COPENHAGEN, 28 January 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic today welcomed the Ukrainian Parliament's decision to scrap several troubling laws and praised the country's efforts to resolve the current crisis through democratic channels. "I welcome the Ukrainian Parliament's vote to repeal the recently adopted anti-protest law and the law re-criminalizing defamation. Both of these measures called into question Ukraine's

Kent Harstedt, Deputy Head of the Swedish Delegation to the OSCE PA (right), meets Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on 22 January in Dushanbe. (photo courtesy of Khovar) COPENHAGEN, 22 January 2014 – A delegation of OSCE Parliamentarians has completed a study visit to Tajikistan that included meetings with President Emomali Rahmon, Foreign Minister Sirodjidin Aslov, lawmakers and representatives of civil society and the media. The delegation

COPENHAGEN, 22 January 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic today issued the following statement on the situation in Ukraine: "I deplore the loss of life that occurred during today's clashes in Kyiv. These deaths represent a dangerous escalation in the unrest that has gripped Ukraine in recent weeks and should convince the government and the opposition -- more than any outside calls can -- that constructive dialogue is

COPENHAGEN, 20 January 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic (Montenegro) today urged calm and voiced his support for dialogue in Ukraine after violent clashes in Kyiv on 19 January. "I was saddened to learn of the violence in Ukraine. My thoughts go out to the protesters and police who were injured and their families. My fellow Parliamentarians and I have feared that continued pressure on the civil liberties of

VIENNA, 17 January 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) expressed concern today over the adoption of legislation by the Parliament of Ukraine on 16 January that imposes new restrictions on street protests and recriminalizes defamation. "I am concerned that the legislation adopted by Ukraine's parliament threatens the civil liberties of the Ukrainian people. In this sensitive time for the country, its

COPENHAGEN, 10 January 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Spencer Oliver met his counterparts from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Brussels on 9-10 January for discussions that focused on enhancing co-operation in the field of election observation. "Our parliamentarians are determined to build upon the track record we've established of solid co-operation on