News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative publishes Comments to the Draft Information Security Concept of Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 21 June 2019
VIENNA, 21 June – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today published the Commentary to the Draft Information Security Concept of Kyrgyzstan for 2019-2023 commissioned by his Office and prepared by Dmitri Golovanov, a legal counsel from the Russian Federation. The Commentary was shared with the Kyrgyz authorities on 22 May 2019.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative calls on Turkey to end criminal prosecution of journalists, following latest conviction of a journalist to 6 years and 3 months in prison
Publishing date: 21 June 2019
VIENNA, 21 June 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed his concern about the verdict of the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court, which sentenced journalist Haşim Söylemez on charges of ‘aiding a terrorist organization without being a member’, to 6 years and 3 months in prison.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative deplores violence against media workers during demonstration in Tbilisi
Publishing date: 21 June 2019
VIENNA, 21 June 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today deplored the violent incidents and mistreatment of media workers during yesterday’s demonstration in Tbilisi, and said that journalists’ safety must be ensured at all times.
OSCE Media Representative deeply shocked by death of journalist Vadim Komarov in Ukraine, calls on authorities to bring perpetrators to justice
Publishing date: 20 June 2019
VIENNA, 20 June 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his deep sorrow following the death of journalist and blogger Vadim Komarov, who died last night in the hospital. He had been in a coma since suffering a violent attack on 4 May in Cherkasy, Ukraine.
6th OSCE RFoM South East Europe Media Conference concludes in Sarajevo, underlining need to support diversity and security for media in the region
Publishing date: 19 June 2019
SARAJEVO, 19 June 2019 – The 6th South East Europe Media Conference, organized by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), concluded today in Sarajevo. The event gathered around 200 journalists and media professionals from the region and abroad to discuss media developments, safety of journalists, the legal environment for media freedom, and sustainable solutions for public service broadcasters...
OSCE media freedom representative welcomes release of journalist Igor Rudnikov, calls on authorities in Russia to drop all charges
Publishing date: 17 June 2019
VIENNA, 17 June 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today welcomed the release from custody of journalist Igor Rudnikov, the editor and founder of the Kaliningrad-based Noviye Kolyosa newspaper, and called on the authorities in the Russian Federation to drop all charges and fully acquit the journalist...
Concluding official visit to Turkey, OSCE Media Freedom Representative calls on authorities to urgently reverse the course of media freedom violations
Publishing date: 14 June 2019
ISTANBUL, 14 June 2019- Concluding his four-day official visit to Turkey, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today called on the Turkish authorities to urgently address and reverse current media freedom violations and pressure that journalists face.