News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
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...
Montenegro elections competitive and fundamental freedoms respected, but campaign characterized by lack of distinct domestic policy alternatives, observers say
Publishing date: 17 October 2016
PODGORICA, 17 October 2016 – Montenegro’s 16 October parliamentary elections were held in a competitive environment and fundamental freedoms were generally respected in a campaign characterized by a lack of distinct domestic policy alternatives and permeated by personal attacks, international observers said in a statement issued today. While pluralistic, the media lacked editorial independence...
Montenegro elections competitive and fundamental freedoms respected, but campaign characterized by lack of distinct domestic policy alternatives, observers say
Publishing date: 17 October 2016
PODGORICA, 17 October 2016 – Montenegro’s 16 October parliamentary elections were held in a competitive environment and fundamental freedoms were generally respected in a campaign characterized by a lack of distinct domestic policy alternatives and permeated by personal attacks, international observers said in a statement issued today. While pluralistic, the media lacked editorial independence...
Georgia elections competitive and well-administered, although allegations and incidents of violence impacted campaign, international observers say
Publishing date: 9 October 2016
TBILISI, 9 October 2016 – The 8 October parliamentary elections in Georgia were competitive, well-administered and fundamental freedoms were generally respected. The otherwise calm and open campaign atmosphere was, however, impacted by allegations of unlawful campaigning and some incidents of violence, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today...