News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
No election observation mission in Belarus due to lack of invitation, in breach of OSCE commitments
Publishing date: 9 January 2025
WARSAW/COPENHAGEN, 9 January 2025 – The decision of the Belarusian authorities not to invite OSCE participating States to observe the country’s presidential election on 26 January is deeply regrettable and prevents an impartial and independent assessment of the election process, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) said in a statement today.
Voters had political alternatives in Serbia’s elections but they were marred by overwhelming ruling party advantage, international observers say
Publishing date: 18 December 2023
BELGRADE, 18 December 2023 – Although Serbia’s early parliamentary elections offered voters a choice between political alternatives and freedoms of expression and assembly were generally respected, pressure on voters as well as the decisive involvement of the President and the ruling party’s systemic advantages undermined the election process overall, international observers said in a statement today.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office meets newly elected Parliamentary Assembly President
Publishing date: 7 July 2023
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani met today, 7 July, with the newly elected President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Pia Kauma, Member of Parliament for Finland, on the margins of the OSCE High-Level Conference on Climate Change in Vienna.
OSCE leaders condemn Russia’s ongoing missile attacks on Ukraine
Publishing date: 26 May 2023
SKOPJE/VIENNA/COPENHAGEN, 26 May 2023 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Margareta Cederfelt and Secretary General Roberto Montella today made the following statement:
OSCE Court’s President and Vice-President meet with OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Leaders
Publishing date: 27 April 2023
President Decaux and Vice-President Kourula of the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, presented the Court and its features at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s (PA) International Secretariat in Copenhagen on 25 April.
OSCE Troika, Secretary General, OSCE PA President and Secretary General strenuously condemn Russia’s attacks in Ukraine’s civilian centres
Publishing date: 10 October 2022
WARSAW/SKOPJE/STOCKHOLM/COPENHAGEN/VIENNA, 10 October 2022- OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, Foreign Minister of Sweden Ann Linde, and Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, representing the OSCE Troika, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden), OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Roberto Montella strenuously condemned Russia’s recent attacks against Ukraine’s population in the following statement:
OSCE heads condemn plan to hold illegal “referenda” in occupied territories of Ukraine
Publishing date: 20 September 2022
COPENHAGEN/WARSAW/VIENNA, 20 September 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt and Matteo Mecacci, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, condemned the plans to hold “referenda” on Ukraine’s occupied territories.