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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Decision not to invite OSCE observers to parliamentary elections contrary to Belarus' international commitments
Publishing date: 8 January 2024
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
WARSAW/COPENHAGEN, 8 January 2024 – It is deeply regrettable that the Belarusian authorities have decided not to invite observers for the country’s forthcoming parliamentary elections from OSCE states through the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), leaders of both institutions said today, adding that the decision contradicts the principle of transparency, which is essential for holding genuinely democratic elections.
Serbia’s elections offered diverse political options, but shortcomings led to an uneven playing field, international observers say
Publishing date: 4 April 2022
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
BELGRADE, 4 April 2022 – Fundamental freedoms were largely respected in Serbia’s 3 April presidential and early parliamentary elections, and voters were presented diverse political options, but a number of shortcomings resulted in an uneven playing field, favouring the incumbents, international observers said in a statement today. The combined impact of unbalanced access to the media, undue pressure on public sector employees to support the incumbents, significant campaign finance disparities and misuse of state resources resulted in unequal conditions for contestants, the statement says...
Press Statement of Special Representative Kinnunen after the regular Meeting of Trilateral Contact Group on 26 January 2022
Publishing date: 26 January 2022
Content type: Press statement
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
KYIV, 26 January 2022 – The Special Representative of the OSCE ChairpersonChairman-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:
Appointment of new judges to Georgia’s highest court lacked integrity and credibility, though procedure was generally well run: ODIHR assessment
Publishing date: 23 August 2021
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization
WARSAW, 23 August 2021 – Despite a number of positive legal changes to the nomination process for the judges of Georgia’s Supreme Court, today’s final monitoring report of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) shows that the stage of the appointment procedure carried out by parliament still lacks adequate safeguards, negatively affecting the integrity of the overall process.
Kyrgyzstan’s 2021 presidential election: OSCE/ODIHR observation mission final report
Publishing date: 4 June 2021
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
The 2021 presidential election in Kyrgyzstan was well organized and fundamental freedoms were generally respected. However, the campaign was dominated by one candidate who benefited from disproportionately large financial means and misuse of administrative resources, resulting in an uneven playing
Kazakhstan’s 2021 parliamentary elections: OSCE/ ODIHR observation mission final report
Publishing date: 25 March 2021
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
The 2021 parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan were efficiently prepared amid the challenges posed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic but lacked genuine competition. Despite partially addressing a few previous ODIHR recommendations by way of recent legal revisions, the general legal framework
Joint Statement by the U.S Embassy, EU Delegation/EU Special Representative in BiH and the OSCE Mission to BiH on the Law on the Prevention of Conflict of Interest in BiH Institutions
Publishing date: 12 February 2021
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
What we do: Rule of law
SARAJEVO, 12 February 2021 – The U.S. Embassy, EU Delegation/EU Special Representative in BiH and the OSCE Mission to BiH call on all relevant authorities to ensure the draft Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in BiH is aligned with international standards, resulting in a robust system for preventing conflict of interest among public officials...