News and press releases

Twenty-nine officers of Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan (Border Troops) completed an EU-funded course on sustained field operational capacity on 18 May in the Special Border Unit in the Spitamen district. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (OSCE) in co-operation with Tajikistan’s Border Troops organized the training course.

An OSCE-supported training seminar on the development and implementation of an effective Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system in Kazakhstan in line with the Espoo Convention started on 19 May 2021...

An OSCE-supported half-day online training webinar on the protection of businesses and investors concluded on 14 May 2021 in Nur-Sultan...

Strengthening the involvement of civil society organizations in the social re-use of assets confiscated from organized crime was the focus of two OSCE training courses held in Albania on 28 and 29 April 2021 and in North Macedonia on 17 and 18 May 2021.

YEREVAN, 19 May 2021 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 20 June early parliamentary elections in Armenia, following an invitation from the national authorities....

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 52 ceasefire violations, including 17 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 723 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 50 ceasefire violations, including 15 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded

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 increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

VIENNA, 18 May 2021 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, today expressed her concerns regarding developments around Belarusian online media outlet, Tut.by. The authorities blocked the outlet’s website and raided its editorial office, its regional branches and the homes of several of its staff members.

COPENHAGEN, 18 May 2021 – The challenge of repatriating, prosecuting, rehabilitating and reintegrating foreign terrorist fighters was in focus today at a hearing organized by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism (CCT). Concerned particularly with the possibility of repatriating nationals detained in conflict-affected areas following the territorial defeat of the Islamic State terrorist group, the event examined the experience of Kazakhstan as a case study for lessons learned and good practices.

Border officers of Tajikistan’s Border Troops completed a three-week training course on operational planning on 13 May in Khujand city. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe in co-operation with the Border Troops organized the course which was funded by the European Union.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 14 and 16 May, the SMM recorded 1,173 ceasefire violations, including 53 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 197 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 14 and 16 May, the Mission

On 17 May, the SMM was conducting an announced SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight. The UAV had taken off from its base in government-controlled Stepanivka (54km north of Donetsk) at 12:00 and had immediately experienced dual GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by jamming, which continued uninterrupted for the remainder of the flight. At 12:55, near Bakhmutske (government-controlled, 77km north of Donetsk), the SMM enabled the Emergency Control Mode over the aircraft and commanded it to return to base in Stepanivka due to the persistent dual GPS signal interference...

VIENNA, 17 May 2021 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, deplores the latest imprisonment of several journalists in Belarus.

As part of its technical support to the media, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided 28 mobile journalism sets to the Union of Local Public Broadcasters (ULES) for 12 local media houses on 17 May 2021...

Sharing international strategies and best practices from across the OSCE region is the aim of an OSCE workshop series for Armenia’s Ministry of Justice and police launched on 17 May 2021. The online workshops are designed to support Armenia’s implementation of police reforms by strengthening community policing strategies.

SARAJEVO, 17 May 2021 – On 16 May the world celebrates the International Day of Living Together in Peace. More than 25 years has passed since the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina ended and much has been achieved. However, more can be done to strengthen trust, enable constructive dialogue, and enhance mutual understanding and respect in order to ensure a durable peace and sustainable development for all the people in BiH...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 197 ceasefire violations, including 92 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 208 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 74 ceasefire violations, including 49 explosions. In the previous reporting

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 208 ceasefire violations, including 99 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 54 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 332 ceasefire violations, including 39 explosions. In the previous reporting

The Second National Risk Assessment (NRA-2) Report on Anti-Money Laundering, Combating Financing of Terrorism and the financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (AML/CFT/PWMD) in Turkmenistan and its Risk Management Action Plan (RMAP) were presented at a virtual meeting on 14 and 15 May 2021...

An OSCE-supported two-day training seminar on suspicious transactions reporting (STR) concluded on 14 May 2021 in Nur-Sultan...

Strong and independent National Human Rights Institutions are key to underpinning democracy and the rule of law and ensuring respect for human rights, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) together with five other human rights organizations in a joint statement

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 54 ceasefire violations, including 15 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 112 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 70 ceasefire violations, including three explosions. In the previous reporting

VIENNA, 13 May 2021 – When looking at media freedom in the OSCE region, I see a bleak picture, said OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro. She presented her first biannual report to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today...

