News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Turkey’s June elections demonstrated commitment to democracy, but freedom of expression and electoral rights remain limited, concludes ODIHR’s final report
Publishing date: 1 November 2011
The June 12 parliamentary elections in Turkey demonstrated a broad commitment to holding democratic elections but the Constitution and implementing legislation continue to unduly limit freedom of expression, freedom of association and electoral rights, the final report released by ODIHR on 31 October concludes...
Bulgaria’s run-off elections underscore need for improvements in electoral process, OSCE/ODIHR observers say
Publishing date: 31 October 2011
SOFIA, 31 October 2011 – The second round of Bulgaria’s presidential and municipal elections was generally characterized by respect for fundamental freedoms but also underscored the need for further improving the electoral process, the observer mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) concluded in a statement issued today...
Kyrgyzstan’s presidential election was peaceful, but shortcomings underscore need to improve integrity of process
Publishing date: 31 October 2011
BISHKEK, 31 October 2011- The presidential election in Kyrgyzstan was conducted in a peaceful manner, but shortcomings underscored that the integrity of the electoral process should be improved to consolidate democratic practice in line with international commitments, international observers concluded in a statement issued today...
OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for Russian Duma elections
Publishing date: 25 October 2011
MOSCOW, 26 October 2011 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened its election observation mission to monitor the upcoming 4 December State Duma elections in the Russian Federation...
Parliamentary observers applaud Tunisian elections: vote shows country on its way to guaranteeing freedom, human rights, democracy
Publishing date: 25 October 2011
TUNIS, 24 October 2011 – International election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly today declared the first democratic elections in Tunisia as “free and fair” and praised the Tunisian people for their participation in the electoral process...
OSCE Project Co-ordinator and EU support public discussion of electoral reform in Ukraine
Publishing date: 24 October 2011
A nation-wide campaign to discuss election legislation reform in Ukraine was launched on 23 October 2011 with support from a project funded by the European Union and carried out by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU)...
OSCE observers assess Bulgarian elections positively, but raise concerns about vote-buying, media coverage
Publishing date: 24 October 2011
The OSCE/ODIHR observer mission made an overall positive assessment of the presidential and municipal elections on 24 October 2011, but said continued reform is needed to address concerns such as pervasive allegations of vote-buying and the near absence of any editorial coverage of the campaign in the media...