News and press releases

A team of service dogs in Kyrgyzstan have now finished an eight-week training course to detect sources of heat above 37 C, which has also opened the door for these dogs to potentially help detect human body temperature increases associated with COVID-19.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 28 ceasefire violations, including one explosion. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 116 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 75 ceasefire violations.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 6 and 8 August, the SMM recorded 168 ceasefire violations, including 63 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 96 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 6 and 8 August, the Mission recorded

The OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC) jointly with the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) concluded the third module of the fourth one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Border Security and Management for Senior Leadership Course on 6 August 2021. The sessions were held in a blended format at the Multinational Peace Support Operations Training Centre (MPSOTC) in Kilkis, Greece.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 96 ceasefire violations, including four explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 57 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 138 ceasefire violations, including 47 explosions. In the previous reporting

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 57 ceasefire violations, including 20 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 44 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded ten ceasefire violations, including five explosions. In the previous reporting

With the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the Montenegrin Parliament developed a gender-sensitive Human Resources Strategy 2021–2023 with a three-year action plan.

An OSCE-supported four-day training seminar on enhancing dialogue between the judiciary and the media concluded on 6 August 2021 in Turkistan, Kazakhstan.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 44 ceasefire violations, including eight explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 121 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded eight ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, the SMM

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek continues to support Kyrgyzstan in promoting civic education, with a focus on target groups such as persons with disabilities, youth, local activists and representatives of civil society organizations across Kyrgyzstan.

A two-day training course on probation as an alternative sentencing option not related to isolation from society concluded on 30 July in Dushanbe. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized the training session in co-operation with the Main Prison Department under Tajikistan’s Ministry of Justice and Prison Reform International.

WARSAW/COPENHAGEN, 4 August 2021 — The OSCE will not be able to send observers for the upcoming elections to the Duma due to limitations imposed by Russian Federation authorities on the election observation, leaders of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and its Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) announced today.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized a two-day online roundtable meeting, held on 3 and 4 August 2021, with national partners involved in the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) for 2021–2025. The meeting provided a platform for discussion on practical steps to implement NHRAP provisions related to freedom of the media and freedom of journalistic profession.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 121 ceasefire violations, including 14 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 25 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded three ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded

BISHKEK, 2 July 2021- President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov met with Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek Alexey Rogov.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 25 ceasefire violations, including seven explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 19 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded one ceasefire

An OSCE-supported online seminar, held from 2 to 4 August 2021, focused on preparations for the Eurasian group’s (EAG) evaluation of Turkmenistan’s compliance to the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) standards on anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). Representatives of different law enforcement agencies, supervisory bodies, reporting entities, non-governmental organizations and other relevant government agencies and the private sector involved in the EAG evaluation process attended the seminar.

The Montenegrin Library of Parliament, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, digitally catalogued its collection, enabling it to join the shared bibliographic database of the Co-operative Online Bibliographic System and Services, known as the COBISS Platform.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan conducted a series of roundtable discussions, held on 2 and 3 August 2021, on strengthening the role of women in socio-economic and political life and investing in women's professional development and leadership skills. The event was jointly organized with the National Commission on Gender Equality and Committee of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Women and Gender Equality.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (Office) organized a roundtable discussion on the implementation of the National Programme for Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration of Juvenile Offenders for 2020–2024 (Programme). The discussion took place in Dushanbe on 29 July. Fifteen representatives of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the NGO “Legal Initiative” and other civil society members took part.

The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

Building on the training courses conducted in 2020, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized 15 days of advanced training workshops on infographics and data visualization for the staff of the Montenegrin Parliamentary Institute from May to July 2021.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 30 July and 1 August, the SMM recorded 66 ceasefire violations, including five explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 408 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 30 July and 1 August, the

VIENNA, 2 August 2021 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro welcomed the report published by the independent Public Inquiry Board into the assassination of renowned investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta in 2017. The Public Inquiry, launched in December 2019 by the Maltese authorities, was conducted by a board consisting of a retired judge, a former Chief Justice and a serving judge. This board was tasked to determine whether any wrongful action or omission by, or within, any State entity in Malta facilitated or failed to prevent the death of the journalist.

Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) Alexey Rogov visited the Batken province, Kyrgyzstan from 26 to 29 July 2021. He met with local partners to learn firsthand about their development priorities and needs, and discuss key areas of co-operation.

