News and press releases

CHISINAU, 18 February 2021 — OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde concluded an official visit to the Republic of Moldova on 17 February.

KYIV, 17 February 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:

On 16 February 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Ivo Šramek to discuss co-operation of the Office of the Representative with the authorities of the Czech Republic.

Summary The SMM recorded ten ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded one ceasefire violation in the region. The Mission recorded 29 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous repoting period, it recorded 26 ceasefire violations in the

On 16 February 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Kairat Umarov to discuss co-operation of the Office of the Representative with the authorities of Kazakhstan.

TBILISI, 17 February 2021 — OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde concluded on 16 February an official visit to Georgia.

Summary The SMM recorded one ceasefire violation in Donetsk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 12 ceasefire violations in the region. The Mission recorded 26 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 13 ceasefire violations in the region. The SMM

On 15 February 2021, the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, published an interactive online database, compendium of relevant reference materials and resources on ethical sourcing and prevention of trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation in supply chains...

Moscow/Paris/Washington, 16 February 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:

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met today, 16 February 2021, with Ambassador Andrei Dapkiunas to discuss the state of freedom of expression and media freedom in Belarus.

VIENNA, 16 February 2020 – Women’s economic empowerment, through security, stability and sustainable development, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, was the focus of the first preparatory meeting of the 2021 OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum; which concluded today...

VIENNA, 16 February 2021 — The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, expressed her serious concern over today’s searches targeting the Belarusian Association of Journalists and other media workers across the country.

WARSAW, 16 February 2021 – Following a wave of concerted police searches of human rights activists throughout Belarus today, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) voices its utmost concern and calls on the Belarusian authorities to respect the rights of those who seek to protect the rights of their fellow citizens and not to criminalize their legitimate human rights work.

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.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met on 8 February 2021, with Ambassador Neil Bush to discuss media freedom developments in the UK and the OSCE region.

Summary Between the evenings of 12 and 14 February, the SMM recorded 17 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 20 ceasefire violations in the region. Between the evenings of 12 and 14 February, the Mission recorded 13 ceasefire violations in Luhansk

On 12 February 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Idibek Kalandar to discuss future co-operation of the Office of the Representative with the authorities of Tajikistan.

On 12 February 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Abat Fayzullaev to discuss co-operation of the Office of the Representative with the authorities of Uzbekistan.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met today, 15 February 2021, with Ambassador Károly Dán to discuss the current state of media freedom in Hungary...

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met today, 15 February 2021, with Ambassador Emilia Kraleva to discuss the current state of media freedom in Bulgaria.

Summary The SMM recorded 20 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 894 ceasefire violations in the region, most of which were assessed as live-fire exercises in non-government-controlled areas. The Mission recorded four ceasefire violations in Luhansk

Summary The SMM recorded 894 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, 848 of which were assessed as live-fire exercises in non-government-controlled areas near the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) and Sofiivka (formerly Karlo-Marksove). In the previous reporting period, it recorded 53 ceasefire

On 11 February 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Silapberdi Nurberdiev to discuss co-operation of the Office of the RFoM with the authorities of Turkmenistan.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met on 12 February 2021, with Ambassador Florian Raunig to discuss media freedom developments in Austria and the OSCE region.

The OSCE Mission concluded on 12 February 2021 a series of five workshops with the Association of the Blind of Kosovo (ABK) to support blind and visually impaired voters to vote independently ahead of the parliamentary elections.   

SARAJEVO, 12 February 2021 – The U.S. Embassy, EU Delegation/EU Special Representative in BiH and the OSCE Mission to BiH call on all relevant authorities to ensure the draft Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in BiH is aligned with international standards, resulting in a robust system for preventing conflict of interest among public officials...

The Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN), which is supported by the OSCE through an extra-budgetary project, organized its first Steering Group meeting under the Albanian Presidency on 10 February 2021. The Albanian Presidency in BAMIN is represented the Agency for Seized and Confiscated Assets from the country’s Ministry of Interior...

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met on 10 February 2021, with Ambassador Veselin Šuković to discuss the media freedom developments in Montenegro and areas in which the RFoM’s institution can provide assistance...

On 10 February 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Igor Djundev to discuss the current media freedom landscape and challenges in North Macedonia.

Summary The SMM recorded 53 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded ten ceasefire violations in the region. The Mission recorded no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 40 ceasefire violations in the

SARAJEVO, 10 February 2021 – Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, congratulated Halil Lagumdžija, newly elected President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC) and Sanela Gorušanović-Butigan and Biljana Simeunović, as Vice Presidents...

Summary The SMM recorded ten ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 42 ceasefire violations in the region. The Mission recorded 40 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded five ceasefire violations in the

STOCKHOLM, 10 February 2021 — OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid concluded yesterday a two-day visit to Sweden for discussions with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde.

Summary The SMM recorded 42 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 106 ceasefire violations in the region. The Mission recorded five ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 15 ceasefire violations in the region. The SMM

United States 2020 general elections The general elections in the United States of America were highly competitive and well managed in spite of the legal uncertainties and logistical challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Aggressive rhetoric and unsubstantiated claims about election fraud reduced

In a meeting on 9 February with Danish Ambassador René Dinesen, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, took positive note of the current media situation in Denmark.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) was the focus of the Annual Security Review Days organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which concluded today, 9 February 2021.

In a meeting on 9 February, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, discussed with Georgian Ambassador Ketevan Tshikelashvili the situation of media freedom in Georgia and the progress achieved by the country in recent years...

SARAJEVO, 9 February 2021- On February 5, the newly appointed City Council of Mostar adopted a decision to conduct the election of the mayor of Mostar by public ballot...

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...

On 5 February, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro met with the Director General of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Noel Curran, to discuss the media freedom situation across the OSCE region and the value of public service media.

VIENNA, 9 February 2021 — Fostering military transparency and building mutual confidence and trust among OSCE participating States is the aim of the two-day High-Level Military Doctrine Seminar, which opened today and was organized by the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) and chaired by the FSC Chairpersonship of the United States.

Summary Between the evenings of 5 and 7 February, the Mission recorded 349 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded eight ceasefire violations in the region. Between the evenings of 5 and 7 February, the SMM recorded 25 ceasefire violations in Luhansk

Lithuania 2020 parliamentary elections Lithuania’s 2020 parliamentary elections were managed efficiently despite the COVID-19 pandemic but its legislation, although enjoying broad public trust, contains excessive restrictions on candidacy rights, as well as provisions that can undermine the

On 5 February, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), John MacGregor handed over personal protection equipment and humanitarian aid to the Deputy Director of the Agency for External Labour Migration under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Hojiakbar Fayzullahodjayev...

On 5 February 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Armen Papikyan to discuss media freedom developments in Armenia and areas in which the RFoM’s institution can provide assistance.

Summary The SMM recorded eight ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded six ceasefire violations in the region. The Mission recorded two ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the

Summary The SMM recorded six ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the region. The Mission recorded no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded nine ceasefire violations in the

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met on 5 February with Courtney E. Austrian, US Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, to discuss the current media freedom landscape as well as challenges in the US media context...

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan co-hosted two events, on 2 and 5 February 2021, to discuss the December 2020 address of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on the effectiveness and the results of the 2017-2021 National Action Strategy, as well as the next steps in terms of State development and reforms in the sphere of democratization. The event was co-organized by the Development Strategy Centre, the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan (the Parliament), the National Human Rights Centre, the UNDP's Rule of Law Partnership in Uzbekistan project, the Supreme Court, the United States Agency for International Development, the Chamber of Advocates, the United Nations Country Team in Uzbekistan and the World Bank.