News and press releases

“The way migration is communicated and perceived is a key pre-condition to create the necessary space for policy-making that can harness the economic potential of migrants. The aim is to foster a socio-economic eco-system where everyone feels welcome and valued, citizens and migrants alike,” said Vuk Žugić, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, at the kick-off meeting of the E-MINDFUL project on 15 June 2021 in Vienna...

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 11 and 13 June, the SMM recorded 84 ceasefire violations, including 25 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 51 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 11 and 13 June, the Mission recorded

VIENNA, 14 June 2021 – Confronting the demand that fuels and incentivizes human trafficking is the focus of the three-day 21st OSCE Alliance Conference against Trafficking in Persons, which opened today in Vienna...

From 14 to 18 June 2021, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department’s Strategic Police Matters Unit and the Permanent Mission of Turkey to the OSCE organized an online training course for some 30 criminal justice practitioners from three OSCE participating States – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – focusing on countering transnational organized crime...

Advancing beneficial ownership reform in the Western Balkans, transparency, and common challenges were the focus of an online workshop, on 14 June 2021, organized by the OSCE, jointly with the Open Government Partnership (OGP), and German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ)...

VIENNA, 14 June 2021- Today marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of Article IV of the Dayton Peace Agreement, a sub-regional arms control arrangement, established to reduce the number of weapons to the level agreed to between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia...

VIENNA/STOCKHOLM, 13 June 2021 — The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, will visit Ukraine this week on her second official visit to the country for meetings with senior-level officials.

VIENNA/STOCKHOLM, 13 June 2021 – The return of 15 Armenian detainees to Armenia and Armenia’s handover to Azerbaijan of information that will facilitate important demining work, are welcome confidence building measures, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde. “These important steps bring the sides closer to dialogue, closer to stability, and closer to a comprehensive settlement.”

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 51 ceasefire violations, including four explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded ten ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded seven ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded two

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded ten ceasefire violations, including seven explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 30 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded two ceasefire violations, both explosions. In the previous reporting period,

WASHINGTON, D.C., 11 June 2021 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, participated in a congressional hearing with the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki Commission) today.

From 7 to 12 June, the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan organized a tour of water facilities in the Almaty, Zhambyl, Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions for young specialists. The tour was conducted in partnership with the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS).

On 11 June, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Konstantinos Kollias to discuss media freedom in the OSCE region and in Greece.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized an online training course, from 8 to 11 June, to present best practices in developing target indicators for renewable energy sources in Turkmenistan.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 30 ceasefire violations, including eight explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 104 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded ten ceasefire violations, including three explosions. In the previous

On 8 and 9 June 2021, the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) conducted its first joint training course for 2021 focused on the management of companies.

On 8 June 2021, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) held online a national workshop in Uzbekistan. The workshop focused on strengthening national and regional capacities and co-operation on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Central Asia, including as a response to climate change, implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)...

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, together with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), organized an election observation training course for persons with disabilities on 9 and10 June 2021...

VIENNA/STOCKHOLM, 10 June 2021 – Women have disproportionately suffered socio-economic consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic. At today’s 2nd Preparatory meeting of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum (EEF) participants stressed the need for policies that will ensure a more level playing field for women, now that a return to ‘normalcy’ seems within reach. Promoting equal opportunities for women is a key factor for securing prosperity, stability and security...

In response to the proliferation of fake news and misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, on 8 June 2021, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo launched a one-month media literacy campaign aimed at youth...

3 June 2021, BISHKEK – The recently appointed Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek Alexey Rogov met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ruslan Kazakbaev.

SARAJEVO, 10 June 2021 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the Embassy of Sweden in BiH, representing the OSCE 2021 Chairpersonship, organized conference with more than 50 journalists and media professionals today to discuss threats against media freedom...

ULAANBAATAR, 10 June 2021 – Mongolia’s presidential election was well run in difficult circumstances and candidates were able to reach out freely to voters, but overly restrictive candidate eligibility and the blurred line between journalism and political advertising as well as the absence of public debate limited the range of choices and information for voters, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today...

KYIV, 10 June 2021 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:..

