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OSCE PA’s Santos welcomes release of Azerbaijan’s Leyla Yunus

OSCE - Wed, 09/12/2015 - 16:58

COPENHAGEN, 9 December 2015 – The Chairperson of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today welcomed the release from prison of Azerbaijani rights activist Leyla Yunus on humanitarian grounds.

“Leyla Yunus’s health was in rapid decline, and so I welcome this humane gesture by the court. Of course, the international community remains convinced that she did not deserve to spend a single day behind bars, and was punished for daring to call on the Azerbaijani government to live up to its commitments.

“I note that Ms. Yunus, as well as her husband, still remain convicted and still face treason charges, despite their release. Dropping these convictions and charges would be a significant step in the right direction for Azerbaijan,” Chairperson Santos said.

Leyla Yunus was sentenced to 8½ years in prison in August on charges that included fraud and tax evasion. Her husband, Arif, was sentenced to 7 years in prison on similar charges. 

Yunus is the director of the unregistered Institute for Peace and Democracy, which defends political prisoners, exposes corruption and rule-of-law issues, and promotes people-to-people contacts between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Santos also renewed her call for the release of other rights defenders and journalists who remain jailed in Azerbaijan on politically motivated charges and urged the government to uphold its OSCE commitments in the spheres of human rights and democracy.

She expressed her continued openness to constructive engagement with Azerbaijan’s authorities on these matters.

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Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 8 December 2015

OSCE - Wed, 09/12/2015 - 16:26

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded an increasing number of ceasefire violations around Donetsk airport. In Luhansk region, all explosions and gunfire heard were assessed as activities related to training or demining. The SMM followed up on reports of resumption of power supply across the administrative boundary line between Kherson and Crimea. Its freedom of movement was restricted six times on both side of the contact line, resulting, in one instance, in the inability to reach the areas alongside the international border and border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government*.

The SMM recorded ceasefire violations in several areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions[1]. Positioned at “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Donetsk railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard a total of 87 explosions and multiple bursts of small-arms and light-weapons (SALW) fire, 3-8km to the north, north-north-west, north-west and west. While 81 explosions were undetermined, six of them were assessed as being consistent with the impact of 82mm-calibre mortar fire – weapons that are restricted at this distance to the contact line. Whilst in government-controlled Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol), the SMM also heard multiple bursts and several single shots of small-arms fire, as well as eight undetermined explosions 3-7km north and north-west of its position.

All explosions and gunfire heard in Luhansk region were assessed as activities related to training or demining. For example, the SMM heard 12 outgoing explosions caused by artillery and 40-50 shots of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun (HMG) fire assessed to be part of training exercises occurring at the government-controlled Trokhizbenka training area (33km north-west of Luhansk). Positioned in “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled Malomykolaivka (36km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five to seven bursts of HMG fire assessed as training exercises in “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk), as well as four explosions assessed as impacts of artillery fire at a firing range in “LPR”-controlled Shymshynivka (28km south-west of Luhansk).  In “LPR”-controlled Stakhanov (50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard and saw one explosion 100m north of its position. Subsequently, the SMM went to the place where the explosion occurred and spoke to three civilian workers (men aged 40 and 50). They told the SMM that a demining team had conducted a detonation of a hand grenade which they had found without a safety pin inside an electrical transformer station.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling on both sides of the contact line. In government-controlled Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw four relatively fresh craters consistent with 120mm mortar rounds in a garden of the villa occupied by solders and assessed to have been fired from a south-easterly direction. A Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander told the SMM that shelling had occurred during the night of 6 December. In “LPR”-controlled Donetskyi (50km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM saw two relatively fresh craters 70m from a civilian house. The SMM assessed that they had been caused by 120mm calibre mortars fired from a northerly direction. Two armed individuals and one male resident told the SMM that the impacts had occurred during the night of 6 December.

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited Ukrainian Armed Forces and “LPR” permanent weapons storage sites, the locations of which corresponded with the withdrawal lines. All previously recorded weapons were present.

In areas of beyond the withdrawal lines – but outside storage sites – the SMM observed the following Addendum-related weapons: one tank (T-64) loaded on a flat-bed track heading south in “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city; two tanks at a training ground in “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk); four tanks at a training ground in “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk); 31 tanks at a training ground in “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of measures. “DPR” members have yet to provide the requested inventory of heavy weapons and locations of designated permanent storage sites for these weapons, as requested by the SMM on 16 October. Members of the “LPR” had provided the SMM with an inventory of heavy weapons, their serial numbers and the locations at which they are said to be stored, as requested by the SMM. The Ukrainian military authorities had earlier provided an inventory list of military equipment featuring weapons systems as well as their serial numbers, but not the locations where the weapons are to be permanently withdrawn to.

