News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative welcomes swift reaction of Armenian Government in addressing his concerns on State of Emergency Decree
Publishing date: 27 March 2020
VIENNA, 27 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed today the swift reaction of the Armenian Government in addressing his concerns about the Decree on the State of Emergency, adopted on 23 March, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic...
Briefed by Lombardy Region President, OSCE PA leadership discusses steps forward during coronavirus crisis
Publishing date: 27 March 2020
COPENHAGEN, 27 March 2020 – In a series of virtual meetings this week with leaders and staff of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, members discussed the way forward in the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The OSCE parliamentarians were briefed by the President of the hard-hit Lombardy Region of Italy, who appealed for assistance.
A message to the OSCE Community: We need solidarity and co-operation, OSCE core values, to work together to stop the pandemic
Publishing date: 26 March 2020
VIENNA/TIRANA, 26 March 2020- Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council Igli Hasani, OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir and OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier today sent the following letter to the OSCE Community:
Romania presidential election 2019: ODIHR observation mission final report
Publishing date: 26 March 2020
Following the presidential election in Romania on 10 and 24 November 2019, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has published its final report. The report concludes that the 2019 presidential election was competitive, pluralistic, and offered voters a genuine
OSCE Media Freedom Representative expresses deep concern about detention of journalist Serguey Satsouk in Belarus
Publishing date: 26 March 2020
VIENNA, 26 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his deep concern today about the detention of Serguey Satsouk, director and editor of the news website Ezhednevnik (ej.by) in Belarus, reportedly because of his earlier investigations into alleged corruption by the Ministry of Health Protection...
Сoronavirus response should not curb freedom of the press in Azerbaijan, says OSCE Media Freedom Representative
Publishing date: 25 March 2020
VIENNA, 25 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today regarding amendments to the law on information, adopted by the national parliament of Azerbaijan on 17 March, in the context of the fight against disinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative urges Turkey to lift advertising ban on Evrensel daily newspaper and protect media pluralism in the country
Publishing date: 24 March 2020
VIENNA, 24 March 2020- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, voiced his concern today regarding the advertising ban imposed by the Press Advertising Agency (BİK) on the Evrensel daily newspaper. Désir made his call ahead of the newspaper facing the deadline for regaining the right to publish public advertisements, which expires on 28 March 2020.