News and press releases

Following this year’s elections in Bulgaria, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has published reports on the 4 April parliamentary elections  and 11 July early parliamentary elections. In the April parliamentary elections fundamental freedoms were respected. The

TASHKENT, 25 October 2021 – Despite recent welcome reforms, the lack of genuine pluralism and meaningful engagement between candidates or with citizens meant that Uzbekistan’s presidential election was not truly competitive, while significant procedural irregularities were noted on election day, international observers said in a statement today.

Washington DC/Geneva/Vienna/Banjul (20 October 2021)- The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Protection and Promotion of Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Organization of American States (OAS) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information today issued their 2021 Joint Declaration.

An OSCE-supported series of seminars on enhancing the role and capacity of maslikhats (local self-governance bodies) was launched, in a blended format, from 19 October to 23 November 2021. The event covers all fourteen provinces and the three major cities – Almaty, Nur-Sultan and Shymkent. Some 140 deputies of the district, city and province-level maslikhats of the Kostanay province attended the first event.

BISHKEK, 19 October 2021 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 28 November parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan, following an invitation from the national authorities.

COPENHAGEN, 18 October 2021 – More than 70 OSCE parliamentarians from 24 countries will deploy this week to Uzbekistan for the 24 October presidential election. The OSCE PA observers will work closely with colleagues from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, as well as the European Parliament.

SKOPJE, 18 October 2021 – Candidates could campaign freely and fundamental freedoms were widely respected in North Macedonia’s local elections, but numerous gaps in the law and legislative changes close to election day undermined legal stability and the largest parliamentary parties enjoy systemic advantages in the distribution of public resources for campaigning, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today...