News and press releases

A four-day training course for lawyers from the OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs) and local authorities was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe from 27 to 30 April in Dushanbe. The event brought together 23 participants from the Sughd, Khatlon, Rasht Valley regions, and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan.

COPENHAGEN, 3 May 2021 – Leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly expressed concern today over the decision of the Russian Federation to implement travel restrictions against the President of the European Parliament and seven other European Union officials. The new sanctions ban EP President David Sassoli and Jacques Maire, a member of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe where he serves on the PACE Presidential Committee, as well as several others, from entering Russian territory.

VIENNA, 3 May 2021 – On World Press Freedom Day 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, launched today a Communiqué on the freedom of journalists and media outlets to perform their journalistic duties abroad.

Congratulating Montenegrin journalists on World Press Day 2021, Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Acting Head of Mission, said that this year’s theme, Information as a Public Good, emphasizes the need for information to be accurate, verified and timely.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 95 ceasefire violations, including 47 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 82 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 66 ceasefire violations, including ten explosions. In the previous reporting

STOCKHOLM, 1 May 2021 — OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, held phone conversations with Ruslan Kazakbaev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan and Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan. CiO Linde raised the latest developments on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border and expressed concern about the escalation of violence. She expressed her condolences for the loss of lives on both sides and concern for those injured.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 82 ceasefire violations, including 27 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 15 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 36 ceasefire violations, including six explosions. In the previous reporting

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met online today with representatives of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) and editors of several independent media outlets to discuss the current state of freedom of expression and media freedom in Belarus.

Two back-to-back online training seminars on criminal law and criminological characteristics of computer crimes, methodology for detecting and investigating criminal offenses committed using information and communication technologies (ICT) concluded on 30 April 2021 in Nur-Sultan.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 15 ceasefire violations, all explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 217 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 22 ceasefire violations, including eight explosions. In the previous reporting period,

On 28 and 29 April 2021, the first national cyber drill exercise “Digital Kyrgyzstan 2021” was held in Bishkek. The event was organized by the Coordination Center for Cybersecurity of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic (CCCS SCNS) with support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and the International Telecommunication Union.

Over 30 participants took part in the sixth meeting of the Permanent Conference of Organized Crime Prosecutors (PCOCP) organized online by the OSCE Secretariat in collaboration with the OSCE Mission to Serbia, on 27 April 2021.

KYIV, 29 April 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:..

VIENNA, 28 April 2021- The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Valiant Richey concluded today the International "e-Roundtable Discussion on Combating Technology-facilitated Trafficking in Human Beings in Central Asia and across the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation."...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 217 ceasefire violations, including 79 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 205 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 148 ceasefire violations, including 47 explosions. In the previous reporting

VIENNA, 28 April 2021 — How states comply with international humanitarian law and the challenges they face in its implementation was the focus of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) meeting held online today under the Armenian FSC Chairmanship.

The findings of the “Analysis of verdicts of misdemeanour courts in Montenegro in the field of domestic violence and gender-based violence with reference to the practice of the Ombudsman and the European Court of Human Rights” were presented at an online event on 27 April 2021. The authors of the analysis are Nebojša Vučinić, human rights professor; Siniša Bjeković, Ombudsperson of Montenegro and his advisers Dina Knežević and Nemanja Dujović...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 205 ceasefire violations, including 123 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 125 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded four ceasefire

ERGNETI, 27 April 2021- The 99th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held today in Ergneti, co-facilitated by Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and Ambassador Annika Söder, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ergneti IPRM was accompanied by all necessary precautionary health measures.

SARAJEVO, 27 April 2021- Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina visited Mostar today and met with city officials, the Mayor and City Council Speaker, Chairs of Mostar City Council caucuses and representatives of political parties, to congratulate them on their mandates, to learn about the priorities of the new city administration, and to offer OSCE Mission support in key areas.

WARSAW, 27 April 2021 – Following a parliamentary move against a number of constitutional court judges in Moldova last week after an earlier court decision found the conditions had been met for the president to dissolve parliament, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) called for the country’s parliament to respect the independence of the judiciary.

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.

From 27 to 30 April in the Zhambyl region, the Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, in collaboration with Kazakhstan’s hydrometeorology service Kazgidromet, launched its first in a series of four surface water samples collection in the transboundary Chu and Talas river basin. The water samples taken by Kazgidromet specialists from 16 different locations will be delivered to the Kazgidromet’s local laboratory in Taraz for examining the physical and chemical composition...

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 23 and 25 April, the SMM recorded 382 ceasefire violations, including 297 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 374 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 23 and 25 April, the Mission

On the morning of 26 April, an SMM patrol travelling from non-government-controlled Donetsk city, consisting of two vehicles, one trailer and five mission members, arrived at the checkpoint of the armed formations near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) to conduct an exchange of trailers with a second SMM patrol arriving from government-controlled areas...

