WASHINGTON, 8 November 2016 – The Head of the observer mission deployed by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to the 8 November General Elections in the United States, Greek parliamentarian Makis Voridis, today released the following message: “I was informed that someone affiliated with our team had expressed on Twitter his personal political preference for a candidate in the elections we are observing. This is in clear contravention of our

WASHINGTON, 7 November 2016 – The international observers monitoring the general elections in the United States will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Wednesday, 9 November, in Washington, D.C. The mission is a joint undertaking of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA). The statement will be delivered by Christine Muttonen,

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen WASHINGTON, 5 November 2016 – In response to the arrests of the two leaders of Turkey’s Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) along with at least ten other members of parliament, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) today expressed concern over these developments and called on Ankara to ensure that the parliamentarians enjoy their full legal rights. “The latest

Ignacio Sanchez Amor in Copenhagen, 11 April 2016 COPENHAGEN, 4 November 2016 – In response to measures taken by the Turkish authorities following the attempted coup in July, Ignacio Sanchez Amor (MP, Spain), Chair of the OSCE PA human rights committee, today called on authorities to uphold the rule of law in the country. “First of all, let me express my sincere condolences to the families of victims of recent terrorist attacks in the country –

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