OSCE States Condemn Threats to Journalists Amid Russia’s War on Ukraine

Fifteen OSCE participating states have issued a joint statement expressing grave concern over the deteriorating state of media freedom and the safety of journalists in parts of the OSCE region. The statement, delivered on April 23, 2026, at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, highlights the escalating threats faced by journalists, particularly in the context of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

Joint Call for Action

The statement was delivered by Monique de Ruijter, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the OSCE, on behalf of the Informal Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists. The group includes Austria, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

Addressing OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ambassador Braathu, the joint statement commended the “remarkable work” of the OSCE team, describing it as “compact but very dedicated, knowledgeable, and well connected with the relevant actors for the promotion and defence of freedom of the media.” The statement underscored the group’s shared conviction that media freedom is “an inseparable component of democracy, crucial to the stability of our societies and our collective security.”

The participating states also reaffirmed their commitment to the independence of the OSCE Representative’s mandate, particularly its early warning and public advocacy components. They acknowledged that media freedom is under threat from “profound technological and economic upheavals, and anti-democratic political trends.”

Russia’s War Against Ukraine: A Major Threat to Journalists

The joint statement singled out Russia’s “illegal and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine” as a “major threat for the safety of journalists.” It accused Russian forces of targeting journalists and media infrastructure, resulting in the deaths, arbitrary detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances of media workers. The statement did not provide specific numbers but described the scale of the threat as “significant.”

The participating states emphasized that media workers have become “direct targets of Russian attacks,” though they did not elaborate on the nature or frequency of these attacks in the statement.

Broader Concerns Over Media Freedom

While Russia’s actions in Ukraine were a focal point, the joint statement also expressed broader concerns about the erosion of media freedom across the OSCE region. The participating states did not name specific countries beyond Russia but noted that the challenges take “a variety of forms,” as outlined in the OSCE Representative’s report.

The statement comes amid growing international attention to the safety of journalists, particularly those working in conflict zones or under repressive regimes. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, an intergovernmental watchdog, has previously warned of “structural shifts reshaping information and threatening democracy,” including the rise of digital surveillance, legal harassment, and transnational repression targeting journalists in exile.

Next Steps and International Response

The joint statement did not outline specific measures to address the threats to journalists but reaffirmed the participating states’ support for the OSCE Representative’s mandate. The OSCE has long advocated for the decriminalization of defamation, the promotion of media pluralism, and the protection of journalists’ safety as core components of its mission.

In a separate report published in October 2025, the OSCE highlighted the vulnerabilities of journalists under severe political pressure, particularly those in exile. The report noted that such journalists often remain targets of digital attacks, surveillance, and legal harassment even after relocating to safer countries. The joint statement did not directly reference this report but aligned with its broader concerns about the safety and independence of the media.

The joint statement reflects ongoing efforts by democratic governments to counter the erosion of press freedom, both within and beyond the OSCE region. However, the participating states did not indicate whether further concrete actions, such as sanctions or diplomatic interventions, would follow.