COPENHAGEN, 2 November 2016 – Ilkka Kanerva, OSCE PA President Emeritus and Special Coordinator of the OSCE’s short term observers of the recent Russian elections, delivered an address today at the OSCE/ODIHR seminar on election observation and follow up of recommendations, underlining the importance of elections in maintaining and developing a democratic society, particularly given growing disillusionment with established political norms. “One

Special Co-ordinator Arta Dade and Head of OSCE PA delegation Geir Joergen Bekkevold observing in Chisinau, 30 Oct. 2016 CHISINAU, 31 October 2016 – The first round of Moldova’s first direct presidential election in 20 years provided ample opportunity for voters to express their preference for a new head of state. Fundamental freedoms were respected. The campaign was competitive, though marred by widespread abuse of state resources, biased

Special Co-ordinator Ignacio Sanchez Amor delivering the post-election statement from the first round of Georgian elections, 9 October 2016. TBILISI, 31 October 2016 – The 30 October parliamentary run-offs in Georgia were competitive and administered in a manner that respected the rights of candidates and voters, and voting on election day was assessed positively, although issues remain related to lacking a legal framework for second round

Christine Muttonen (third from left) addresses the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, 27 October 2016 VIENNA, 27 October 2016 – Urging governments of the OSCE area to enhance the level of international co-operation to reverse a deteriorating security environment, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) called in Vienna today for more constructive dialogue and confidence-building. In Muttonen’s first address to the

Margareta Cederfelt and Azay Guliyev observing on election day, 16 October 2016. PODGORICA, 17 October 2016 – Montenegro’s 16 October parliamentary elections were held in a competitive environment and fundamental freedoms were generally respected in a campaign characterized by a lack of distinct domestic policy alternatives and permeated by personal attacks, international observers said in a statement issued today . While pluralistic, the media

PODGORICA, 14 October 2016 – The international observers monitoring the parliamentary elections in Montenegro will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 17 October, in Podgorica. The mission is a joint undertaking of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The