VIENNA, 12 May 2021 — How technological advances contribute to a new generation of warfare and the challenges this presents was discussed at an OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) meeting held online today under the Armenian FSC Chairmanship.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 112 ceasefire violations, including 66 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 200 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 17

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, met with representatives of the Belarusian Union of Journalists (BUJ) online yesterday, 11 May 2021, to discuss the current state of freedom of expression and media freedom in Belarus.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 200 ceasefire violations, including 128 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 108 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 17 ceasefire violations, including four explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it

STOCKHOLM/VIENNA/WARSAW, 11 May 2020- Marking the 10th anniversary of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, OSCE leaders today underlined the importance of this landmark treaty that provides legal standards so that women and girls can live their lives free from violence and abuse.

Fostering regional co-operation in addressing terrorist financing and organized crime was the focus of the OSCE Regional Conference on Countering Terrorist Financing and Transnational Organized Crime held online on 11 May 2021.

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.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 7 and 9 May the SMM recorded 163 ceasefire violations, including 105 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 663 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 7 and 9 May the Mission recorded 23

VIENNA, 10 May 2021 – To maximize impact in the fight against transnational organized crime (TOC), it is essential to double-down prevention efforts and to leverage multilateral platforms and regional partnerships, participants said at today’s OSCE Mediterranean Partnership of Co-operation Group meeting...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 663 ceasefire violations, including 104 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 160 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 144 ceasefire violations, including seven explosions. The majority of

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 160 ceasefire violations, including 55 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 618 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 27 ceasefire violations, including 17 explosions. In the previous reporting

On 5 May, Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), met with Ambassador Elena Molaroni Berguido to discuss the importance of media freedom in San Marino and in the broader OSCE region.

On 7 May 2021, Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) met with Dangira West, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Lithuanian Delegation, to discuss media freedom in Lithuania and the broader OSCE region.

On 5 May, Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), met with Chargé d'Affaires Georgios Daskalopoulos, to discuss media freedom developments and challenges in Greece.

Representative from the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the Association of Youth with Disabilities and the Union of the Blind of Montenegro worked together to produce guidelines for municipal electoral commissions on improving accessibility of polling stations.

On 6 May, the SMM was conducting an announced SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight. The UAV had taken off from its base in government-controlled Stepanivka (54km north of Donetsk) at 12:30 and had immediately experienced dual GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by jamming, which then had occurred at intervals during the flight. At 16:01, while flying over areas near Kolosky (non-government-controlled, 46km south-east of Donetsk), the UAV had again experienced dual GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by jamming, which continued uninterrupted for the remainder of the flight...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 618 ceasefire violations, including 266 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 217 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 18 ceasefire violations, including nine explosions. In the previous reporting

Economic connectivity perspectives and the operationalization of Euro-Asian inland transport links (EATL) were the focus of two rounds of virtual consultations held by the OSCE and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on 25 March 2021 and 6 May 2021...

On 5 May 2021, the Serbian Directorate for the Administration of Seized Assets, eight local civil society organizations (CSOs) and OSCE experts discussed opportunities and modalities to socially re-use assets confiscated from organized crime...

Moscow/Paris/Washington, 5 May 2021- The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) released the following statement today:

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 217 ceasefire violations, including 34 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 64 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 140 ceasefire violations

Exploring ways to further strengthen capabilities for document checks at border controls in South-Eastern Europe was the focus of an online meeting held on 29 April 2021 as a follow-up to the 2019 Co-ordination Conference on Preventing Document Fraud — co-operation in South Eastern Europe.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 30 April and 3 May, the SMM recorded 287 ceasefire violations, including 45 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 95 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 30 April and 3 May, the Mission

On 4 May, Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), met with Ambassador Jaume Serra Serra to discuss the media freedom situation in the Principality of Andorra and in the broader OSCE region.

Twenty-seven officers and managers of various border security and law enforcement agencies from fifteen countries across the OSCE region completed the second module of the one-year Border Security and Management for Senior Leadership course on 29 April 2021. Due to the pandemic and the restrictions on travel, the traditional face-to-face phase of the second module was held via video teleconferencing.

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 increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week...

VIENNA/STOCKHOLM, 4 May 2021 — With society more interconnected through technology than ever before, multilateral engagement is key to building confidence and trust to ensure an open and secure cyberspace, participants agreed during the opening session of the OSCE-wide Cyber/ICT Security Conference held online today.