Newsroom
News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Conviction of independent election monitor in Russia undermines human rights and democratic standards, OSCE human rights office says
Publishing date: 16 May 2025
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Human rights, Elections
WARSAW, 15 May 2025 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expresses serious concern following the conviction and sentencing of Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of the independent Russian election monitoring group Golos, to five years in a penal colony, alongside a nine-year ban on public activities, after a verdict by a Moscow court.
Albania’s parliamentary elections competitive and well run but lacked level playing field, international observers say
Publishing date: 12 May 2025
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
TIRANA, 12 May 2025 – Elections to Albania’s parliament were competitive and professionally managed, the authorities rose to the challenge of organising out-of-country voting for the first time and candidates could mostly campaign freely, but they were marked by widespread misuse of public resources and institutional power by the ruling party, while numerous reports of pressure on public employees and other voters as well as cases of intimidation were of concern, international observers said in a statement today.
OSCE advances gender-sensitive law enforcement and border management in Central Asia
Publishing date: 8 May 2025
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Transnational Threats Department, OSCE Secretariat
What we do: Border management, Gender equality
As part of the OSCE’s efforts to empower women in the security sector and strengthen regional security, the OSCE Secretariat, with support from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the five OSCE field operations in Central Asia, held the first meeting of the Regional Network of Women in Law Enforcement and Border Agencies in Central Asia in Vienna, Austria, on 7 and 8 May.
Further reforms needed in Kazakhstan to strengthen fair trial rights: ODIHR monitoring report
Publishing date: 6 May 2025
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Rule of law
ODIHR Kazakhstan fair trial monitoring WARSAW, 6 May 2025 – In a report summarising its year-long monitoring of more than 400 court hearings related to the January 2022 protests in Kazakhstan, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) documented court practices that fall
Notable efforts to address electoral integrity but certain aspects of Romania’s presidential campaign left without sufficient oversight: international observers
Publishing date: 5 May 2025
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
BUCHAREST, 5 May 2025 – The first round of Romania’s repeat presidential election was efficiently run and the rights to freedom of assembly and association were respected. However, widespread inauthentic behaviour online by candidates, the fragmented approach of the authorities to overseeing the online space, and a lack of transparency in decision-making had a negative impact on the election process, international observers said in a statement today.
To safeguard human rights we must protect civic space and the right to peaceful assembly, OSCE leaders say
Publishing date: 4 May 2025
Content type: Press release
What we do: Human rights
VIENNA, 5 May 2025 – A vibrant civic space in which everyone contributes to public and political life is increasingly challenged by growing threats to freedom of peaceful assembly and severe challenges faced by human rights defenders through discreditation, criminalization, and direct attacks, OSCE leaders said as a two-day conference began today.
ODIHR experts present the 2024 local elections final report and discuss electoral recommendations in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Publishing date: 25 April 2025
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2024 local elections to government officials, the election administration, courts and representatives of the international community and civil society in Sarajevo between 23 and 25 April 2025. The visit also offered an opportunity to present the report and its recommendations during a post-election conference organized by the Central Election Commission.