News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
ODIHR opens election observation mission to Bulgaria
Publishing date: 31 August 2022
SOFIA, 31 August 2022- The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 2 October early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, following an official invitation from the national authorities.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office calls on Russian Federation to immediately stop war against Ukraine, stresses civilian population must be protected
Publishing date: 24 August 2022
WARSAW, 24 August 2022 – Six months since the start of the 24 February Russian war against Ukraine, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Poland Zbigniew Rau today renewed his call on the Russian Federation to immediately put an end to the unprovoked violence and stop the tragic suffering and loss of life it continues to cause.
Joint Message of OSCE CiO’s Personal Representatives on International Day Commemorating Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
Publishing date: 22 August 2022
VIENNA, 22 August 2022- As we mark the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, the continued Russian aggression against Ukraine bring more death, new refugees, and the destruction of civilian sites, including houses of worship and religious shrines and memorials. Christians, Muslims, Jews, those of other religious beliefs, and those with no religious belief are among the victims. The religious leaders in Russia willingly or under coercion provide a rationale for this unprovoked war. Those who would speak out or even remain silent do so at their own peril.
Places of worship must be kept safe and accessible in times of peace and in conflict, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 22 August 2022
WARSAW, 22 August 2022 — Establishing, maintaining, and accessing places and objects of worship or contemplation are crucial to the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, which applies during conflict and in times of peace, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion.
OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs discuss co-operation
Publishing date: 15 August 2022
Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, Tea Jaliashvili met the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, Muzaffar Huseynzoda on 12 August 2022 to discuss areas of co-operation.
Cultural heritage protection and security in focus of OSCE-organized regional workshop in Turkmenistan
Publishing date: 26 July 2022
An OSCE-organized regional training workshop on countering illicit trafficking of cultural property took place from 26 to 28 July 2022. The three-day event, held in a blended format, aimed to strengthen further regional co-operation to combat all forms and aspects of trafficking in cultural
OSCE SMM Acting Head of Mission refutes claims and denounces persecution of national Mission members, demands immediate and unconditional release of those deprived of their liberty
Publishing date: 25 July 2022
VIENNA, 25 July 2022- OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Acting Head of Mission Antje Grawe today denounced the persecution of SMM’s national Mission members, including those deprived of their liberty in non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, refuted claims against them, and called for their immediate and unconditional release.