Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
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 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 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 concerned about pressure on KoSSev online portal and its editor-in-chief in Kosovo
Publishing date: 12 April 2020
VIENNA, 12 April 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today regarding two recent incidents against the KoSSev online portal...
OSCE concerned about decree against “fake news” in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and calls on authorities to withdraw it
Publishing date: 14 April 2020
VIENNA / SARAJEVO, 14 April 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kathleen Kavalec, pointed to the risk of potential violations of fundamental freedoms after the Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, issued a decree which could restrict the media and journalists from reporting freely on the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 response in Bulgaria should not curb media freedom, says OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Publishing date: 15 April 2020
VIENNA, 15 April 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concerns today about Bulgaria’s draft legislation that would criminalize the spread of "internet misinformation". Punishment includes fines of up to 1,000 euros and even imprisonment of up to three years...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative worried about situation of journalists being kept in prison despite release law in Turkey, amid coronavirus concerns
Publishing date: 17 April 2020
VIENNA, 17 April 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concerns today about the fact that journalists in Turkey will in effect not benefit from a new law releasing inmates from prison, amid public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Comprehensive security approach needed for global response to COVID-19, OSCE leaders say ahead of International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
Publishing date: 23 April 2020
TIRANA/COPENHAGEN/VIENNA/WARSAW/THE HAGUE, 23 April 2020 – The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace tomorrow will be marked with a heightened appreciation for the importance of comprehensive security and greater sense of urgency for the need to strengthen international co-operation, said the Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council and heads of OSCE institutions in a statement today...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative and Head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo condemn physical attack on journalist in Mitrovica North
Publishing date: 27 April 2020
VIENNA/PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 27 April 2020- The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jan Braathu, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, strongly condemned the physical attack on TV Puls journalist earlier today in Mitrovica North.
OSCE Representative Désir concerned by several cases of restrictions on media publication linked to “false information” on COVID-19 in Russia
Publishing date: 2 May 2020
VIENNA, 2 May 2020 – Following recent restrictions on several media in the Russian Federation, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, reiterated today his call on the Russian authorities to take into greater consideration the principles of necessity and proportionality when regulating the media and journalists’ activities...