News and press releases

ODIHR recommendations on Tajikistan 2020 elections ODIHR final report on the 2020 Tajikistan parliamentary elections The 2020 parliamentary elections in Tajikistan took place in a tightly controlled environment in which there was no space left for a pluralistic political debate and voters did not

An OSCE-organized online training on border crossing facilitation for transit goods carried by rail and road, opened in Ashgabat on 27 May 2020. The training is organized within the framework of the Centre’s extra-budgetary project on “Strengthening State Border Service Capacities in Turkmenistan”, which places a particular focus on promoting cross-border trade and transit in the Central Asian region.

VIENNA, 27 May 2020 – Some 80 participants, representing a wide variety of sectors, and stakeholders from the OSCE participating States in South-Eastern Europe convened today in an online webinar to discuss climate change and security in the region...

Summary Compared with the previous 24 hours, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.* The Mission

VIENNA, 26 May 2020 –The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges that demand greater efforts from governments in order to build inclusive societies in the coming months and years, concluded OSCE participants at a meeting today on addressing the many dimensions of intolerance and discrimination...

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...

COPENHAGEN, 25 May 2020 – Launching a series of informal meetings for the OSCE PA leadership to discuss regional issues with OSCE PA delegations, parliamentarians from southeastern European countries met online Monday with Assembly President George Tsereteli (Georgia) and Secretary General Roberto Montella.

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 22 and 23 May, the Mission recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. Between the evenings of 23 and 24 May, the Mission recorded a similar number of ceasefire

The Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department launched an E-learning Course on Preventing and Countering the Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes on 25 May 2020...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at SMM mini-UAVs near Petrivske and Vesela Hora, where bullets also flew over SMM members. The SMM followed up on reports

On 22 May, an SMM patrol comprising six members and two vehicles was positioned on road H-21 at the eastern edge of Vesela Hora (non-government-controlled, 16km north of Luhansk) to conduct an announced mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight...

COPENHAGEN, 22 May 2020 – In developing COVID-19 recovery plans, policymakers have an opportunity to advance an agenda to protect the environment while creating new employment opportunities, participants said in the fourth OSCE Parliamentary Assembly webinar on the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic underscores the need to build a more environmentally responsible world, said OSCE parliamentarians, emphasizing that there is a growing understanding that environmental protection, public health and economic development are closely related.

KYIV, 22 May 2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the extraordinary meetings of the TCG and its Security working group through video conferencing:

On 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 May, members of the armed formations again denied SMM attempts to cross into non-government-controlled areas along official crossing routes: eight times in Donetsk region and three times in Luhansk region, while further attempts to cross into government-controlled areas were also denied, twice in Donetsk region and four times in Luhansk region...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.* The SMM

22 May 2020, SKOPJE- Today the OSCE Mission to Skopje launched an exceptional call for proposals from local civil society organizations, associations and charities. The aim of the call is to address the needs of the most vulnerable and underserved communities in the country in areas covered by the Mission’s mandate in the time of the COVID-19 crisis.

SARAJEVO, 22 May 2020- The OSCE Mission to Bosnia Herzegovina (BiH) regrets the recent statements by Presidency member Milorad Dodik and the President of the HDZ BiH, Dr. Dragan Čović, for their disregard of democratic standards concerning the holding of elections...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. The SMM followed up on reports of a woman hit by a bullet at a bus stop in Olenivka, Donetsk region. Members of the armed formations continued to deny

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), as a part of its wider initiative to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in its pandemic response provided, on 21 May 2020 in Sarajevo, protective equipment and sanitizer for the BiH Border Police...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted recent damage and craters due to shelling at and near an operational water treatment plant close to

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro congratulates the citizens of Montenegro on 21 May 2006, a day that commemorates Montenegro regaining its independence through a peaceful and democratic referendum...

SKOPJE, 20 May 2020 – Today, the OSCE Mission to Skopje published its third and final report on the activities and cases under the former Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPO). The publication includes recommendations to judicial actors, the legislative and the executive branches, with the aim to tackle the issues identified in the report in order to improve the efficiency and fairness of judicial proceedings...

