Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
OSCE Media Freedom Representative and OSCE Head of Mission to Serbia welcome reversal by Serbian Government of decision on public information
Publishing date: 2 April 2020
VIENNA/BELGRADE, 2 April 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Andrea Orizio, welcomed today the reversal by the Serbian Government on the decision on public information during the current health emergency...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative and OSCE Head of Mission to Serbia stress importance of free access to information, following new Government decision
Publishing date: 1 April 2020
VIENNA/BELGRADE, 1 April 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Andrea Orizio, expressed their concerns today over a new decision by the Government of Serbia on public information during the current health emergency and the impact that this could have on free access to information in the country...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative concerned by the impact of coronavirus response law on work of media in Russia
Publishing date: 31 March 2020
VIENNA, 31 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his deep concerns today about amendments to the Russian legislation, imposing up to five years in prison, for spreading false information about the COVID-19 pandemic...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative Désir calls on Ukrainian Government not to cut budget of public service broadcaster
Publishing date: 31 March 2020
VIENNA, 31 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, called today on the Ukrainian Government not to cut the budget of the public broadcasting company of Ukraine, UA:PBC...
Сoronavirus response bill should not curb freedom of information in Romania, stresses OSCE Media Freedom Representative
Publishing date: 30 March 2020
VIENNA, 30 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concerns today about the provisions of the Romanian coronavirus response decree that grants the government special powers to curb freedom of information in the country...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative welcomes swift reaction of Armenian Government in addressing his concerns on State of Emergency Decree
Publishing date: 27 March 2020
VIENNA, 27 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed today the swift reaction of the Armenian Government in addressing his concerns about the Decree on the State of Emergency, adopted on 23 March, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative urges public officials in Slovenia to refrain from pressure on independence of public broadcaster
Publishing date: 27 March 2020
VIENNA, 27 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today regarding the accusations against, and pressure on, the public service broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVS), by the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Janša.
A message to the OSCE Community: We need solidarity and co-operation, OSCE core values, to work together to stop the pandemic
Publishing date: 26 March 2020
VIENNA/TIRANA, 26 March 2020- Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council Igli Hasani, OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir and OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier today sent the following letter to the OSCE Community:
OSCE Media Freedom Representative expresses deep concern about detention of journalist Serguey Satsouk in Belarus
Publishing date: 26 March 2020
VIENNA, 26 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his deep concern today about the detention of Serguey Satsouk, director and editor of the news website Ezhednevnik (ej.by) in Belarus, reportedly because of his earlier investigations into alleged corruption by the Ministry of Health Protection...
Сoronavirus response should not curb freedom of the press in Azerbaijan, says OSCE Media Freedom Representative
Publishing date: 25 March 2020
VIENNA, 25 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today regarding amendments to the law on information, adopted by the national parliament of Azerbaijan on 17 March, in the context of the fight against disinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.