News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Little regard for voters’ interests in Albania’s local elections, OSCE/ODIHR observers say
Publishing date: 1 July 2019
TIRANA, 1 July 2019 – Albania’s 30 June local elections were held with little regard for the interests of the voters in a climate of political standoff, said observers with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in a preliminary statement of their findings...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative calls on authorities in Tajikistan to investigate reports of intimidation of journalist’s family and provide accreditation to journalists
Publishing date: 27 June 2019
VIENNA, 27 June 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today called upon the authorities of Tajikistan to investigate reports that a journalist’s family members were intimidated and to reconsider withdrawal of press accreditation for Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) correspondent in Dushanbe.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative deplores violence against media workers during demonstration in Tbilisi
Publishing date: 21 June 2019
VIENNA, 21 June 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today deplored the violent incidents and mistreatment of media workers during yesterday’s demonstration in Tbilisi, and said that journalists’ safety must be ensured at all times.
Assistance to refugees in danger is an obligation, not a crime, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 20 June 2019
WARSAW, 20 June 2019- On World Refugee Day and amid ever more restrictive interpretations of international legal standards to protect people in search of international protection, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) calls on governments to do more to ensure the primacy of human rights for all those seeking safety in our countries, so far away from home...
Concluding official visit to Turkey, OSCE Media Freedom Representative calls on authorities to urgently reverse the course of media freedom violations
Publishing date: 14 June 2019
ISTANBUL, 14 June 2019- Concluding his four-day official visit to Turkey, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today called on the Turkish authorities to urgently address and reverse current media freedom violations and pressure that journalists face.
OSCE Chair Lajčák meets Ukrainian President Zelensky to explore steps to peaceful political solution to the crisis in and around Ukraine
Publishing date: 13 June 2019
KYIV, 13 June 2019 – Visiting Ukraine for the second time since taking over the OSCE Chairmanship, Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other members of the Ukrainian leadership to explore steps towards a peaceful political solution to the crisis in and around Ukraine as well as to discuss ways to ease human suffering on the ground...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative deplores detentions of journalists in Moscow, calls on Russian authorities to respect rights of media workers to cover demonstrations
Publishing date: 12 June 2019
VIENNA, 12 June 2019- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, called on the Russian authorities to respect the rights of journalists to cover public events and release all detained media workers, following the peaceful demonstration in Moscow today.