COPENHAGEN, 25 May 2016 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on the South Caucasus, Kristian Vigenin (MP, Bulgaria), and the Chair of the OSCE PA’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights, and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today welcomed the release by the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan of investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova. “It is great news that Khadija Ismayilova has been freed from prison and

COPENHAGEN, 25 May 2016 – Following the release of Ukrainian pilot and member of parliament Nadiya Savchenko after nearly two years in a Russian prison, reportedly in exchange for two alleged Russian servicemen Aleksandr Aleksandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, issued the following statement: “It was with great

OSCE PA Special Representative on the South Caucasus Kristian Vigenin meets Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on 23 May 2016 in Yerevan. YEREVAN, 24 May, 2016 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on the South Caucasus, Kristian Vigenin (MP, Bulgaria), today concluded a two-day visit to Armenia and called for increased parliamentary support for efforts for a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In Yerevan,

WARSAW/COPENHAGEN, 24 May 2016 – In a joint statement, Ilkka Kanerva, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, expressed concern today over a constitutional amendment passed by the Turkish parliament stripping certain members of their immunity from prosecution. “The lifting of the parliamentary immunity, conceived as a guarantee for MPs to act

Nilza Sena addresses the 2nd Preparatory Meeting of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum, Berlin, 20 May 2016 BERLIN, 20 May 2016 – Nilza Sena (MP, Portugal), vice-chair of the OSCE PA’s economic and environmental committee, spoke today at the Second Preparatory Meeting of the 24th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum in Berlin, focusing her remarks on the contribution of migrants to economic development. “While many governments see

OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva addresses the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States Council on 19 May 2016. (Photo courtesy of the IPA CIS) ST. PETERSBURG, 20 May 2016 – Addressing the plenary session of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS) in St. Petersburg today, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) stressed the importance of building