News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE PA election observers arrive this week in Tbilisi ahead of Georgian presidential election
Publishing date: 22 October 2018
COPENHAGEN, 22 October 2018 – Leading members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s election observation mission to the 28 October presidential election in Georgia are arriving this week in Tbilisi for final preparations of the mission...
OSCE parliamentarians debate future of election observation at European Parliament in Brussels
Publishing date: 12 October 2018
COPENHAGEN, 12 November 2018 – Election monitoring by members of parliament helps to emphasize the importance of democratic processes, said OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal) Thursday at a high-level conference on the Future of Election Observation in Brussels...
Bosnia and Herzegovina elections were genuinely competitive, but legal and systemic shortcomings remain, international observers say
Publishing date: 8 October 2018
SARAJEVO, 8 October 2018 – The 7 October general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were genuinely competitive but characterized by continuing segmentation along ethnic lines, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today. Long-standing deficiencies in the legal framework remain, and recent discussions on reform were stalled by political disagreements, further eroding trust in public institutions, the observers said...
OSCE PA human rights leaders deplore non-transparent candidate registration in Afghanistan elections
Publishing date: 6 October 2018
BISHKEK, 6 October 2018 – In advance of the 20 October parliamentary elections to be held in Afghanistan, the leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee express their deep concern at the arbitrary exclusion of candidates from running for office...
ODIHR opens mission to observe mid-term congressional elections in United States
Publishing date: 3 October 2018
WASHINGTON D.C., 3 October 2018 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today officially opened a limited election observation mission for the mid-term congressional elections to be held in the United States on 6 November. The mission's deployment follows an invitation from the United States Government...
Despite gaps in legal framework, fundamental freedoms were respected in impartially administered referendum, international observers say in Skopje
Publishing date: 1 October 2018
SKOPJE, 1 October 2018 – Although the legal framework did not sufficiently cover all aspects of the process, the 30 September referendum in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was administered impartially and fundamental freedoms were respected, the international observers concluded in a statement today. The absence of an organized “Against” or boycott campaign meant the media struggled to provide balanced coverage, although they did convey extensive information and a diverse range of views to voters...
OSCE/ODIHR observers to hold press conference in Washington D.C. on Wednesday
Publishing date: 1 October 2018
WASHINGTON D.C., 1 October 2018 – The limited election observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to observe the 6 November mid-term congressional elections in the United States will hold a press conference in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, 3 October, at 12:00...