News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Representative Désir concerned about numerous lawsuits against journalists in Croatia and disputes involving public service broadcaster HRT
Publishing date: 6 March 2019
VIENNA, 6 March 2019- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed his concern about the high number of lawsuits filed against journalists and news outlets by politicians and public officials in Croatia and an ongoing dispute involving the public service broadcaster HRT. Both issues could negatively affect media freedom in Croatia, he warned...
OSCE/ODIHR final report on Georgia’s presidential election recommends comprehensive review of election legislation, enhancing campaign speech regulations
Publishing date: 28 February 2019
The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 28 October and 28 November 2018 presidential election in Georgia recommends a comprehensive review of the election legislation in order to eliminate gaps and ambiguities and ensure uniform application.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative raises concerns about short detention of several journalists in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 27 February 2019
VIENNA, 27 February 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today said he is concerned about the detention of several journalists and bloggers who were covering rallies in the cities of Almaty, Zhanaozen and Uralsk in Kazakhstan...
Roundtable discussion on draft law on media organized with the support of OSCE Mission to Montenegro
Publishing date: 22 February 2019
Free and independent media are a cornerstone of every democratic society, said Head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro Maryse Daviet, opening a roundtable discussion on the country’s draft law on media on 22 February 2019 in Podgorica...
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Media Freedom Representative mark one year since Ján Kuciak’s murder in Slovakia, call for justice and end to impunity
Publishing date: 20 February 2019
VIENNA, 20 February 2019 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today marked the shocking murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová one year ago...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative reiterates his call on Ukrainian authorities to respect journalists’ right of confidentiality of sources
Publishing date: 20 February 2019
VIENNA, 20 February 2019 – Following the court decision in Kyiv ordering the disclosure of documents of the news portal Novoe Vremya, including the correspondence of one of its journalists, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today reiterated his call on the Ukrainian authorities to respect the right of journalists to protect the confidentiality of their sources.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative calls on Azerbaijan to revise state aid system for press and allow for environment favourable to media pluralism
Publishing date: 20 February 2019
VIENNA, 20 February 2019 – Following the recent introduction in Azerbaijan of tighter requirements for print media eligible for state funding, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today called on the authorities to focus efforts on developing a favourable media environment...