Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
OSCE Media Freedom Representative concerned by blocking of media outlets in Uzbekistan, urges reform to media laws and regulations
Publishing date: 17 April 2019
VIENNA, 17 April 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today called on the authorities in Uzbekistan to end the blocking of media outlets, in order to ensure that important news and current affairs resources be made accessible to the public...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative condemns arrest of citizen journalists in Crimea, calls for their immediate release
Publishing date: 17 April 2019
VIENNA, 17 April 2019 – Following reports about the recent arrest of several citizen journalists in Crimea, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today condemned the continued deterioration of freedom of expression and the safety of journalists on the peninsula...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative concerned about amendments introducing liability for distribution of foreign print media without authorization in Russia
Publishing date: 16 April 2019
VIENNA, 16 April 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed his concern regarding the legislative amendments introducing a liability for distribution of foreign print media on the territory of the Russian Federation without the permission of the authorities...
OSCE Representative denounces search of Belsat TV channel editorial office in Belarus, calls for respect for confidentiality of journalists’ sources
Publishing date: 10 April 2019
VIENNA, 10 April 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, denounced the search conducted on 9 April in the editorial office of the Belsat TV channel in Minsk, Belarus. He called on the authorities to exercise restraint in bringing libel charges against media and journalists, and reiterated his call on the authorities to decriminalize defamation.
OSCE Representative Désir and Ambassador Berton concerned about amendments to Law on Public Order and Peace in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Publishing date: 5 April 2019
VIENNA / SARAJEVO, 5 April 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Bruce G. Berton, expressed their concerns today regarding new amendments to the Law on Public Order and Peace in the Bosnia and Herzegovina entity of Republika Srpska (RS)...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative welcomes court decision in Serbia convicting former state officials for killing of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija
Publishing date: 5 April 2019
VIENNA, 5 April 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed today’s court decision to convict the perpetrators responsible for killing one of the most prominent and critical journalists in Serbia, Slavko Ćuruvija....
Sentencing journalists to prison greatly damages media freedom in Turkey, says OSCE Media Freedom Representative following Özgür Gündem trial
Publishing date: 3 April 2019
VIENNA, 3 April 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed his disappointment over the court verdicts handed down today to a number of journalists and writers in the Özgür Gündem trial in Turkey...
OSCE media freedom representative denounces recent threats against N1 news channel in Serbia
Publishing date: 29 March 2019
VIENNA, 29 March 2019- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today publicly denounced threats against journalists of the N1 news channel in Serbia. In a letter sent on 27 March to the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, the Representative expressed his concern about the threats and pressure against the N1 news channel...
OSCE Representative publishes legal review of proposed amendments to the “Law on Free Access to Information of Public Character” in North Macedonia
Publishing date: 25 March 2019
VIENNA, 25 March 2019- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, published today a legal review of proposed amendments to the “Law on Free Access to Information of Public Character” in North Macedonia. The review was previously officially sent to the Minister of Justice, Renata Deskoska.
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media publishes legal review of amendments on the right of reply to the Slovak Press Statute, urges further changes
Publishing date: 25 March 2019
VIENNA, 25 March 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today published the legal review of the draft amendments on the right of reply to the Statute on Periodic Press and News Agencies of Slovakia, which was sent to the Slovak authorities on 5 March.