News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Kyrgyzstan’s well-run presidential election impaired by uneven playing field for candidates, international observers say
Publishing date: 11 January 2021
BISHKEK, 11 January 2021 – Despite a large number of candidates and initiatives to improve the election process, the integrity of Kyrgyzstan’s early presidential election was weakened by a major imbalance in the outreach and visibility of the candidates as well as allegations of misuse of public resources, international observers to the presidential election said in a statement today.
Lack of real competition and limitations to fundamental freedoms left voters without genuine choice in Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections, international observers say
Publishing date: 11 January 2021
NUR-SULTAN, 11 January 2021 – While preparations for Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections were efficiently run, an uncompetitive campaign and systemic de facto limitations on constitutionally guaranteed fundamental freedoms left voters without genuine choice, thus missing an opportunity to pilot the announced political reforms, international observers to the parliamentary elections said in a statement today.
ODIHR calls for restraint and respect for the democratic process following US election unrest
Publishing date: 7 January 2021
WARSAW, 7 January 2021 – Watching the increasingly disquieting events unfolding in the United States capital in recent hours following the November general elections, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) voices its concern regarding the integrity of the democratic process, and calls on all sides to keep to the principles of democracy and the rule of law.
Montenegro parliamentary elections 2020: OSCE/ODIHR limited election observation mission final report
Publishing date: 11 December 2020
The 2020 parliamentary elections in Montenegro were competitive, and took place in an environment highly polarized over issues of church and national identity. Contestants were able to convey their messages but the ruling party gained an undue advantage through misuse of office and state resources,
ODIHR opens limited election observation mission in Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 9 December 2020
BISHKEK, 9 December 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened a limited election observation mission (LEOM) for the 10 January early presidential election in Kyrgyzstan, following an invitation from the national authorities...
ODIHR opens limited election observation mission in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 8 December 2020
NUR-SULTAN, 8 December 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened a limited election observation mission (LEOM) for the 10 January parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the country’s authorities...
Romania’s parliamentary elections well managed, but weakened by over-hasty legal changes, international observers say
Publishing date: 7 December 2020
BUCHAREST, 7 December 2020 – Romania’s parliamentary elections were well run in adverse circumstances amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, but the late adoption of legislative amendments and some important regulations created uncertainty, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today.