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Bulgaria

The Republic of Bulgaria, with a population of 7.3 million, is a parliamentary democracy and, along with neighboring Romania, the most recent NATO and EU member. The constitution vests legislative authority in the unicameral National Assembly. A coalition government headed by a prime minister has led the country since 2014. Elections in Bulgaria have generally complied with OSCE standards but vote buying remains a problem.  The marginalization of the Romani minority remains the country’s most pressing human rights problem.  Corruption has continued to undermine public trust in the judiciary and other government institutions. The Commission has observed many Bulgarian elections since the fall of the Communist regime in 1990.  In the late 1980s, the Commission was a leading voice in defending the rights of the ethnic Turkish minority, which was subjected to a forcible assimilation campaign at the time. The Commission has also been active in addressing the rights of the Romani population.
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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Delegation Convenes Historic Bla...

Jul 14, 2022

WASHINGTON—From June 29 – July 9, Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker (MS) led a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to Romania, the United Kingdom, Finland, and Sweden to consult […]

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Hearings

Black Sea Security Summit

Jul 01, 2022

A Roundtable Dialogue Hosted by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe On the heels of the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, on July 1 the Commission on Security […]

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Digests

HELSINKI COMMISSION DIGITAL DIGEST JUNE 2022

Jun 30, 2022

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission to Convene Black Sea Security Su...

Jun 27, 2022

WASHINGTON—On the heels of the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, on July 1 the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, will convene its […]

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Hearings

European Energy Security Post-Russia

Jun 07, 2022

Russia is weaponizing energy to prolong its unlawful invasion of Ukraine. Unfortunately, the sanctions that Europe and the United States have put in place have not been enough to curb […]

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Press Releases

European Energy Security Focus of Upcoming Helsinki ...

Jun 02, 2022

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following hearing: EUROPEAN ENERGY SECURITY POST-RUSSIA Tuesday, June 7, 2022 2:30 p.m. Watch […]

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Digests

Helsinki Commission Summer 2021 Digital Digest

Aug 02, 2021

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Statements

Ranking Member Joe Wilson on July 2021 Congressional...

Jul 21, 2021

Mr. Speaker, this month, I was grateful to participate in a Congressional delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly led by Senator Roger Wicker and Senator Ben Cardin. It was inspiring […]

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Statements

Cardin and Wicker Discuss July 2021 Congressional De...

Jul 21, 2021

Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I take this time to talk about the work of the U.S. Helsinki Commission in a recent opportunity we had to participate in the OSCE Parliamentary […]

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Delegation Advances Priority Iss...

Jul 15, 2021

WASHINGTON—Helsinki Commission Chairman Sen. Ben Cardin (MD) and Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker (MS) last week led a U.S. delegation to the 2021 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Annual Session in […]

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Hearings

Sweden’s Leadership of the OSCE

Jun 11, 2021

In 2021, Sweden chairs the world’s largest regional security organization—the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)—which comprises 57 participating States stretching from North America, across Europe, and to […]

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Press Releases

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde to Appear at Hels...

Jun 03, 2021

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following online hearing: SWEDEN’S LEADERSHIP OF THE OSCE Priorities for 2021 Friday, June […]

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