The SMM revisited “LPR” heavy weapons permanent storage sites, the locations and inventory of which were provided to the SMM on 2 December. The site met the criteria outlined in the 16 October notification. The SMM observed that all previously recorded weapons were present.

The SMM revisited locations beyond the respective withdrawal lines known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they did not comply with the specific criteria set out in the 16 October notification.

At such Ukrainian Armed Forces holding areas, the SMM observed: 11 multiple launch rocket systems (BM-21 Grad, 12mm), 14 self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm), and 12 anti-tank guns (D-48, 85mm).

The SMM continued to observe Ukrainian Armed Forces presence in Pavlopil (26km north-east of Mariupol) (see SMM Daily Report 8 December), where it noted a number of military personnel and hardware. Staff of the village council and school teachers whom the SMM spoke to expressed their concern about the current situation, especially the presence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and stated that since early December they had heard small-arms fire almost on a daily basis. During the night of 7 December they had heard six mortar rounds. The SMM observed that a number of residential houses in the village were occupied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable on-going repairs to critical infrastructure close to the contact line. In “LPR”-controlled areas south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed on-going repair work to power lines and demining, which had been suspended on 25 November for security reasons.

The SMM followed up on reports of resumption of power supply through one of the pylons damaged by explosions in the vicinity of the administrative boundary line between Kherson and Crimea. According to the UkrEnergo website, the Kakhovka-Titan power line was energised with a 120MW load at 8:00hrs. At the site of the damaged pylons near Chaplynka (90km south-east of Kherson), the SMM heard the humming sound of electricity coming from the repaired Kakhovska-Titan power line. The SMM saw no activists or police officers (see SMM Daily Report 21 November).

In front of the Lviv regional administration building, the SMM observed a gathering of 100 people (including 20 women and 40 men in military uniform) expressing their dissatisfaction with current support measures for participants of the anti-terrorism operation (ATO). The demonstration, organized by Lviv Co-ordination Centre for Support to ATO Participants, passed off peacefully with 15 police officers present.

In Kyiv, the SMM also monitored several demonstrations – some of them with a high number of participants – in the vicinity of the buildings of the Cabinet of Ministers and Parliament, where the Vice President of the United States of America had paid an official visit. The SMM observed 2,500 people (mostly elderly women), not holding any banner and flags, walking from Independence Square (Maidan) to Marynskyi Park – across the street from the Cabinet of Ministers building. Meanwhile, a dozen participants whom the SMM spoke to had no idea about the purpose of the demonstration. The SMM noted that upon their arrival participants were receiving already prepared banners criticising the United States. At the same time, the SMM also observed a protest of 400 supporters of the Svoboda party (mostly men aged 30-40) expressing their discontent with the Government in the front of the main entrance of Parliament (Verkhovna Rada), where subsequently 70-80 supporters of the Party of Ordinary People arrived and joined the protest. The SMM noted 50 buses with 2,000 anti-riot police and National Guard officers around the locations of the demonstrations. These demonstrations passed off peacefully and at the end of the events the participants dispersed.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk and Chernivtsi.

 

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. “LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring many areas adjacent to the international border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Denial of access:

  • In government-controlled Chermalyk (31km north-east of Mariupol), the unit commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces refused the SMM entry to a military compound.
  • At a checkpoint at the northern exit of government-controlled Hranitne (47km north-east of Mariupol), Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers prevented the SMM from passing through. They stated that the road leading north was impassable due to mines and unexploded ordnances (UXOs). 
  • At a checkpoint near “LPR”-controlled Uralo-Kavkaz (45km south-east of Luhansk), three armed “LPR” members did not allow the SMM to proceed towards “LPR”-controlled Izvaryne (53km south-east of Luhansk) alongside the international border, on the grounds that they were not able to read the SMM patrol plan written in English and that the SMM needed a written permission to pass.

