News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Lack of equal opportunities, one-sided media coverage and limitations on fundamental freedoms created unlevel playing field in Turkey’s constitutional referendum, international observers say
Publishing date: 17 April 2017
ANKARA, 17 April 2017 – The 16 April constitutional referendum in Turkey was contested on an unlevel playing field, and the two sides in the campaign did not have equal opportunities, the international observers concluded in a statement released today. While the technical aspects of the process were well administered, voters were not provided with impartial information about key aspects of the reform, and limitations on fundamental freedoms had a negative effect, the statement says.
Contestants in Bulgarian elections could reach out to voters freely, but a number of previous recommendations remain to be addressed, international observers say
Publishing date: 27 March 2017
SOFIA, 27 March 2017 – Contestants in Bulgaria’s early parliamentary elections could reach out to voters freely, while the low-key campaign was generally characterized by public disillusionment with politics and election weariness, international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today. The legal framework is largely conducive to holding democratic elections, and amendments since the 2014 elections addressed some previous recommendations for improvements, but further efforts are needed, the statement says...
Restoring positive trend of normalization of relations key to progress and stability, says OSCE Secretary General Zannier after visiting Kosovo
Publishing date: 10 March 2017
PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 10 March 2017 – OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier concluded today a trip to Prishtinë/Priština, where he visited the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and met heads of Kosovo institutions and representatives of political parties, communities, religious groups, civil society and the international community.
Never give in, never give up: OSCE media representative’s final message at Permanent Council
Publishing date: 9 March 2017
VIENNA, 9 March 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović reflected on her seven years in office today while presenting her final report to the OSCE Permanent Council...
OSCE PA human rights committee Chair urges Azerbaijani authorities to release journalist Mehman Huseynov
Publishing date: 9 March 2017
COPENHAGEN, 8 March 2017 – Spanish parliamentarian Ignacio Sanchez Amor, Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee, today called for the release of Azerbaijani journalist Mehman Huseynov, who last week was sentenced by a Baku court to two years in prison for defaming the police chief of the city’s Nasimi district...
OSCE media freedom representative, meeting with Cyprus journalists, emphasizes dialogue as means to bridge divides
Publishing date: 8 March 2017
VIENNA, 8 March 2017 – Highlighting the essential role that co-operation of journalists can play in advancing democratic processes, Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE media freedom representative, opened the first roundtable discussion between Cypriot journalists in Vienna yesterday...
New study shows criminal defamation laws unduly limit media freedom, OSCE media freedom representative says
Publishing date: 7 March 2017
VIENNA, 7 March 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today released a comparative study “Defamation and Insult Laws in the OSCE Region” which says criminal law remains an instrument to excessively limit media freedom...