Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

VIENNA/PODGORICA, 27 May 2024- On the 20th anniversary of the murder of Duško Jovanović, the co-founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Dan, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, and Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Dominique Waag, urged the relevant authorities in Montenegro to proactively investigate and resolve this longstanding case. They also called for addressing the recommendations issued by the national Commission for Monitoring Investigations of Attacks on Journalists, which, among others, call the authorities to re-examine all evidence using modern technology.

PODGORICA, 10 May 2024 – Teresa Ribeiro, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), concluded her official visit to Montenegro. During her visit, Ribeiro engaged in constructive discussions with high-level officials, including President Jakov Milatović, Speaker of Parliament Andrija Mandić, Minister of Foreign Affairs Filip Ivanović, Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujović, Minister of Interior Danilo Šaranović and Supreme State Prosecutor Milorad Marković. The Representative also had productive exchanges with Director of the Agency for Electronic Media Sunčica Bakić, Ombudsperson of Montenegro Siniša Bjeković, and investigative journalist Olivera Lakić, as well as several other journalists and civil society representatives.

BANJUL/GENEVA/VIENNA/WASHINGTON D.C.,3 May 2024 – To mark International Press Freedom Day, during the Global Conference organized by UNESCO in Santiago de Chile, freedom of expression mandate holders* of the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) issued a Joint Declaration on the Climate Crisis and Freedom of Expression:

VIENNA, May 3 2024 – On World Press Freedom Day, the Maltese Chairpersonship of the OSCE, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, emphasize the pivotal role of independent journalism in addressing global challenges and crises. This year's theme for World Press Freedom Day, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis,” reflects the need to strengthen the media’s role in addressing the environmental crisis and its consequences.

VIENNA, 22 March 2024 – Teresa Ribeiro, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), concluded a two-day visit to Italy where she discussed with her interlocutors the importance of ensuring the safety of journalists, the independence of public service media, and the crucial nexus between media freedom and security.

On 14 March 2024, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Representative on the Freedom of the Media (RFoM) held an expert meeting to discuss challenges and opportunities affiliated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT). The meeting, which took place in Тhe Hague, the Netherlands, was organized in close co-operation with the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT).

VIENNA, 8 March 2024 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, has condemned the imprisonment of Roman Ivanov, a journalist with RusNews, an online media outlet, and expressed concern regarding other setbacks related to freedom of expression and media freedom in the Russian Federation.

BRUSSELS, 8 March 2024 – Teresa Ribeiro, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), concluded a three-day visit to Brussels. Her itinerary included high-level meetings with Commissioners of the European Union (EU), the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the European External Actions Service (EEAS), NATO and representatives from civil society.

VIENNA, 7 March 2024 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, has expressed grave concern after the detention of 14 staff members from the independent online media outlet, Toplum TV, yesterday.

WARSAW/VIENNA, 7 February 2024 – The decision of Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh, to proceed towards the adoption of the so-called “foreign representatives” bill is of great concern, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Matteo Mecacci and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro said today.