Delay:

  • In government-controlled Pavlopil (26km northeast of Mariupol), Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel refused the SMM access for 34 minutes, before allowing it to enter a former agricultural compound used as a base.
  • At a checkpoint south of government-controlled Hranitne (47km north-east of Mariupol), Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers held the SMM for 30 minutes before allowing it to pass.
  • At a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Olenivka (23km south of Donetsk), armed “DPR” members held the SMM for 40 minutes, demanding to see the SMM members’ national passports.

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate”.

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OSCE/ODIHR Director Link praises release of Leyla Yunus

OSCE - Wed, 09/12/2015 - 15:29

WARSAW, 9 December 2015 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today welcomed the release from custody of Azerbaijani human rights defender Leyla Yunus, following a request from her lawyers based on her deteriorating health.

“Leyla Yunus’ release today is a positive and much welcome humanitarian gesture,” said Director Link. “ODIHR continues to stand ready to engage constructively with the authorities of Azerbaijan on human dimension issues.”

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OSCE Representative urges authorities in Armenia to ensure journalists’ rights to report in a free and safe manner

OSCE - Wed, 09/12/2015 - 15:20

VIENNA, 9 December 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern over recent cases of obstruction and threats against journalists covering the 6 December referendum on constitutional reforms in Armenia.

According to reports, there were a number of cases of journalists being hindered in carrying out their duties on the day of the referendum.

In particular, the Representative noted the cases involving the following journalists:

  • Rafael Afrikyan of iLur.am news website was attacked at a polling station in Yerevan, his camera and press card were damaged;
  • Anush Mkrtchyan of Radio Liberty was obstructed and verbally assaulted at the headquarters of referendum supporters in Yerevan;
  • Diana Ghazaryan of the online newspaper Hetq.am was verbally assaulted at a polling station in Yerevan, her journalist’s notebook was briefly seized.

Reportedly, the prosecutor’s office and police have started investigations into some of the incidents. 

“I urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate all incidents involving the violation of journalists’ rights,” Mijatović said. “Impunity for violence against members of the media cannot be tolerated.”   

The Representative stressed journalists’ right to cover public events and journalists and to be able to do so in a free and safe manner. She also noted concerns expressed by a group of local media NGOs about the incidents.

In June this year, the Representative called on the authorities to investigate the incidents and coercive actions by police against journalists covering public protests in Yerevan (see www.osce.org/fom/166106). No results of an investigation have been presented to date.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.

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OSCE Kosovo Mission, Ombudsperson present anti-discrimination law in Braille language

OSCE - Wed, 09/12/2015 - 14:55

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 9 December 2015 – On 10 December, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, together with the Ombudsperson Institution, will present the Law on Protection from Discrimination in Braille language in Prishtinë/Priština.

This law will enable the community of visually impaired persons, one of the most vulnerable groups in Kosovo, to learn about their rights and the obligations institutions have towards them.

The law is part of the so-called “human rights package of laws”, which aim at ensuring inclusion and equality for all.

Representatives of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ombudsperson Institution, civil society organizations, and international community will participate in the event.

Deputy Ombudsperson, Ibrahim Arslan, and National Programme Officer within the OSCE Mission’s Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Section, Sehida Miftari, will open the event.

Media representatives are cordially invited to attend the event, on Thursday 10 December 2015, at Vila Germia, in Prishtinë/Priština, starting at 12:00.

 

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OSCE Mission to Skopje organizes networking meeting on gender mainstreaming within law enforcement agencies

OSCE - Wed, 09/12/2015 - 14:46

SKOPJE, 9 December 2015 – Fostering a gender balance and promoting women’s rights in the police service is the aim of today’s OSCE-supported networking meeting taking place in Skopje, which will bring together 35 representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA), the national Police Union and the Association of Women in the Kosovo Police (AWKP).

The participants will share their experiences and ideas on how to better incorporate a gender perspective in the daily work of the police and will identify areas of future co-operation.

“Gender equality and mainstreaming are key aspects of the OSCE’s work, and our Mission supports empowering women’s participation in both national and local institutions, as well as in public security and civil society organizations,” said Deputy Head of OSCE Mission to Skopje Marianne Berecz.

Hrizantema Rendevska, President of Women’s Section of the Police Union, said: “We are actively working on increasing the influence and visibility of our activities both within the Police Union and the ministry. This meeting will help us streamline our potential in different areas of society and establish gender mainstreaming networks in the region and beyond.”

