News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Representative Désir welcomes release of journalist in Uzbekistan, calls for all members of the media behind bars to be set free
Publishing date: 5 February 2018
VIENNA, 5 February 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed reports of the release of journalist Dilmurod Saiid, who has served nine years behind bars.
New law on World War II crimes in Poland can threaten freedom of expression, says OSCE Representative Désir
Publishing date: 1 February 2018
VIENNA, 1 February 2018- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed his concern about a law criminalizing statements on historical events, such as accusations against Poland or Polish people of complicity in crimes committed during the Holocaust or denial of crimes against the Polish population committed by Ukrainian nationalists, such as the Volyn Massacre during World War II...
OSCE media freedom representative condemns recent violence against reporters in Czech Republic, urges safe environment for media
Publishing date: 30 January 2018
VIENNA, 30 January 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today condemned recent violent attacks against reporters at an event in a hotel in Prague following the election of the Czech president...
Broadening of "foreign agents" status for media in Russia detrimental to freedom of expression online, says OSCE Representative
Publishing date: 26 January 2018
VIENNA, 26 January 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today, in a letter to Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, called on the Russian Parliament not to adopt the draft law that through amendments to the “Statute on the Mass Media” extends the status of a "foreign agent" to individuals...
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir welcomes Russian Supreme Court decision as positive step, calls for release of Ali Feruz
Publishing date: 25 January 2018
VIENNA, 25 January 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the decision by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation regarding the case of Uzbek journalist Khudoberdi Nurmatov, also known under his penname Ali Feruz, a contributing journalist to Novaya Gazeta.
OSCE media freedom representative Désir condemns jailing of investigative journalist Afgan Mukhtarli in Azerbaijan
Publishing date: 12 January 2018
VIENNA, 12 January 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today condemned the sentencing of journalist Afghan Mukhtarli to six years in prison by the Balakan District Court in Azerbaijan.
Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 5 January 2018
Publishing date: 6 January 2018
The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region – including, however, more explosions – compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage to civilian property due to shelling in Pikuzy. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed a calm situation in each; its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines in Oleksandropillia. The Mission followed up on reports of a gas outage in Yasynuvata. It visited five border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored a court hearing in Odessa.