News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Uzbekistan presidential election underscores need for comprehensive reforms, OSCE/ODIHR observers say
Publishing date: 5 December 2016
TASHKENT, 5 December 2016 – The 4 December presidential election in Uzbekistan underscored the need for comprehensive reforms to address long-standing procedural and systematic shortcomings, including to a legal framework that is not conducive to holding genuine democratic elections, the election observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) concluded in a preliminary statement released today...
Imperative that elections in Stolac are conducted as soon as possible in accordance with the law, calls International community in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Publishing date: 2 December 2016
SARAJEVO, 2 December 2016- It is clear that as the result of multiple actions on 2 October 2016, democracy was denied to the people of Stolac...
OSCE parliamentarians to observe upcoming elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Publishing date: 28 November 2016
COPENHAGEN, 28 November 2016 – OSCE parliamentarians will observe the upcoming parliamentary elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and provide leadership for the short-term OSCE observer mission...
OSCE Mission to Montenegro organizes workshop on lessons learned and international standards in elections
Publishing date: 24 November 2016
The OSCE Mission to Montenegro and its international partners organized a two-day workshop on Lessons Learned after the 2016 Parliamentary Elections, for staff of the State Election Commission (SEC) and of the Municipal Election Commissions (MEC) on 21-22 November 2016 in Budva. The event was followed by three-day training on International Standards in Election Administration...
OSCE supports seminar for election observers on enhancing electoral rights of people with disabilities
Publishing date: 22 November 2016
ASTANA, 22 November 2016 – Election observers and Members of the Central Election Commission (CEC) took part today in Astana in an OSCE-supported training seminar on various aspects of the electoral rights of people with disabilities and the elderly...
Moldova presidential run-off competitive, fundamental freedoms respected, but polarized media coverage, harsh rhetoric detracted from process, say international observers
Publishing date: 14 November 2016
CHISINAU, 14 November 2016 – The second round of the presidential election in Moldova was competitive, with respect for fundamental freedoms. The campaign, featuring televised debates, allowed the two candidates to address voters directly. However, increasingly polarized media coverage, harsh and intolerant rhetoric and continued instances of abuse of administrative resources detracted from the process. Complaints, mostly related to campaign finance, were not resolved in a timely and consistent manner, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today...
Fundamental freedoms respected in highly competitive US elections, campaign characterized by personal attacks, intolerant rhetoric, international observers say
Publishing date: 8 November 2016
WASHINGTON, 8 November, 2016 – The 8 November general elections in the United States were highly competitive and demonstrated commitment to fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly and association. The presidential campaign was characterized by harsh personal attacks, as well as intolerant rhetoric, particularly by one candidate, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly concluded in a preliminary statement released today.