Participants will also get acquainted with the activities of the Mission’s Gender Working Group and of the work of the Association of Women in Kosovo Police (AWKP), an organization which aims to strengthen the role and status of women in law enforcement. 

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OSCE assists Kazakhstan’s banking sector in countering money laundering and financing of terrorism

OSCE - Wed, 09/12/2015 - 13:03

An OSCE-supported international certification programme for 30 representatives of the banking sector on detecting and preventing money laundering and terrorism financing began on 9 December 2015 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The three-day event is co-organized by the Finance Ministry’s Financial Monitoring Committee, the National Bank, the Financial Institutions’ Association, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, and the United States’ Embassy in Kazakhstan.  

Specialists from nearly 20 second-tier banks of Kazakhstan will examine the available tools and best international practices, and also review international standards on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, and methods and schemes of bank fraud. Participants will discuss how to enhance interaction between the competent authorities and banking sector representatives in investigating financial crimes.

Furthermore the event involves a train-the-trainer course conducted by a senior anti-money laundering and combatting financial crime professional from the Association of Certified Anti-money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), which developed the curriculum of this certification programme.

This programme builds on the Office’s multi-year activities in the fields of good governance, anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism in the host country.

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OSCE-supported training courses on fight against gender-based violence take place in five Montenegrin municipalities

OSCE - Wed, 09/12/2015 - 12:07
Mia Lausevic

Under the scope of the global campaign "16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence" the OSCE Mission to Montenegro had supported training course for multi-disciplinary teams in Pljevlja, Herceg Novi, Cetinje, Berane and Podgorica between 30 November and 9 December 2015.

The teams comprised of representatives of the municipal authorities, social care centres, civil society, police, prosecution, courts and health institutions at the local level.

The topics of the training courses included the basics of gender equality, types of violence, national and international legal framework - with special emphasis on Istanbul Convention, Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. The courses also provided a platform for exchange of experiences and discussion on opportunities for strengthening the inter-agency co-operation.

The Head of the Gender Department in the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, Biljana Pejović, said that the role of the multi-disciplinary teams in the fight against gender based violence is of great importance. "Statistics show that every third women has experienced some form of violence, globally and in Montenegro. Therefore we need to support the work of the multi-disciplinary teams through continuous training course and education."

The campaign "16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence" has been marked in Montenegro through various activities since 2007. 

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OSCE Mission to Skopje supports opening of school mediation club

OSCE - Wed, 09/12/2015 - 12:06
Ioanna Lachana, OSCE Mission to Skopje Mirvete Islam, OSCE Mission to Skopje Mihajlo Lahtov, OSCE Mission to Skopje

A mediation club was opened on 9 December 2015 in the Secondary School “Vlado Tasevski” in Skopje, as part of the project “Mediation for Change” implemented by the OSCE Mission to Skopje and financially supported by the Swiss Embassy in Skopje.

Nineteen mediation clubs established in secondary schools countrywide aim at bringing together high school students and offer a venue for the student mediators to perform and practice peer mediation as an alternative conflict resolution tool.

The project is implemented in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Forum Civil Peace Service (Forum ZFD). 

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Importance of aligning quality of forensic evidence with international best practices highlighted at OSCE-supported regional workshop in Montenegro

OSCE - Wed, 11/11/2015 - 16:57
Mia Lausevic

A regional workshop organized from 9 to 11 November 2015 by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro in co-operation with the Police Administration in Danilovgrad saw 23 forensic experts from Podgorica, Tirana, Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Skopje exchange opinions, experiences and best practices on enhancing the quality of forensics by aligning them with international quality standards.

Uniform forensic evidence is crucial so that criminal justice systems of different countries can effectively exchange data to investigate crimes, particularly terrorism and organized crime.

This workshop brought together forensics experts from non-accredited laboratories to learn more about the work and practices of the Montenegrin Forensic Centre (MFC), which is accredited in forensic quality standard ISO 17025 and is therefore able to provide mentorship to interested non-accredited forensic laboratories on international best practices.

“Montenegro is aware of the importance of the regional co-operation in this regard and the MFC is ready to work with all partners in the region and beyond,” said Zoran Tomcic, MFC Director. “The Interior Ministry and the Police Directorate have recognized this need and provide all support from the strategic and operational level.”

Vladimir Ragozin, Programme Manager of the Security Co-operation Programme at the OSCE Mission, said: “The quality of forensic investigation is particularly significant because crime knows no borders. International co-operation will be effective if forensic information meets the highest quality requirements and can be shared competently.”