On 26 April 2021, following a request from Aleksa Bečić, Speaker of Parliament, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided video equipment for livestreaming and broadcasting parliamentary committees.

TIRANA, 26 April 2021 – The Albanian parliamentary elections were characterized by a lively and inclusive campaign, thanks to a legal framework that helped ensure respect of fundamental freedoms. At the same time the campaign saw authorities taking advantage of public office and allegations of pervasive vote buying, international observers said in a statement today...

Addressing anti-Semitism through education ODIHR and UNESCO propose policy and reforms to tackle intolerance and discrimination Addressing anti-Semitism through education is the focus of two events co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the United

On 23 April 2021, representatives of Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence (Committee) in Khujand city of the Sughd region completed a four-week training course on sustained field operation capacity. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in co-operation with the Committee, organized the training course, which was funded by the European Union.

VIENNA/WARSAW, 26 April 2021 – Transparent, inclusive lawmaking is vital to underpin democracies and the principles on which they are built, OSCE leaders said as a two-day meeting to discuss topics including the challenges and opportunities of crafting laws in periods of crisis opened today...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 374 ceasefire violations, including 133 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 488 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded two ceasefire violations, both explosions. In the previous reporting period,

At 19:00 on 23 April, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) experienced GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by probable jamming, upon take-off from its base in Stepanivka (government-controlled, 54km north of Donetsk). Subsequently, at 19:05, while flying over areas near

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 488 ceasefire violations, including in total 416 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 276 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded six ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it

The 2020 parliamentary elections in Romania were competitive, respecting fundamental freedoms, and organized professionally, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the late adoption of a number of regulations. While the legal framework generally provided for the conduct of democratic

On 22 April 2021, Mathieu Lemoine, Senior Project Officer in the Human Dimension at the OSCE, awarded a tablet to Muattarkhon Burkhanova, Public Relations Specialist of the Republican Social Information Center "Istiqbolli Avlod" (Tashkent) and winner of a competition for the best script for an animation video or a short film on combating trafficking in human beings.

On 22 April 2021, the OSCE Presence in Albania concluded a three-month national voter education campaign ahead of the 25 April parliamentary elections. The campaign — conducted in close co-operation with the Central Election Commission — aimed at informing citizens about Electoral Code amendments, and encouraged their participation in the elections...

On 21 and 22 April, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the Montenegrin Regional Youth Co-operation Office (RYCO) Chairperson and members of the RYCO Local Branch Office (LBO) organized the 13th RYCO Governing Board meeting in Podgorica...

KYIV, 23 April 2021 – Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Y. Halit Çevik today paid tribute to SMM medic Joseph Stone, who was tragically killed in 2017 when an SMM armoured vehicle was struck by an explosion, most likely caused by an anti-tank mine in a non-government controlled area near Pryshyb in Luhansk region.

The Constitutional Court of Albania, in co-operation with the OSCE Presence and the Office of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), launched its first Strategy at an event on 22 April 2021...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 276 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 279 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded three ceasefire violations in

KYIV, 22 April 2021 – While ceasefire violations remain below the level observed before the measures to strengthen the ceasefire entered into force on 27 July 2020, Ambassador Y. Halit Çevik, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, said today there are a number of trends that give cause for concern.

The results of the Global Environment Facility project ‘Enabling transboundary co-operation and integrated water resources management in the Dniester river basin’, were officially presented on 22 April 2021 online at a meeting of representatives of the governments of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, international organizations, academia, businesses and non-governmental organizations.

VIENNA, 22 April 2021 – Climate change is a risk multiplier and is affecting economies, the environment and societies in South-Eastern Europe in complex ways, according to a report published today by the OSCE and the Berlin-based think tank adelphi...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 279 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 138 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded three ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 27 ceasefire violations in

VIENNA/YEREVAN, 21 April 2021 — Armenia will aim to rebuild trust and confidence to protect OSCE principles and commitments and prevent further erosion of the OSCE security environment, said Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ara Aivazian, as he opened the country’s Chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) today.

COPENHAGEN, 21 April 2021 – United States Senator Ben Cardin, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance, on Tuesday issued the following statement in response to former police officer Derek Chauvin being convicted in the death of George Floyd:..

In the period between 7 and 13 April 2021, the Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) carried out a series of awareness-raising seminars on the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture. The seminars were organized jointly with the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsperson).

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 138 ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 93 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 27 ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 59 ceasefire violations in the region. The SMM

WARSAW, 20 April 2021 — OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid concluded a one-day visit to Poland for discussions with the Polish President, Andrzej Duda, Foreign Minister, Zbigniew Rau, Deputy Foreign Minister, Marcin Przydacz, and the Polish delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

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.