Important Facts of the News
- Statement delivered by UK Ambassador Neil Holland on 6 November 2025 at OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna
- UK reaffirms full support for ODIHR mandate and its election observation missions
- UK provides extra-budgetary funding to ODIHR
- Calls for early agreement on OSCE Unified Budget 2026 with proper funding for autonomous institutions
- Applauds Finland-ODIHR leadership of Warsaw Human Dimension Conference 2025
- Demands mandated Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in 2026
- Russia systematically violates rights of Ukrainian children, civilians and prisoners of war
- Russia has dismantled fundamental freedoms, leaving no space for independent media or civil society
- Urges Belarus to release all remaining political prisoners and end post-release repression
- Urges Georgia to restore judicial independence, scrap laws targeting civil society and free detained opposition leaders
- Urges Kyrgyzstan not to re-introduce capital punishment
Britain has made its position crystal clear at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, backing the work of democratic institutions while directly challenging countries that continue to breach human rights commitments.
Britain Reaffirms Backing for OSCE Democratic Work
Speaking on 6 November 2025, UK Ambassador Neil Holland underlined that respect for human rights remains the foundation of regional security, a principle as relevant today as it was fifty years ago. He pressed all OSCE participating states to finalise the Unified Budget without delay and ensure autonomous bodies receive the resources they need to function effectively.
The ambassador praised Finland for steering this year’s Warsaw Human Dimension Conference alongside ODIHR and insisted that a full Human Dimension Implementation Meeting must take place in 2026 with a proper mandate. Britain continues to support ODIHR through additional funding and active participation in election monitoring across the region.
Sharp Criticism of Russia’s Actions in Ukraine and At Home
Turning to the continuing conflict, Holland stated that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has caused widespread suffering with clear evidence of systematic rights abuses against children, ordinary citizens and prisoners of war. Inside Russia itself, basic freedoms have been eroded to the point where independent journalism and civil society groups can barely operate.
He demanded that Russian forces withdraw completely from Ukrainian territory, the illegal war be brought to an end and Moscow start respecting OSCE commitments both abroad and within its own borders.
Calls on Belarus, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan
The UK also highlighted ongoing concerns in other parts of the region. Authorities in Belarus were urged to free every remaining political prisoner, honour international obligations and stop harassing those released from jail.
In Georgia, the ambassador called for the restoration of an independent judiciary, withdrawal of recent laws that restrict civil society and immediate release of opposition figures held without justification.
Kyrgyzstan was asked to stick to its international pledges and permanently rule out any return to the death penalty.
Wrapping up, Holland stressed that no single country holds all solutions to global human rights challenges and expressed Britain’s eagerness to keep cooperating with ODIHR to foster stable, inclusive societies across the OSCE area.