The workshop was concluded with a recommendation to continue and expand this regional initiative to include more areas of the forensic work of common interest for the region, such as ballistics expertise, explosions, polygraph testing and the classification of fingerprints.  

This was final sub-activity of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro launched in March this year with the aim of sharing Montenegrin know-how in this area.

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OSCE hosts public discussion on transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in Armenia

OSCE - Wed, 11/11/2015 - 13:23

YEREVAN, 11 November 2015 - A public discussion hosted by the OSCE Office in Yerevan on the main issues concerning the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in Armenia, will be held tomorrow, Thursday, 12 November, at 14:00, at Tigran Mets Hall, Marriott Hotel, Yerevan.

The discussion aims at creating a platform for dialogue between representatives of the government, parliament, civil society and other stakeholders on the legal, technical and social implications of the switchover, which is scheduled for January 2016.

The event will focus on identifying solutions to problems in this field.

It will also elaborate on the role and functions of the National Commission on Television and Radio in the process of the digital transition, as well as prospects for the operation of regional broadcasters in the digital regime.

The Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Ambassador Andrey Sorokin, First Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication of Armenia Arthur Arakelyan, and Chairperson of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression Ashot Melikyan will deliver opening remarks at the event.

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OSCE Mission in Moldova raises awareness of national legislation and international best practices on public financing of political parties

OSCE - Wed, 11/11/2015 - 13:08
199316 Rachel Bending

A roundtable discussion organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova on 10 November 2015 brought together 26 local-level representatives of the country’s political parties to Taraclia to further enhance their understanding of national legislation and international best practices governing the public financing of political parties.

Participants studied upcoming changes to the Law on Political Parties, with an emphasis on how the new mechanism of public funding for political parties will function. Discussions also addressed enhancing political pluralism by adopting gender equality, anti-discrimination and anti-corruption policies in accordance with international best practices. Particular attention was paid to increasing women’s participation in politics by strengthening their capacity to engage in decision-making processes.   

“This roundtable discussion has proven a timely and helpful reminder of the upcoming changes in the legislation regarding the public funding of political parties,” said Vasilii Riaboi, one of the participants of the discussion. “It also enhanced my appreciation of the importance of non-discrimination and gender equality policies in strengthening internal political decision-making processes.”

The event was organized as part of a multi-year project implemented jointly by the OSCE Mission to Moldova and the NGO IDIS “Viitorul” that aims to raise awareness of national legislation on political parties and to ensure political pluralism by promoting women’s participation in political processes.

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Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 10 November 2015

OSCE - Wed, 11/11/2015 - 10:37

Please note that this report is for media and the general public.

SUMMARY

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic decreased at both BCPs.

DETAIL

OM’s staff composition

The OM is currently operating with 19 permanent international staff members (incl. the Chief Observer).

Cross-border movements common to both BCPs

The profile of the people crossing the border remains unchanged and can be categorized as follows:

  1. Families on foot or travelling by car and busses, with a lot of luggage, often accompanied by elderly people;
  2. Adults (usually of younger age) with no luggage or empty cars;
  3. People wearing military-style clothes with or without backpacks, crossing on foot or in vehicles.

Compared to last week, the average number of entries/exits decreased overall from 11,382 to 11,038 per day for both BCPs; the average net flow went from minus 520 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) to plus 90 (i.e. more entries into the Russian Federation). The Donetsk BCP continued to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP. The cross-border movements registered at both BCPs accounted for just over 36 per cent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The majority of the vehicles crossing the border have number plates issued in Ukraine (Luhansk region), including a number of articulated trucks and long-distance coaches commuting between Ukraine (Luhansk region) and cities in the Russian Federation.

Common observations at the BCPs

The situation at both BCPs remained calm. The OM continued to observe that the Russian Federation Border Guard and Customs Services conducted checks and controls.

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (Luhansk region) and cities in the Russian Federation. In addition to regular bus connections, the Observer Teams (OTs) continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the busses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign on the windshield saying “Irregular”. During the reporting period the OTs counted four busses bound for Kharkiv, one bus on the route Alchevsk-Kharkiv and one bus on the route Alchevsk-Kharkiv-Kyiv.

