Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
OSCE Representative condemns severe prison sentences for Zaman journalists, calls for their release
Publishing date: 6 July 2018
VIENNA, 6 July 2018- OSCE Representative on the Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir voiced strong disapproval against today’s court decision to imprison Zaman journalists.
OSCE representative welcomes release of Akın Atalay in Turkey but strongly condemns prison sentences for Cumhuriyet journalists and staff
Publishing date: 26 April 2018
VIENNA, 26 April 2018- While welcoming the acquittal of three Cumhuriyet staff, and the release of CEO Akın Atalay, OSCE media freedom representative Harlem Désir strongly condemned the prison sentences issued by the court in Silivri, Turkey, to the majority of the defendants...
OSCE Representative meets Serbian President Vučić, government, media representatives to discuss media freedom, marks 19th anniversary of murder of journalist Ćuruvija
Publishing date: 11 April 2018
BELGRADE, 11 April 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, met with President Aleksandar Vučić today in Belgrade to discuss media freedom issues in Serbia during a three-day official visit to the country...
OSCE media freedom representative welcomes release of journalist Aziz Orudjev in Azerbaijan
Publishing date: 6 April 2018
VIENNA, 6 April 2018 –OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the release of the head of the Internet TV channel Kanal 13 in Azerbaijan...
Blocking of news website and detention of journalists in Kazakhstan of grave concern, says OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Publishing date: 5 April 2018
VIENNA, 5 April 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today criticized the temporary detention of journalists and editors from Ratel.kz and Forbes Kazakhstan, and the blocking of the Ratel.kz webpage in Kazakhstan...
OSCE media freedom representative Désir calls for release of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi staff, following police raid on newspaper’s offices in Turkey
Publishing date: 29 March 2018
VIENNA, 29 March 2018 – The closure of the Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper and appointing a trustee to head it is a major attack on the independence of this media outlet and another setback to media pluralism in Turkey, said Harlem Désir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, today following yesterday’s police raid on the newspaper’s office...
Following adoption of broadcasting law in Turkmenistan, OSCE representative Désir presents legal review, calls for improvements to the media situation
Publishing date: 27 March 2018
VIENNA, 27 March 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, in a letter to the authorities of Turkmenistan recently presented a commentary on the national law “On Television and Radio Broadcasting”, which was adopted on 5 January...
OSCE media freedom representative calls on Slovakia to decriminalize defamation and respect journalists’ rights
Publishing date: 23 March 2018
VIENNA, 23 March – Today OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir wrote to the Slovak authorities to express concern about a recently passed verdict on the case of journalist Lukáš Milan...
OSCE representative Désir warns about shrinking space for online expression in Turkey, following parliament’s adoption of latest restrictive provision
Publishing date: 22 March 2018
VIENNA, 22 March 2018 – “Today, the Internet is the main platform where pluralistic discussions can still take place in Turkey. Further restricting access to the Internet will critically weaken access to information and online expression,” OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir said today...
OSCE Representative discusses strengthening cooperation with UN and Global Civil Society Organizations to protect media freedom during New York visit
Publishing date: 17 March 2018
New York, 17 March 2018 – During his visit to New York OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir met with high-level United Nations officials and a broad range of civil society organizations to discuss ways of joining forces in promoting media freedom and protection of journalists.