4 facts about OSCE/ODIHR Head of Mission Janez Lenarcic
On April 23, 2026, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) announced that Janez Lenarcic will lead the observation mission to Armenia to monitor the June 7 parliamentary elections.
Who is Janez Lenarcic?
Janez Lenarcic, 58, is a Slovenian diplomat, who has held the positions of State Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister of Slovenia and State Secretary for European Affairs.
From 2008 to 2014, he served as Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
From 2019 to 2024, he was the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management where he coordinated key elements of the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What assessments did he make of Armenia’s electoral processes in the past?
The OSCE/ODIHR report on Armenia’s 2012 parliamentary elections noted that “the general lack of confidence among political parties and the general public in the integrity of the electoral process is an issue of great concern.”
In an exclusive interview with Mediamax in December 2012, OSCE/ODIHR Director Janez Lenarcic, answering whether progress had been made, said:
“Although ODIHR itself has not made any assessment of the situation in Armenia since the release of its final report on the 2012 parliamentary elections, the Armenian Human Rights Ombudsman was recently quoted by the media as saying that ‘society did not trust the electoral process.’”
On February 1, 2013, Janez Lenarcic expressed “deep concern” over the shooting of Armenian presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan.
“This attack is deeply distressing in view of the electoral process already underway, and I urge all stakeholders to refrain from any actions that might further aggravate the situation. We also urge the relevant authorities to pursue a robust investigation of this crime and prosecution of the perpetrators,” said Lenarcic.
What did Lenarcic say during the 2023 ethnic cleansing in Artsakh carried out by Azerbaijan?
On September 26, 2023, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said:
“We must be prepared to support the thousands who have decided to flee Nagorno Karabakh, especially as the upcoming winter is likely to expose the refugees to additional challenges. The EU is drastically stepping up its humanitarian aid in the region to provide emergency relief to people in need, both within the Nagorno Karabakh enclave, and to people now displaced in Armenia.”
What did Pashinyan say to Lenarcic?
On October 6, 2023, Janez Lenarcic visited Armenia and met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
“The Prime Minister welcomed Mr. Lenarcic’s visit to Armenia during this difficult period and noted that the international community’s support, including financial, is also necessary to overcome the crisis caused by the forced displacement of more than 100,000 of our compatriots as a result of Azerbaijan’s policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh,” the government said in a news release.
In February 2024, Janez Lenarcic said:
“This is the first winter for thousands of Karabakh Armenians who fled to Armenia last Autumn. In these challenging times, it is our humanitarian duty to provide protection and assistance to the people most in need. With this new €5.5 million funding, we will aim to further strengthen the existing EU humanitarian response to the displaced people in Armenia, by providing them with access to basic services.”