During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style clothes, crossing the border in both directions, decreased from 198 to 145 at both BCPs. These people continued crossing the border individually or in groups and on foot or using different types of transport (in addition to private cars, some used busses and also motorbikes). Approximately 83 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. The OTs continued to observe that from time to time persons in military-style clothes have travelled across the border by bus, making it more difficult for the OTs to observe their movement across the border. Furthermore, the OTs continued to observe physically fit young and middle-aged men in civilian clothing, with short haircuts, many of whom carried camouflage-coloured backpacks.

The OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian license plates, including articulated trucks, with “Donetsk People’s Republic / Lugansk People’s Republic” (“DPR/LPR”) and “Novorossiya” stickers on their license plates replacing the Ukrainian flag.

During the reporting week, the OM continued to observe a high number of trucks, crossing the border in both directions, including intense cargo truck traffic at both BCPs and dumper trucks transporting coal from Ukraine (Luhansk region) to the Russian Federation through the Gukovo BCP. While the majority of the trucks are registered in the Luhansk region, the OTs frequently observed trucks registered in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions and occasionally in the Zaporizhia region. The OTs also observed trucks registered in the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus that crossed the border. One truck registered in the Republic of Armenia was observed crossing the border through the Donetsk BCP. During the reporting week the number of trucks registered in the Republic of Belarus has decreased from 47 to 39; these trucks were observed crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP only. Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The number of tanker trucks has decreased from 54 last week to 30 this week. Twenty-seven of these trucks crossed at the Donetsk BCP and three trucks crossed at the Gukovo BCP. These trucks, for the most part, had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in Russian and Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks have hazard signs indicating that they are transporting propane or a mix of propane with butane.

Military movement

At the two BCPs the OM did not observe military movement, apart from the movement of Russian Federation Border Guard Service vehicles transporting BCP personnel and supplies.

Observation at the Gukovo BCP

The traffic flow at the Gukovo BCP has decreased compared to last week. A daily average of 3,896 entries and exits was recorded, which accounted for almost thirteen per cent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow went from plus 7 to plus 220 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) on average per day.

During the reporting period, the OM observed a total of 25 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Gukovo BCP, 13 of whom left for Ukraine while 12 entered the Russian Federation.

As in previous weeks, the OM observed dumper trucks transporting coal from Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

The OTs continued to pick up on the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150 meters south-west of the BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 10 occasions; the OTs estimated that 5 trains were going to the Russian Federation and 5 trains were bound for Ukraine. Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees in between the train tracks and the BCP.

On 9 November at 13:00hrs, the OT observed a funeral van registered in Ukraine cross the border from the Russian Federation to Ukraine. No coffin was observed on board this vehicle.

Observation at the Donetsk BCP

During the reporting period the activity at the Donetsk BCP decreased compared to last week. The daily average of 7,142 entries and exits was recorded. This accounted for over 23 percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed from minus 520 to minus 130 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) on average per day.

During the reporting week, the OTs observed 120 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP, 65 persons entered the Russian Federation while 55 left for Ukraine.

During the reporting week the OTs observed eleven ambulances at the Donetsk BCP. The OTs could not see whether there were any injured persons inside the ambulances. The OT noticed children being transported in some of these ambulances.

 ***

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Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 9 November 2015

OSCE - Wed, 11/11/2015 - 00:48

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”, including the Addendum. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations. The SMM visited the “LPR”-controlled Dolzhansky (84km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point at the Ukrainian-Russian Federation border.

Positioned at a “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled location 6km north-west of Donetsk, the SMM heard between 08:30 and 15:30hrs, a total of 17 undetermined explosions and 3 bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire at a distance of 3-6km west-north-west, north-west and north-north-west of its position.

While in government-controlled Berdianske (16km east of Mariupol) the SMM heard between 13:15 and 13:30hrs six undetermined explosions at a distance of approximately 10km north-north-west of its position.

At “DPR”-controlled Marynivka (79km east of Donetsk) border crossing point at the Ukrainian-Russian Federation border, the SMM observed a queue of 80 civilian cars, lined up to cross into the Russian Federation.

The SMM observed approximately 300 civilians cars lined up at the Government checkpoint on H15 highway (20km south-west of Donetsk) waiting to proceed into government-controlled areas. At the Government checkpoint in Novotroitske (32km south of Donetsk) the SMM observed approximately 150 civilian vehicles lined up to cross into “DPR”-controlled areas. In the opposite direction approximately 20 civilian vehicles were lined up waiting to proceed into government-controlled areas.

