Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
OSCE media freedom representative calls on Slovakia to decriminalize defamation and respect journalists’ rights
Publishing date: 23 March 2018
VIENNA, 23 March – Today OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir wrote to the Slovak authorities to express concern about a recently passed verdict on the case of journalist Lukáš Milan...
OSCE representative Désir warns about shrinking space for online expression in Turkey, following parliament’s adoption of latest restrictive provision
Publishing date: 22 March 2018
VIENNA, 22 March 2018 – “Today, the Internet is the main platform where pluralistic discussions can still take place in Turkey. Further restricting access to the Internet will critically weaken access to information and online expression,” OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir said today...
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media concludes official visit to Canada, attends conference on Internet jurisdiction
Publishing date: 1 March 2018
OTTAWA, 1 March 2018- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir yesterday concluded a visit to Canada in which he held meetings on the state of freedom of expression and media freedom in the country with a broad range of state officials. He also participated in an international conference on Internet jurisdiction in Ottawa...
Ahead of parliamentary debate in Turkey, OSCE representative Désir presents legal review on online broadcasting, urges protection of media pluralism
Publishing date: 28 February 2018
OTTAWA, 28 February 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, yesterday shared a legal review with the Turkish authorities on elements of a bill that, if adopted, could restrict online broadcasting and further limit media pluralism in the country.
OSCE representative Désir concerned Cyprus court prohibits media from publishing documents about state attorney and police questioning journalists
Publishing date: 27 February 2018
OTTAWA, 27 February 2018- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed concern about a recent court decision in Cyprus prohibiting the daily Politis from publishing documents regarding the state attorney and the questioning by the police of several journalists of the daily newspapers Politis and Phileleftheros...
OSCE media freedom representative concludes a constructive visit on promoting media freedom in Albania
Publishing date: 13 February 2018
TIRANA, 13 February 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, concluded a two-day visit to Albania. During his visit, Désir met with Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Media Committee and media actors in the country.
OSCE media freedom representative addresses independence of public service broadcaster and media self-regulation during his visit in Montenegro
Publishing date: 7 February 2018
PODGORICA, 7 February 2018- In the first of a series of official visits in South-Eastern Europe the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, met on 5 and 6 February with the authorities and media professionals in Podgorica...
New law on World War II crimes in Poland can threaten freedom of expression, says OSCE Representative Désir
Publishing date: 1 February 2018
VIENNA, 1 February 2018- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed his concern about a law criminalizing statements on historical events, such as accusations against Poland or Polish people of complicity in crimes committed during the Holocaust or denial of crimes against the Polish population committed by Ukrainian nationalists, such as the Volyn Massacre during World War II...
Repeated blocking of websites in Belarus a worrying trend, says OSCE media freedom representative
Publishing date: 26 January 2018
VIENNA, 26 January 2018 – Following the blocking of Charter97.org in Belarus, a popular website on current affairs in the country, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today called on the authorities to ensure unrestricted access to the Internet...
Broadening of "foreign agents" status for media in Russia detrimental to freedom of expression online, says OSCE Representative
Publishing date: 26 January 2018
VIENNA, 26 January 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today, in a letter to Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, called on the Russian Parliament not to adopt the draft law that through amendments to the “Statute on the Mass Media” extends the status of a "foreign agent" to individuals...