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Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Belarus’s practice of penalizing journalists without accreditation is detrimental to media freedom, says OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Publishing date: 8 May 2018
Location: Belarus
VIENNA, 8 May 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed his continued disappointment and concern regarding the ongoing practice of imposing penalties on journalists working without accreditation in Belarus...
OSCE Representative Désir and Ambassador Daviet strongly condemn shooting of journalist Olivera Lakić in Podgorica, call on authorities to bring perpetrators to justice
Publishing date: 9 May 2018
What we do: Safety of journalists
Location: Montenegro
VIENNA, 9 May 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir and Head of Mission of OSCE to Montenegro Maryse Daviet today strongly condemned the attack against journalist Olivera Lakić in Montenegro. Lakić, an investigative journalist with Vijesti newspaper was shot in the leg last night in front of her home, in an attack by three individuals. She was immediately hospitalized and, according to media reports, is currently in stable condition.
South East Europe Media Conference participants call for urgent action to protect journalists and improve media freedom
Publishing date: 11 May 2018
Locations: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro
STRUGA, 11 May 2018 – Over the past two days more than 160 participants, including media actors, governments and civil society organizations from across the South-Eastern European region gathered in Struga to discuss the most pressing media freedom challenges and provide recommendations for the improvement of press freedom and the media environment in the region.
OSCE media freedom representative condemns assault on journalist in Bulgaria, calls on authorities to ensure safety
Publishing date: 14 May 2018
What we do: Safety of journalists
Location: Bulgaria
VIENNA, 14 May 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today raised concern over the assault against Khristo Geshov, a TV journalist from Cherven Bryag, in a letter to the Bulgarian authorities...
New amendment to Criminal Code poses threat to freedom of media in Russia, says OSCE Representative Désir
Publishing date: 15 May 2018
What we do: Media laws
Location: Russia
VIENNA, 15 May 2018- Following the introduction of an amendment to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which penalizes “facilitation” of foreign sanctions toward public or private persons of the Russian Federation, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir, today pointed to the threats it poses for media freedom and freedom of expression in the country...
OSCE representative welcomes decriminalization of defamation in Malta, urges dismissal of civil defamation lawsuits against Caruana Galizia’s heirs
Publishing date: 15 May 2018
What we do: Media laws
Location: Malta
VIENNA, 15 May 2018 – Welcoming the entering into force of Malta’s new Media and Defamation Act, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM), Harlem Désir, called on the authorities to engage in further legal and policy reforms on civil defamation legislation...
OSCE Representative raises concern over raid against Russian News Agency and TV today in Ukraine
Publishing date: 15 May 2018
What we do: Safety of journalists
Location: Ukraine
VIENNA, 15 May 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir raised concern today over a raid by security services of Ukraine against Russian state news agency RIA Novosti and TV channel RT offices today in Kyiv as well as the searches of homes of journalists and their arrests...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative welcomes dropping of multi-million defamation claims against media outlet in Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 21 May 2018
What we do: Decriminalization of defamation
Location: Kyrgyzstan
VIENNA, 21 May 2018 – Today the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed the dropping of defamation claims against the now-defunct Kyrgyz media outlet Zanoza.kg, and its journalists Dina Maslova and Naryn Ayyp, by the former president Almazbek Atambaev...
OSCE media freedom representative reiterates that foreign media outlets as such should not be included on sanctions lists
Publishing date: 25 May 2018
Location: Ukraine
VIENNA, 25 May 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today reiterated that foreign media outlets and representatives should not be included on sanctions lists, following a recent decision by the Ukrainian authorities with regard to the information agencies RIA Novosti Ukraine and Rossiya Segodnya...
LATEST UPDATE: Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko, who was reportedly killed in Kyiv, is alive and well. According to Ukrainian authorities, the incident was part of an ongoing investigation.
Publishing date: 29 May 2018
What we do: Safety of journalists
Location: Ukraine
Latest update: Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko, who was reportedly killed in Kyiv, is alive and well. According to Ukrainian authorities, the incident was part of an ongoing investigation. VIENNA, 29 May 2018 – OSCE media freedom representative Harlem Désir today strongly condemned the murder of well-known Russian journalist and writer Arkadiy Babchenko in Kyiv, Ukraine...