Whilst in Volnovakha the SMM observed a convoy of 10 trucks with “Rinat Akhmetov Foundation” labels heading in the direction of Donetsk city on highway H20.

The situation in Luhansk region remained relatively calm.

The SMM visited the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled Dolzhansky (84km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point at the Ukrainian-Russian Federation border*. At the border crossing point the SMM observed 10 civilian trucks lined up to cross into the Russian Federation. Half of the trucks had Ukrainian registration plates and were loaded with coal. According to some of the drivers the SMM spoke with, coal was supposed to be delivered in an area close to the border on the Russian Federation side. Furthermore, the SMM saw that 10 civilian trucks - lined up on the Russian Federation side waiting to proceed into “LPR”-controlled areas.

In the "LPR"-controlled area between the Prince Igor monument and the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM facilitated a window of silence to enable repair works by the Luhansk Electric Company Network. The company employees continued felling trees to access pylons and thus enable repair work to start east of the bridge checkpoint in the “LPR”-controlled area.

In “LPR”-controlled Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk) the SMM facilitated safe access for employees from the Luhansk-based Electricity Company to conduct repair works. The repair works included replacing isolators on towers which support high voltage power lines, which provide electricity to a substation near “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (71km south-west of Luhansk).

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited four Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent weapons storage sites whose locations corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines. At two of the sites, the SMM observed that all previously-recorded weapons were present. At the third the SMM noted that two mortars listed in the inventory were missing. At the fourth the SMM observed two previously-recorded mortars missing.

The SMM visited two other Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent weapons storage sites for the first time. At the first the SMM noted that numbers of weapons did not match the inventory list provided to the SMM. At the site the serial number on one weapon was missing.

On 9 November the SMM began to implement more effective monitoring and verification of heavy weapons withdrawal, having notified the signatories of the Memorandum and Package of Measures of specific criteria on 16 October. The government had not yet provided all the requested inventory of heavy weapons, or locations of designated heavy weapons permanent storage sites. Likewise, neither “DPR”, nor “LPR” had provided such information to the SMM.

Nonetheless, in relation to the implementation of the Package of measures, the SMM revisited locations that do not comply with the specific criteria set out in the 16 October notification, but are beyond the respective withdrawal lines and known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited two such holding areas and observed 17 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm), but could not account for nine self-propelled howitzers (four 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm, and five 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm), or four towed guns (2A36, 152mm) previously observed in these areas. The SMM also observed three self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) close to civilian buildings in Popasne (59km north-west of Luhansk) and  31 main battle tanks near Topolyne (20km north-west of Mariupol).

In parts of Donetsk region outside government control the SMM observed six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), six multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM21 Grad, 122mm), and seven towed howitzers (D-30, 122mm). 

The SMM met the head of the Jewish community in Kolomiya (60km south-east of Ivano-Frankivsk) following media reports concerning a fire damaging the roof and wall of a chapel at the Jewish cemetery. According to him, the fire in the night from 2 to 3 November was a deliberate arson attempt, adding that the chapel already had been set on fire in September 2015. The head of district police said that the police are investigating the incident as arson attacks under Article 194 (2) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

In Odessa, the SMM monitored on 7 November the weekly anti-Maidan commemoration for the victims of 2 May 2014 events at Kulykove Pole. The SMM observed about 60 anti-Maidan activists (majority women of different ages) commemorating in front of the trade union building. Approximately 80 metres away from the commemoration, the SMM observed 16 pro-Maidan activists (majority men of different ages). The SMM observed 30 police officers, including eight from the new police patrol unit. The SMM also observed two buses of anti-riot units parked behind the trade union building. The fence in front of the trade union building was freshly painted in red and black, displaying the phrase “Odessans were killed under Ukrainian flag”; and “Genocide” was written on the ground in front of the central flagpole of the square. The event ended at around 15:17hrs.

The SMM observed protest camps in Kyiv, in Mariyinskyi Park, near the Parliament and in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building. In front of the Cabinet of Ministers building, the tent camp with over 30 tents of the “Tariff Maidan” remained, but very few protesters were present. The SMM observed approximately 25-50 people (middle aged to elderly, mostly male) present over the course of the day, and no more than 10 police officers at the site. Some of the protestors wore different types of camouflage without insignia. In front of the Parliament, the SMM observed the continuing presence of three tents of the “Financial Maidan” and 10 protestors (elderly, mixed gender). Between 6 and 12 police officers were visible in the area during the day. Approximately 20 National Guard servicemen were present in Mariyinskyi Park.

