News and press releases

Romania’s May repeat presidential election was efficiently managed, and recent efforts by the authorities to improve electoral integrity were notable. However, the repeat presidential election was marked by insufficient oversight of key aspects of the campaign and concerns over the widespread use of inauthentic behaviour by candidates online. The fundamental freedoms of association and assembly were respected, and voters had a genuine choice of political alternatives. At the same time, the use of eligibility requirements based on court rulings rather than clear legal provisions undermined the inclusivity of candidate registration. Oversight of the online space remained fragmented, and the lack of transparency in the handling of reported violations discouraged public engagement and resulted in self-censorship.

Building resilience through strengthened partnerships to address the security implications of climate change was the focus of the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group meeting held on 24 October 2025 in Vienna.

Saara-Sofia Sirén, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Gender, expresses deep concern over the Latvian Parliament’s decision to advance an initiative to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention.

BANJA LUKA, 28 October 2025 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an observation mission for the 23 November early election of the president of Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, following an invitation from the national authorities.

On 21-22 October, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, together with the National Center for Human Rights and Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, held a two-day training course in Tashkent titled “Combating Violence Against Women through Intervention with Domestic

Two parallel training courses on firefighting and first aid were organized for members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, focusing on fire suppression techniques, the use of specialized vehicles and modern equipment, and the provision of first aid. The courses were supported by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB).

Energy experts and decision-makers from South-Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean met in Vienna on 15-16 October for an OSCE Regional Workshop on “Building Energy Systems Resilience: Science-based Decisions to Face Future Risks and Extreme Weather”. The event equipped participants with detailed