News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Chairmanship offers to visit Belarus
Publishing date: 17 August 2020
VIENNA / TIRANA, 17 August 2020- The OSCE Chairmanship continues to follow the situation in Belarus very closely, it said in a statement today...
ODIHR gravely concerned at situation in Belarus following presidential election
Publishing date: 10 August 2020
WARSAW, 10 August 2020 – Amidst intimidation and disproportionate police force against protesters in Belarus following reports of serious administrative misconduct during yesterday’s presidential election, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) calls for dialogue and urges the authorities to refrain from violence and to honestly report detailed election results from all polling stations...
OSCE Chairmanship calls for restraint and respect for OSCE commitments following Belarus presidential elections
Publishing date: 10 August 2020
VIENNA / TIRANA, 10 August 2020 – Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship has expressed concern about developments in Belarus following the presidential elections held on 9 August, which the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights was unable to observe. The Chairmanship has been following reports of protests and the use of force against protesters as well as detentions and obstruction of the work of journalists and media...
ODIHR opens election observation mission in Montenegro
Publishing date: 5 August 2020
PODGORICA, 5 August 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an observation mission for the 30 August parliamentary elections in Montenegro, following an invitation from the national authorities.
Impact of emergency measures on human rights and democracy key focus of new OSCE/ODIHR report
Publishing date: 17 July 2020
WARSAW, 17 July 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic has been a formative experience for all humanity and a health emergency of global proportions, presenting a huge challenge to national leaders, health systems, and citizens. The findings of a new report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) shows that it has also been a test to our democracies and the respect for human rights to which countries across the OSCE committed many years ago.
Azerbaijan early parliamentary elections 2020: ODIHR observation mission final report
Publishing date: 17 July 2020
ODIHR's recommendations on Azerbaijan 2020 elections ODIHR final report on the 2020 Azerbaijan early parliamentary elections A restrictive legal and political landscape meant that voters in the early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan were not provided with meaningful choice despite a high
North Macedonia’s early parliamentary elections well managed despite pandemic but legal instability remains a concern, international observers say
Publishing date: 16 July 2020
SKOPJE, 16 July 2020 – The early parliamentary elections in North Macedonia were generally well run and candidates could campaign freely, but legal stability was undermined by significant revisions to the legal framework and subsequent government decrees, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today.