Christian Strohal
@CStrohal
Austrian diplomat. Former Ambassador to the OSCE, to the UN in Geneva, Director of OSCE/ODIHR, now thinktanker, and always human rights enthusiast.
Here is the full letter Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, sent to colleagues: politico.com/news/2025/07/1…
Today, we mark 30 years since the #SrebrenicaGenocide, reminding us of the tragic consequences of unchecked hatred. Let us renew our commitment to building societies grounded in tolerance and respect to ensure such tragedies are never repeated. #Srebrenica30
The closure of Golos, respected for its independent election monitoring in 🇷🇺#Russia, underscores the years of pressure on civil society. ODIHR urges the authorities to ensure that civil society can operate freely, an essential element to any genuine democracy.
Another attack on civil society in #Russia : the widely respected election observer organization #Golos is giving up after years of harrassment by authorities. Domestic observation is a democratic right.
Golos, a Russian independent election monitoring and voters’ rights movement, is to cease its activities, it announced on its website on Tuesday. 💔 🔗 | novayagazeta.eu/articles/2025/…
One of #Russia‘s especially heinous #warcrimes
Russian forces conducted a series of drone and missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of July 5 to 6, including a "double-tap strike" against emergency responders. understandingwar.org/backgrounder/r…
Europe must not overlook negative developments in #Georgia - peaceful protest is a fundamental human right
ODIHR voices deep concerns over increased pressure on civil society and political dissent in 🇬🇪#Georgia, and we reaffirm our readiness to support the country in upholding its OSCE commitments. Read our full statement here: osce.org/odihr/594597
ODIHR is very concerned about the reported violence and arrests during the ongoing protests in #Serbia. We urge 🇷🇸 authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and refrain from any excessive & indiscriminate use of force, ensuring that any violations are investigated.
#OSCE parliamentarians @oscepa recommit to Helsinki Final Act and its principles, condemning their systematic violation by Russia, and adopts range of other thematic and xountry resolutions. Hopefully will pursue them also in their political environment at home
Spanish parliamentarian @perejoanpons is elected Assembly President for a two-year term as the PA issues wide-ranging recommendations to OSCE countries and the international community on security, economics, environment and human rights ➡️ oscepa.org/en/news-a-medi… #OSCEPAPorto25
Good debate on security in the new geopolitical situation and Russia’s hybrid war at #peaceforum with Ursula Plassnik, @Georg_Haesler and others - Europe to step up to defend peace
Impressive opening keynote at Austrian Forum for Peace in Schlaining by Prof Yair Hirschfeld on long-term work towards #peace in Middle East before and after Oslo accords - need for regional approach
Heute unterzeichneten die #Ukraine und der #Europarat den Vertrag für das #Sondertribunal über das Verbrechen der Aggression gegen die UA – ein starkes Zeichen gegen Straflosigkeit. 🇦🇹 hat aktiv an den Verhandlungen teilgenommen & war auch Gastgeber von Gesprächen in Wien.
Diese FPÖ-Abg. ist mit diesem Zwischenruf endgültig untragbar. Wie wiederlich kann man sein kurier.at/politik/inland…
„So, you have guys with hardly any knowledge of the culture, no deployment experience, and are not necessarily qualified to be using the weapons they had in charge of security at aid sites in a place where we know millions are desperate for aid… A lot did go wrong.
"This idea that the Israeli military isn't involved is bullshit. They're very much involved. They have offices in our compounds. We share our radio communications with them. The higher-ups claim the Israeli military is not involved, but it feels like they’re the man behind the…
Independent judiciaries are vital for our democracies to function and flourish. ODIHR works with countries across the OSCE region to help ensure the independence of judges is guaranteed in law & respected in practice. Read our guide, now in 5 languages: buff.ly/46VIrbB
Russian drone attacks against civilians in the Kherson region of Ukraine constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes, UN human rights investigators concluded in a new report. Yet Trump refuses to pressure Putin to stop. trib.al/EGdYH1m
‘International law is the best deterrence for all countries, large and small. The rules-based global order is also the only guarantee for our safety and self-determination. When might replaces right, no border is safe’ | Watch the full speech by @kajakallas @eu_eeas at #SLD25…
Full #solidarity with our neighbour and EU partner #Czechia.
Today, the EU holds a Chinese state-backed actor responsible for a malicious cyber campaign targeting Czechia. This is a clear and unacceptable violation of international norms. We stand firmly with Czechia. My statement on behalf of the EU → europa.eu/!xrDbyf
Exceptionally, own news: grateful to my Alma mater @univienna for renewing my Dr.iur. for my work to protect and promote #humanrights. Big Thankyou to my laudator prof Manfred Nowak, and Dean Zöchling-Jud, also for a beautiful event!
