News and press releases

On 9 December, the Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities in co-operation with the OSCE Academy in Bishkek organized a national workshop on strengthening youth crime and drug use prevention in Bishkek.

KYIV, 8 December 2021 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

At 12:29 on 8 December, at a checkpoint about 200m west of Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, non-government-controlled, 86km south of Donetsk) in southern Donetsk region, a visibly armed member of the armed formations denied passage to an SMM patrol with one of the Deputy Chief Monitors on board...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 145 ceasefire violations, including 40 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 442 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 51 ceasefire violations, including 21 explosions. In the previous reporting

GENEVA, 8 December 2021- The 55th round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) took place in the Palais des Nations on 7 and 8 December 2021, with requisite COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures in place. As mandated by the six-point agreement of 2008, the GID process continues to serve as the primary venue in which the consequences of conflict are addressed and other important issues are discussed.

To build the capacity of inter-ministerial actors responsible for implementing gender mainstreaming across ministries, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized a basic training course on mainstreaming gender into policies at the central level, from 6 to 8 December 2021 in Podgorica.

Increasing transparency in the use and management of public funds, with a special focus on public procurement, was the focus of an online seminar held on 8 December by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.

“What can each of us offer to others to build a community of practice in preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT)?” This question gave direction to a series of three, three-day cross-regional seminars for certified facilitators of the OSCE’s Leaders against Intolerance and Violent Extremism (LIVE) capacity-building initiative, organized by the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department.

SARAJEVO, 8 December 2021- The Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to BiH, launched today in Sarajevo the 13th strategic political-military seminar. The themes this year are cybersecurity and crisis management.

VIENNA, 8 December 2021 — The winners of the OSCE–Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (IFSH) Essay Competition: Conventional Arms Control and Confidence- and Security-Building Measures (CSBM) in Europe were announced today at a virtual award ceremony held during an OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) meeting organized by the Austrian FSC Chairmanship.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 442 ceasefire violations, including 44 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 71 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 178 ceasefire violations, including 78 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/PARIS, 7 December 2021- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, representing the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, express support for the resumption of direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.  The Co-Chair countries call on the sides to continue the dialogue between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan begun at meetings held in New York in September and Paris in November, as well as to continue contacts at the leadership level to promote a lasting and sustainable peace in the region.   

On the morning of 7 December, the armed formations in Luhansk region denied the SMM passage to government-controlled areas twice and once delayed its passage. These SMM patrols were travelling from non-government-controlled areas...

VIENNA, 7 December 2021 – OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid launched the OSCE Networking Platform on Women Leaders including Peacebuilders and Mediators. Around 50 women leaders participated in the online event.

The Prosecutor’s Office of Bulgaria is the new host of the Secretariat of the Permanent Conference of Organized Crime Prosecutors. The decision was reached on 6 December at the seventh network meeting, organized with the support of the OSCE.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a roundtable discussion on the analysis of strategic documents concerning the media sector in Tajikistan. The discussion was organized jointly with Public Organization Khoma and took place in Dushanbe on 2 December 2021.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 3 and 5 December, the SMM recorded 153 ceasefire violations, including 28 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 286 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 3 and 5 December, the Mission

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) organized a roundtable discussion on the harmonization of case law and judicial practice for senior judges in BiH, on 6 December 2021 in Sarajevo. The event was aimed at improving legal certainty and equality of citizens before the law. It was organized in co-operation with the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) and the Council of Europe.

On 30 November 2021, the OSCE convened the first meeting of the Multi-Agency Committee in Bosnia and Herzegovina, established as part of its project Enhancing Criminal Justice Capacities for Combating Gender-based Violence in South-Eastern Europe.

On the morning of 5 December, the armed formations in Luhansk region twice denied the SMM passage to non-government-controlled areas. Both SMM patrols were travelling from government-controlled areas...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 286 ceasefire violations, including 131 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 809 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 261 ceasefire violations, including 128 explosions. In the previous reporting

STOCKHOLM, 4 December 2021 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation, and Brice Roquefeuil of France) released the following statement today:

The OSCE has played a vital role in preventing conflict and responding to crises over the last decade, but further steps must be taken to strengthen and make better use of the OSCE’s unique toolbox in relation to early warning, early action, dialogue facilitation, mediation support and post-conflict rehabilitation.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 809 ceasefire violations, including 146 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 159 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 69 ceasefire violations, including nine explosions, the majority of which

On the morning of 3 December, the armed formations in Luhansk region denied the SMM passage to government-controlled areas twice and once significantly delayed its passage. SMM patrols were travelling from non-government-controlled areas...

STOCKHOLM, 3 December 2021 – For the first time, the OSCE participating States have agreed on how to work together to deal with the challenges caused by climate change.

By increasing democratic civilian control, respecting the rule of law, upholding human rights and integrating a real role for women, good security sector governance helps build the population’s trust and provides stability by significantly contributing to conflict prevention.