On 30 July, the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan supported an anti-corruption webinar for Kazakhstan’s judiciary that included representatives from the supreme and district courts.

At 10:00 on 31 July, an SMM patrol arrived at a checkpoint in the eastern part of Staromykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 15km west of Donetsk) in order to conduct an announced mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight to follow up on allegations of a damaged civilian property in the area...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 408 ceasefire violations, including 32 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 173 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 17 ceasefire violations, including seven explosions. In the previous reporting

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 173 ceasefire violations, including 14 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 28 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 25 ceasefire violations, including seven explosions. In the previous reporting

An OSCE-organized three-day expert meeting to develop a scenario to use in simulation exercises on countering drug-related money laundering concluded on 30 July 2021 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It took place at the Central Asian Regional Information and Co-ordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC).

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 30 July 2021 – The development and adoption of cultural heritage management plans is an important tool for enhancing the protection and preservation of cultural heritage sites, concludes a conference supported by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo today.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met on 29 July with Armela Krasniqi, the newly elected Chairperson of the Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA).

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 28 ceasefire violations, including seven explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 149 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 14 ceasefire violations, including four explosions. In the previous

The Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the six OSCE field operations in South-Eastern Europe and the Shortest Path Training Company, launched a set of online training courses focused on utilizing IBM’s i2 software packages Analyst’s Notebook and iBase in criminal intelligence analysis.

Moscow, Paris, Washington DC, 29 July 2021 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Stephane Visconti of France, Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, and Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation) made the following statement:

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 149 ceasefire violations, including 21 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 394 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 76 ceasefire violations, including 12 explosions. In the previous reporting

On 28 July 2021, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) co-organized the official ceremony dedicated to the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the Republic of Uzbekistan attended by 150 participants. This high-level event was organized in partnership with the National Human Rights Centre of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Country Team.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized two peer-to-peer workshops on communication and presentation skills for 17 parliamentary staff on 10 and 11 July and 26 and 27 July 2021 in Podgorica.

SKOPJE, 28 July 2021- The OSCE Mission to Skopje launched an EU-funded project to support a more effective administration of justice by monitoring trials on corruption and organized crime cases in North Macedonia. This three-year project is part of a regional initiative implemented by OSCE field operations in Tirana, Podgorica, Skopje, Sarajevo, and Pristina.

Management approaches and know-how tools aimed at protecting oil and gas infrastructure from natural or human-made hazards was the topic of an OSCE-organized online seminar that took place on 27 and 28 July 2021.

On 23 July 2021, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) Pierre von Arx, met with Erkin Mukhitdinov, First Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan. They discussed ongoing projects and the potential for future co-operation with the Ministry and the Agency for External Labour Migration under the Ministry as the key project partner of the PCUz.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 394 ceasefire violations, including 119 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 10 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 138 ceasefire

Members of the OSCE Gender Equality Platform in Border Security and Management and representatives of border agencies from the OSCE region and beyond discussed the importance of an inclusive approach to gender equality at an OSCE webinar. The event was organized by the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department on 27 July 2021.

The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons remained the same at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 27 July 2021 – Kosovo institutions need to ensure continued progress and increase their focus on advancing the rights of non-majority communities, a cornerstone in building a truly inclusive, peaceful and stable society, concludes an OSCE Mission in Kosovo report presented today...

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 23 and 25 July, the SMM recorded 48 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 26 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 23 and 25 July, the Mission recorded 140 ceasefire violations,

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro welcomes the Parliament’s decision to start the process of appointing a new Chair of the State Election Commission and encourages the Parliament to complete the process before the summer recess...

The 2021 parliamentary elections in Albania offered voters a choice of candidates, who were able to campaign freely, and fundamental freedoms were generally respected. However, the ruling party had a significant advantage, both from its control of local administrations and the misuse of

SARAJEVO, 26 July 2021- The OSCE Mission to BiH, the Office of the High Representative, the EU Delegation to BiH, the Embassy of the United States of America, and the Embassy of Sweden strongly support the relocation of a destroyed armoured personnel carrier in the Maglaj municipality, which has recently been made into a monument to fallen soldiers and civilians of the Ulišnjak local community.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized a training course on drafting European Union project proposals for 13 staff members of the Parliament of Montenegro from 6 to 8 July and 20 to 22 July 2021 in Podgorica...