From 19 to 20 May 2020, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized an online training on the management of border crossing points (BCP) in the context of the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Summary Compared with the previous 24 hours, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, an explosion occurred near the SMM in Yasynuvata while facilitating adherence to the localised ceasefire to enable

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.

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 15 and 16 May, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Between the evenings of 16 and 17 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk

COPENHAGEN, 18 May 2020 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on South East Europe, Mark Pritchard, welcomed the appointment of Ambassador Zef Mazi as Albania’s Chief Negotiator with the European Union...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. An SMM patrol heard and saw two incoming projectiles explode in the air at close distance while positioned south-west of Berezivske, Luhansk region.

On 15 May, an SMM patrol comprising six members and two vehicles was positioned on the south-western edge of Berezivske (non-government-controlled, 53km north-west of Luhansk) to monitor adherence to a localized ceasefire to facilitate repairs of water infrastructure in the area, and to conduct an announced mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight to follow up on reports of damage in the settlement...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.* The

On 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 May, members of the armed formations again denied SMM attempts to cross into non-government-controlled areas along official crossing routes: six times in Donetsk region and three times in Luhansk region, while further attempts to cross into government-controlled

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan delivered humanitarian and anti-Covid aid following the collapse of the Sardoba dam in the Sirdaryo region in Uzbekistan on 13 May 2020. More than 70,000 citizens were evacuated from their homes due to the dam burst at the beginning of the month and resulting in flood. Given that the physical distance measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 became almost impossible, it was important to provide materials to combat that transnational threat along with providing the humanitarian aid.

KYIV, 14 May 2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its working groups:

ODIHR recommendations on Slovakia 2020 elections ODIHR election observation mission recommends Slovakia, among other things, to make greater efforts to help persons with disabilities vote The 2020 parliamentary elections in Slovakia were held in a pluralistic environment with respect for

VIENNA, 14 May 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, reiterated today his concern over the continued detention of Abdulmumin Gadzhiev, a journalist and editor with the independent newspaper Chernovik, in Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan after the extension of his pre-trial detention...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. Small-arms fire was assessed as aimed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle flying over areas near non-government-controlled Almazna, Luhansk region.*

VIENNA, 14 May 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today following the brief detention of a journalist who was covering protests in the city of Nikšić, in Montenegro...

WARSAW, 13 May 2020 – Following the decision of Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court today to uphold the life sentence of human rights defender Azimjan Askarov, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expressed her deep disappointment...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. The Mission followed up on reports of two men injured by shelling in non-government-controlled Sakhanka, Donetsk region. The SMM observed shrapnel and

ODIHR recommendations on Uzbekistan 2019 elections ODIHR election observation mission recommends Uzbekistan to demonstrate genuine competition and full respect of election day procedures The 2019 parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan took place under improved legislation and with greater tolerance

From the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in Albania, the OSCE Presence has adapted its work to better respond to the needs of Albanian institutions, civil society and vulnerable groups. In close consultation with its key interlocutors, the Presence focused on emergency assistance, and immediate needs of host authorities. The Presence will continue to reshape its mid- to long-term support in line with its mandate and new requirements due to the pandemic...

VIENNA, 12 May 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concerns and denounced today the detention and imprisonment of journalists and freelance reporters for ‘participating in unauthorized events’ in Belarus. He calls for their immediate release...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Small-arms fire was assessed as aimed at SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles flying near government-controlled Novoluhanske, Donetsk region and

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 Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 8 and 9 May, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. Between the evenings of 9 and 10 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in

WARSAW, 11 May 2020 – Pending the final vote on a draft law to regulate the organization and holding of peaceful assemblies in Kazakhstan, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expressed her concern about undue limitations to the freedom of assembly...

VIENNA, 11 May 2020 –Today, the Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation Group, under the Swedish Chair, held their first virtual meeting. It focused on the challenges and opportunities of information technology and human trafficking...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Armed members of the armed formations stopped an SMM patrol in Horlivka, Donetsk region, and prevented its departure for almost three hours.* The SMM followed up on

VIENNA, 9 May 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, condemned today the threats against journalists of two newspapers in Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom...

On the morning of 8 May, an SMM patrol consisting of five Mission members and two vehicles located on the south-western outskirts of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) conducted an announced SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight to follow up on reports of recent damage in the area...