News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Presence supports electoral reform in Albania
Publishing date: 8 November 2016
A senior elections expert began a three-day visit to Albania on 7 November 2016 as part of the OSCE Presence’s assistance to the electoral reform in the county, ahead of the June 2017 general elections...
OSCE-co-organized forum of women candidates for local council elections concludes in Osh
Publishing date: 5 November 2016
OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 5 November 2016 – A forum of women candidates for local council elections was organized today in Osh city with the aim of encouraging some 125 graduates of Women’s Leadership Schools from the Bishkek, Issyk-Kul, Osh and Batken regions to participate in the 11 December local council elections...
OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for early parliamentary elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Publishing date: 3 November 2016
SKOPJE, 3 November 2016 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the early parliamentary elections scheduled for 11 December in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the authorities...
PA President Emeritus Kanerva stresses need for confidence in electoral systems at seminar on election observation
Publishing date: 3 November 2016
COPENHAGEN, 2 November 2016 – Ilkka Kanerva, OSCE PA President Emeritus and Special Coordinator of the OSCE’s short term observers of the recent Russian elections, delivered an address today at the OSCE/ODIHR seminar on election observation and follow up of recommendations, underlining the importance of elections in maintaining and developing a democratic society, particularly given growing disillusionment with established political norms...
OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for early presidential election in Uzbekistan
Publishing date: 2 November 2016
TASHKENT, 2 November 2016 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 4 December early presidential election in Uzbekistan. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the Uzbek authorities...
Moldova presidential election competitive and fundamental freedoms respected, but biased media coverage and lack of transparent financing marred campaign, international election observers say
Publishing date: 31 October 2016
CHISINAU, 31 October 2016 – The first round of Moldova’s first direct presidential election in 20 years provided ample opportunity for voters to express their preference for a new head of state. Fundamental freedoms were respected. The campaign was competitive, though marred by widespread abuse of state resources, biased media coverage and a lack of transparency in campaign finance, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today. The election administration worked in a professional and transparent manner, and voting and counting were largely assessed positively by the observers...
Voting assessed positively in competitive run-off elections in Georgia, although legislative framework lacking, international observers say
Publishing date: 31 October 2016
TBILISI, 31 October 2016 – The 30 October parliamentary run-offs in Georgia were competitive and administered in a manner that respected the rights of candidates and voters, and voting on election day was assessed positively, although issues remain related to lacking a legal framework for second round elections and complaints related to first round results, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today...