News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Fundamental freedoms generally respected in Bulgarian elections, but media shortcomings, lack of issue-driven campaign fail to engage voters, observers say
Publishing date: 12 July 2021
SOFIA, 12 July 2021 – Bulgaria’s early parliamentary elections were competitive and fundamental freedoms were generally respected, international observers said in a statement today. The campaign environment was dominated by mutual accusations of corruption between the former ruling party and the provisional government, as well as by efforts by law-enforcement to curb vote-buying, the statement says.
Moldova’s early parliamentary elections were competitive and well run despite the inadequate handling of election disputes and campaign finance issues, international observers say
Publishing date: 12 July 2021
CHISINAU, 12 July 2021 – Moldova’s early parliamentary elections were well managed amidst an improved legal framework and voters were offered a wide choice of alternatives, but concerns over the impartiality of the election authorities undermined trust while inadequate campaign finance rules left potential breaches unaddressed, international observers said in a statement today.
Nomination of judges to Georgia’s highest court still marked by shortcomings despite recent improvements, ODIHR report finds
Publishing date: 9 July 2021
WARSAW, 9 July 2021 – Shortcomings in the process of judicial nominations to Georgia’s Supreme Court put the independence of the judiciary in the country at further risk, despite some recent improvements to the transparency and accountability of the process, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today in its third monitoring report.
OSCE commits to new gender equality targets at Generation Equality Forum in Paris
Publishing date: 1 July 2021
PARIS, 1 July 2021 – The OSCE has pledged to improve gender equality by taking action on Gender Based Violence, Economic Justice and Rights and Technology & Innovation.
Holistic approach needed to eliminate torture, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 25 June 2021
WARSAW, 25 June 2021 – OSCE countries need to honour their recent commitment to uphold the absolute prohibition of torture after acknowledging the practice to be “one of the most flagrant violations of human rights and human dignity”, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the occasion of tomorrow’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture...
Armenia’s early parliamentary elections were competitive and well run, but polarized and marred by aggressive rhetoric, international observers say
Publishing date: 21 June 2021
YEREVAN, 21 June 2021 –Armenia’s early parliamentary elections were competitive and well-managed within a short time frame. However, they were characterized by intense polarization and marred by increasingly inflammatory language from key contestants, as well as by the sidelining of women throughout the campaign, international observers said in a statement today...
Candidates in Mongolia’s presidential election could campaign freely, but eligibility and media rules remain excessively restrictive, international observers say
Publishing date: 10 June 2021
ULAANBAATAR, 10 June 2021 – Mongolia’s presidential election was well run in difficult circumstances and candidates were able to reach out freely to voters, but overly restrictive candidate eligibility and the blurred line between journalism and political advertising as well as the absence of public debate limited the range of choices and information for voters, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today...