OSCE best practices in improving national legislation to meet the World Trade Organizations’ (WTO) requirements were discussed during an online seminar organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat on 2 and 3 December 2021.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan organized an in-person training-of-trainers, from 28 November to 2 December 2021 in Tashkent, on international standards of human rights and freedoms for defense lawyers from all regions of Uzbekistan. The training course is part of the longstanding efforts of PCUz to reach out to legal professionals and to support the creation of a community of legal experts in Uzbekistan, with knowledge of the most recent developments among international legal experts.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 159 ceasefire violations, including 33 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 265 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 22 ceasefire violations, including 19 explosions, the majority of which were

VIENNA / LONDON / NEW YORK, 2 December 2021 – Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Dame Sara Thornton, United Kingdom Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) and Daniel Thelesklaf, Project Director of Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST) Initiative at United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, issued the following statement after the conclusion of a roundtable on the critical role of the financial sector in combating trafficking in human beings and modern-day slavery:

An OSCE-organized online seminar on mainstreaming the work of the national human rights institutions and the role of an Advisory Council in Turkmenistan took place on 2 December 2021.

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov welcomed Montenegro’s approach to national minorities and inter-ethnic relations and discussed the authorities’ plans to manage diversity in society, during his visit to the country from 24 to 26 November 2021.

STOCKHOLM, 2 December 2021 – To respond to a time of turbulence and multiple crises across our region, we need common solutions, Chairperson-in-Office Linde, Sweden´s Minister for Foreign Affairs said when opening the 28th Ministerial Council in Stockholm.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 265 ceasefire violations, including 22 explosions, 146 of which were assessed as live-fire training exercises in the security zone. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 139 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission

STOCKHOLM, 1 December 2021 – Today, civil society representatives from across the OSCE area presented their recommendations to strengthen the OSCE’s approach to conflict prevention at the annual OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference held in Stockholm and online.

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented their final report on Italy’s 2018 parliamentary elections during a visit to Rome that took place from 29 November to 1 December 2021. The experts discussed the report’s key findings and

On the morning of 1 December, the armed formations in Luhansk region denied two SMM patrols passage to non-government-controlled areas. Both patrols were travelling from government-controlled areas...

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat jointly organized the online training course “Intelligence-Led Policing: from Theory to Strategic and Operational Practice” from 22 to 25 November

The OSCE Mobile Training Team and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, jointly organized an interactive training course on the identification of foreign terrorist fighters at the borders for 22 first and second line border officers and the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 29 November to 1 December 2021 in Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro joins the global “16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence” with a public campaign calling for an end to gender-based violence that includes a TV spot and social media campaign. The 16 days of Activism campaign started on 25 November, on the International Day against Violence against Women, and runs through to International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 139 ceasefire violations, including 90 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 159 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 163 ceasefire violations and 109 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded no

The OSCE Presence in Albania started a special training seminar for Albania’s prison personnel, which aimed to train fifty staff members on how to manage detainees held under the special prison regime in compliance with human rights and freedoms. The seminar is taking place from 30 November to 3 December in Tirana.

In close co-operation with parliament’s Gender Equality Committee, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized a training course for MPs and parliamentary staff on gender responsive budgeting, on 29 and 30 November 2021.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is proud to support the exhibition on “Missing Works of Art” together with partners, the International Republican Institute, the Group of Friends of Members of Parliament on European Integration and Security and the Centre against Trafficking in Works of Art that opened at the BiH Parliamentary Assembly on 30 November 2021. The exhibition focuses attention on the importance of protecting cultural property and works of art in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the steps needed to ensure such protection.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 26 to 28 November, the SMM recorded 495 ceasefire violations, including 49 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 612 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 26 to 28 November, the Mission

On the morning of 29 November, the armed formations in Luhansk region denied three SMM patrols passage to government-controlled areas. All patrols were travelling from non-government-controlled areas...

“We don’t share stereotypes, we share responsibilities” is the title of the campaign the OSCE Mission to Montenegro launched in co-operation with the Directorate for Gender Equality of the Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority Rights on 29 November 2021.

The second student simulation of an arbitral tribunal under the Convention on Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE took place from 12 to 14 November 2021 in Ljubljana. The event was organized within the framework of the MUNLawS conference held by the Faculty of Law of the University of Ljubljana.

BISHKEK, 29 November 2021 – Kyrgyzstan’s parliamentary elections were competitive, but they lacked meaningful voter engagement due to a stifled campaign, constitutional changes weakening parliament and extensive legislative changes to key aspects of the election. Generally adequate election legislation was undermined by limitations on civil and political rights as well as diminished separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. Voters had a wide range of political options to choose from. Election preparations were handled efficiently by the election administration, and election day was peaceful, international observers said in a statement today.