Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Journalists should not be detained for reporting on issues of public interest, says OSCE Representative Désir after arrest of 6 journalists in Turkey
Publishing date: 9 March 2020
VIENNA, 9 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his strong concern today over the detention of several journalists in Turkey...
OSCE roundtable and expert meeting in Vienna – the impact of artificial intelligence on freedom of expression
Publishing date: 10 March 2020
VIENNA, 10 March 2020 – The roundtable and first expert meeting on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on freedom expression, organized by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, concluded today in Vienna...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative expresses serious concern following indictment on terrorism charges of journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva in Russia
Publishing date: 17 March 2020
VIENNA, 17 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his serious concerns today at the ongoing prosecution of Svetlana Prokopyeva in Russia, after the regional prosecutor in Pskov signed, on 13 March, her indictment with grave charges of “publicly justifying terrorism” and submitted it to the Regional Military Court in Moscow. Prokopyeva, a journalist with Radio Ekho Moskvy (Echo of Moscow) in Pskov, is a contributor to various other media, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Russian Service.
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media welcomes today’s release of journalist Afgan Mukhtarli in Azerbaijan
Publishing date: 17 March 2020
VIENNA, 17 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed today the decision by the authorities in Azerbaijan to free independent journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, who was previously sentenced to six years imprisonment.
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media condemns brutal attack on journalist Angelov in Bulgaria, calls on authorities to investigate the crime
Publishing date: 18 March 2020
VIENNA, 18 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, condemned today the brutal attack on Bulgarian journalist Slavi Angelov, editor of the weekly newspaper and related website “168 chasa”, in Sofia.
COVID-19: Governments must promote and protect access to and free flow of information during pandemic, say international media freedom experts
Publishing date: 19 March 2020
GENEVA / WASHINGTON / VIENNA, 19 March 2020 – In light of the growing disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the monitors for freedom of expression and freedom of the media for the United Nations, the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights, and the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe issued the following joint statement:
OSCE Media Freedom Representative concerned about detention of several journalists following their reports on coronavirus crisis in Turkey
Publishing date: 23 March 2020
VIENNA, 23 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today over the detention of several journalists in Turkey after they published reports on the coronavirus crisis.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative Désir and Head of Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina Kavalec concerned about measures against coronavirus “fake news”
Publishing date: 23 March 2020
VIENNA / SARAJEVO, 23 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kathleen Kavalec, expressed their concern today following the announcement of the introduction of new measures against spreading panic and “fake news” regarding the coronavirus in the country.
Сoronavirus response bill should not impede the work of the media in Hungary, says OSCE Media Freedom Representative
Publishing date: 23 March 2020
VIENNA, 23 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concerns today about provisions of the coronavirus response draft bill in Hungary that could negatively impact the work of the media reporting on the pandemic.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative and Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo condemn violent attack against journalists in Mitrovica North
Publishing date: 23 March 2020
VIENNA/PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 23 March 2020- The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jan Braathu, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, condemned the physical attack that was reported earlier today in Mitrovica North against a journalist crew from Gazeta Blic that was covering the COVID-19 situation in this municipality.