudgetary project “Improving the Effectiveness of the Justice System in Kazakhstan”, funded by Poland, Norway, and the U.S., in close co-operation with Kazakhstan’s judicial system and co-organized by the Supreme Court and Court Administration of Kazakhstan. The round table gathered over 100 participants, including high-level representatives from the judiciary, government bodies, international organizations, and academia, to discuss key developments and future initiatives in the justice sector.

The Concept Paper outlines a phased plan for establishing a UAV Training Center in Lenger, Kazakhstan (Lenger UAV Center of Excellence). The development of this center is a key initiative to modernize border control operations and improve the efficiency of Kazakhstan’s Border Service. The project builds on previous technical assessments and capacity-building activities supported by the OSCE.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2024 local elections were competitive and efficiently managed, but took place in an environment lacking social and political cohesion. Extensive legal reforms increased the integrity of the process, but the scope of the changes, combined with time pressure and inadequate resources, made its implementation challenging.

The 63rd round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) took place on 4 and 5 March 2025 in Palais des Nations in accordance with the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008 and implementing measures of 8 September 2008.

Azerbaijan’s 2024 early presidential and early parliamentary elections took place in a restrictive environment marred by the absence of genuine political alternatives and a lack of political will to bring the country’s elections closer in line with international standards and OSCE commitments.

An OSCE-organized regional workshop on the management of border crossing points located along transit corridors in Central Asia, held in a blended format, took place from 4 to 6 March 2025 in Ashgabat. The workshop brought together, online and in-person, officials from the five Central Asian

The newly adopted FBiH Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Violence against Women (Law) introduces measures to improve institutional responses to domestic violence and violence against women and provide protection to victims.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has recently hosted the final event of the “Drops of the Future” workshop series. The event brought together young leaders, experts, and key stakeholders from Central Asia and beyond to explore collaborative and consensus-driven approaches to finding sustainable solutions for water, energy and food systems. The goal was to address global changes, prevent resource degradation, and promote security.

WARSAW, 28 February 2025 – The Law on the Special Registry and Publicity of the Work of Non-Profit Organizations adopted last night by the parliament of Republika Srpska does not meet international human rights standards or the commitments of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an OSCE participating State, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Maria Telalian and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Jan Braathu said today.