OSCE Mission in Kosovo: Ensuring equal opportunities for all media is essential

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo expressed deep disappointment at the decision of certain members of the Central Election Commission to abstain or vote against accreditation requests submitted by Serbian-language media, as well as others, for coverage of the forthcoming local elections scheduled for Sunday, 12 October.

The Mission recalls that free, fair, and transparent elections depend on open and equal access for all media to observe, report on, and inform the public about electoral events.

Restricting media accreditation on the basis of perceived community affiliation, language, or editorial stance limits journalists’ ability to perform their professional duties, the OSCE Mission noted in a statement on Facebook.

It also underlined that access to information in community languages constitutes a fundamental aspect of Kosovo’s multiethnic and democratic framework.

“Ensuring equal opportunities for all media is essential to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process, avoiding suggestions of discriminatory practices, and supporting the informed participation of all communities,” the statement reads.

The Mission added that it remains committed to promoting and protecting freedom of expression, media pluralism, and equal access to information for all communities, in line with OSCE principles and international standards.

“We call on political parties to adhere to these values,” the statement concludes.

The Central Election Commission has decided to reject accreditation for media outlets reporting in the Serbian language to cover the local elections.