Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
OSCE Media Freedom Representative welcomes release of journalist in Tajikistan, calls for all charges to be dropped
Publishing date: 22 August 2018
VIENNA, 22 August 2018- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the release of Khayrullo Mirsaidov on appeal by decision of the Sughd regional court. “I am relieved that the court decided to set Mirsaidov free today. While this is a welcome step forward, I very much hope that the remaining charges against him are finally dropped,” Désir said.
OSCE media freedom representative seriously concerned about blocking of Internet in Azerbaijan, urges reform to laws and regulations affecting media
Publishing date: 10 August 2018
VIENNA, 10 August 2018 – Following the recent blocking of news websites due to allegations of defamation in Azerbaijan, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today urgently called on the authorities to reform the laws and regulations affecting media and to encourage pluralistic debate on all issues of public importance, both off– and online...
OSCE Representative concerned over measures against independent media outlets in Belarus, calls on authorities to release detained journalists
Publishing date: 8 August 2018
VIENNA, 8 August 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed serious concern over the detention of journalists with the Belarusian Tut.by and BelaPAN news agencies, as well as raids of newsrooms and journalists’ homes by law enforcement agents, and the seizure of their equipment...
Legal charges initiated by Turkey against Turkish Cypriot journalists Şener Levent and Ali Osman should be dropped, urges OSCE Representative
Publishing date: 2 August 2018
VIENNA, 2 August 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir today in a letter to the Turkish authorities expressed his concern over recent judicial action launched by the country’s prosecution against two journalists of the Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika...
OSCE media freedom representative and head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro welcome work on guidelines for moderating online comments in Montenegro
Publishing date: 25 July 2018
VIENNA, 25 July 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Maryse Daviet, welcomed today the latest efforts by the Montenegrin Technical Working Group on Self-Regulation in developing guidelines for moderating online comments in Montenegro.
OSCE media freedom representative saddened by tragic death of journalist Suvorov in Russia, expresses condolences to relatives and colleagues
Publishing date: 25 July 2018
VIENNA, 25 July 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, said today he was saddened by the tragic death of journalist Denis Suvorov in Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation.
OSCE media freedom representative welcomes Dutch initiative to counter violence against journalists
Publishing date: 24 July 2018
VIENNA, 24 July 2018- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed today the recent agreement between the authorities and the media community in the Netherlands to counter threats and violence against journalists. The move comes against the background of the deteriorating safety climate for media workers.
15th OSCE South Caucasus Media Conference concludes in Tbilisi with call to protect media freedom to support quality journalism in digital era
Publishing date: 20 July 2018
TBILISI, 20 July 2018- The 15th South Caucasus Media Conference, a two-day annual meeting organized by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, concluded yesterday...
Deportation of journalist from Ukraine to Turkey reason for concern, OSCE media freedom representative says
Publishing date: 19 July 2018
VIENNA, 19 July 2018- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed his great concern in a letter to Ukrainian authorities following the recent detention and extradition of a journalist to Turkey.
OSCE media freedom representative concerned about sentencing of journalist in Tajikistan, reiterates call for his release
Publishing date: 11 July 2018
VIENNA, 11 July 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed his concern about an excessive sentence of 12 years in a penal colony handed down to Khayrullo Mirsaidov by a court in Tajikistan.