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 104 ceasefire violations, including 79 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 53 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 56 ceasefire violations, including three explosions. In the previous reporting

The newly appointed Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, Alexey Rogov, and Minister of Interior of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ulan Niyazbekov, met on 3 June 2021 in Bishkek.

SOFIA, 9 June 2021 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 11 July early parliamentary elections, following an invitation from the country’s authorities...

Bringing young people together to discuss what role they have in preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism, was the focus of a two-day workshop organized by the Directorate for Sports and Youth and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro on 7 and 8 June in Budva...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 53 ceasefire violations, including 14 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 62 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 23 ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 76 ceasefire violations

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

SARAJEVO, 8 June 2021 – “Today’s verdict closes an important chapter in pursuing justice for victims and survivors of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity committed in BiH,” said Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina...

The OSCE, together with Libera, an Italian civil society organization working on social re-use of confiscated property, organized a two-day online workshop on social re-use of confiscated assets on 8 and 9 June 2021...

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 4 and 6 June, the SMM recorded 72 ceasefire violations, including 41 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 83 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 4 and 6 June, the Mission recorded 76

THE HAGUE, 7 June 2021 — Different approaches to support the integration of diverse societies through multilingual and multicultural education were in focus at an online conference held today to mark the 25th anniversary of The Hague Recommendations regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities

The presidential election held in Portugal on 24 January 2021 was organized efficiently despite challenges and new provisions introduced amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but areas such as campaign financing and media regulations would benefit from further revision. These are some of the main conclusions

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 83 ceasefire violations, including 16 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 79 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 141 ceasefire violations, including nine explosions. In the previous reporting

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 79 ceasefire violations, including four explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded three ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 357

WARSAW, 4 June 2021 — The televised “confessions” of independent journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega, his partner, raise further concerns regarding the Belarus authorities’ failure to meet obligations to respect the right to a fair trial and the absolute prohibition of torture in the wave of arrests since last August’s presidential election, says the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

VIENNA, 4 June 2021 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, expressed today her deep concern and sadness over the death of correspondent Maharram Ibrahimov (Alioghlu) and camera operator Siraj Abishov.

The launch of the project “Assistance in the Crime Prevention by Children and Youth” at the juvenile colony for boys, supported by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), took place on 2 June 2021.

The 2021 presidential election in Kyrgyzstan was well organized and fundamental freedoms were generally respected. However, the campaign was dominated by one candidate who benefited from disproportionately large financial means and misuse of administrative resources, resulting in an uneven playing

CHISINAU, 4 June 2021 — The mediators and observers in the Permanent Conference on Political Issues in the Framework of the Negotiation Process on the Transdniestrian Settlement in the 5+2 format visited Chisinau and Tiraspol on 3-4 June 2021 for talks with the Moldovan and Transdniestrian leaderships.

BELGRADE, 4 June 2021– On the occasion of World Environment Day, Jan Braathu, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, underlines the connection between environmental sustainability, economic growth and good governance...

The OSCE organized an online workshop on the social re-use of confiscated criminal assets in Montenegro on 3 June 2021. The workshop brought together representatives from civil society organizations, law enforcement and the Cadastre and State Property Administration of Montenegro.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded three ceasefire violations, including an explosion. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 59 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 357 ceasefire violations, including 32 explosions. In the previous reporting

The role of Parliament in budgetary and financial security-sector oversight in Uzbekistan was discussed in an interactive workshop in Tashkent on 3 June 2021. Twenty members of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) participated in the event, including committee chairpersons and their deputies as well as members and support staff from the Legislative Chamber and the Senate.

CHISINAU, 3 June 2021 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 11 July early parliamentary elections in Moldova, following an invitation from the national authorities...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 59 ceasefire violations, including two explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 49 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 167 ceasefire violations, including 21 explosions. In the previous reporting

VIENNA, 2 June 2021 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, today expressed her concern about the ongoing suspension of public funding for the Slovenian Press Agency (STA).

VIENNA, 2 June 2021 — The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, urged today the public authorities in Belarus to free all journalists and other media workers who have been sentenced, arrested or detained in the country. Most of these journalists were apprehended for their reporting on public events and other political developments in the country.