News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Well-managed presidential run-off in Moldova clouded by negative rhetoric and ineffective campaign finance rules, international observers say
Publishing date: 16 November 2020
CHISINAU, 16 November 2020 – Yesterday’s presidential run-off in Moldova was well managed in the challenging circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but negative and divisive rhetoric devalued the campaign amid ineffective rules on campaign financing, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today...
ODIHR opens special election assessment mission in Romania
Publishing date: 14 November 2020
BUCHAREST, 14 November 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has formally opened a special election assessment mission (SEAM) for the 6 December parliamentary elections in Romania. The deployment follows an official invitation from the Romanian authorities...
Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH and Ambassadors in Bosnia and Herzegovina condemn recent attacks on journalist in the country
Publishing date: 13 November 2020
SARAJEVO, 13 November 2020 – The Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ambassadors of Germany, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States once again strongly condemn continuous attacks and undue pressure on the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the most recent cases in Banja Luka and Visoko...
OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina calls for calm and safe Election Day
Publishing date: 11 November 2020
SARAJEVO, 11 November 2020- As citizens prepare to exercise their right to vote in the 2020 local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) this Sunday, 15 November 2020, the OSCE Mission to BiH wishes to share a few important messages in the interests of free, fair and safe elections in BiH...
Implementation of electoral recommendations in the Western Balkans discussed at OSCE/ODIHR regional conference
Publishing date: 10 November 2020
The follow-up to the recommendations of election observation missions in the Western Balkans topped the agenda of an online conference organized by the OSCE Office Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 10 November 2020. The conference focused on the extent and modalities of the
Leaders of election mission to Georgia concerned about recent protests, urge restraint
Publishing date: 9 November 2020
COPENHAGEN, 9 November 2020 – Following reports of protests against the results of the 31 October parliamentary elections and clashes with the police in recent days in Tbilisi, Georgia, OSCE Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE election mission Elona Gjebrea Hoxha (MP, Albania) and Head of the OSCE PA Delegation Pia Kauma (MP, Finland) called on the protesters to refrain from violence and on the authorities to respect the fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression...
Highly competitive elections in US tarnished by legal uncertainty and unprecedented attempts to undermine public trust, international observers say
Publishing date: 4 November 2020
WASHINGTON D.C., 4 November 2020 – Yesterday’s vote was hard-fought and competitive with a high degree of engagement by election workers and citizens in the face of great legal uncertainty and a highly polarised political environment fuelled by aggressive campaign rhetoric, international observers to the US general elections said in a statement today.