Also in Kyiv, the SMM observed approximately 65 people (majority female of different age) demonstrating in front of the Presidential Administration. The protestors were calling for the protection of and increased public use of the Ukrainian language. The rally was organized by the non-governmental organisation (NGO) “Vidsich” (Resistance). The NGO called for obligatory Ukrainian voiceovers for TV and radio, an increase of the ratio of newspapers printed in Ukrainian to 50%; financial support and tax benefits for Ukrainian books and movies, and officials who choose not to use the state language to be laid off. The SMM observed five police officers 15 National Guards at the gathering.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Kherson, Chernivtsi and Lviv.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. ”LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring most areas close to the border with the Russian Federation in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Conditional access:

At “LPR”-controlled Dolzhansky (84km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point at the Ukrainian-Russian Federation border the SMM was stopped and checked by “LPR” “border guards”, requesting to see the SMM’s patrol plan, demanding a copy of it and inquired about the purpose of the visit. Although the SMM explained that “LPR” members were not entitled to review patrol plans it complied with the request *.

Interference with UAV:

The SMM UAV was subjected to GPS jamming on just after taking off in government-controlled area of Manhush (19km west of Mariupol). The UAV had to land immediately.

For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. Related Stories
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OSCE Mission to Skopje Head Suomalainen meets Prosecutor Janeva, offers support and co-operation

OSCE - Tue, 10/11/2015 - 16:45

SKOPJE, 10 November 2015 – The Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Nina Suomalainen, met today Prosecutor* Katica Janeva to discuss her new role and challenges ahead, offering the Mission’s support and co-operation.

Suomalainen congratulated Janeva on the establishment of her team composed of 12 assistant prosecutors, stressing that the Prosecutor’s Office must remain independent and free from any form of pressure in order to achieve fair and objective results. “It is important that the Prosecutor works closely with the institutions. Our Mission stands ready to assist.”

Suomalainen also used the occasion to welcome the agreement reached at the political party leaders meeting of 5-6 November 2015 on the further implementation of the Przino Agreement.

“The implementation of the Przino Agreement and the adherence to the laws, including those adopted yesterday in the Parliament, shall help to create the conditions for a level playing field in the upcoming elections,” said Suomalainen.

*The Prosecutor for Cases Surrounding and Arising from the Content of the Unauthorized Interception of Communications assumed post on 15 September, as part of the so-called Przino Agreement, reached among the four political parties with international facilitation.

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Applying a gender perspective in peace-building in focus at next OSCE Security Days event in Vienna on Friday

OSCE - Tue, 10/11/2015 - 15:46

VIENNA, 10 November 2015 – Why is it important to include a gender perspective in peace processes and why does it matter if women are involved? These are issues that will be in focus at an OSCE Security Days event in Vienna on Friday, 13 November, which will explore the gender perspective of crisis prevention, conflict management and post-conflict rehabilitation.

The event, “In Pursuit of Peace and Security: How Gender Makes a Difference”, commemorates the 15th anniversary of the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. It will examine how the OSCE can build on the recommendations from a UN-led Global Study, published in October 2015, on implementing Resolution 1325. In this context a range of issues will be raised such as women in mediation and reconciliation processes, countering violent extremism and gender mainstreaming in security sector institutions.

The conference will gather officials from national governments, parliamentarians, civil society leaders, representatives of international and regional organizations as well as academics from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation to brainstorm on how to strengthen women’s participation in conflict resolution and peace-building.

Moderated panel discussions will give the audience a chance to directly address questions to the speakers. The full list of speakers and panellists can be found here, and further details about the event here.   

Active participation over social networks is welcomed and encouraged: comments and questions can be sent prior to and during the event via Twitter at @OSCE, using the hashtag #secdays and on Facebook.
  
The entire event is open to media and will be streamed live at www.osce.org/live.  

This Security Days conference will take place on Friday, 13 November 2015 from 9:00 to 18:00, in the Neuer Saal of the Hofburg Conference Centre (second floor).

Media interested in attending should register by e-mail to press@osce.org, by 17:00, Thursday, 12 November 2015.

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OSCE promotes co-operation with civil society in countering violent extremism in Kazakhstan

OSCE - Tue, 10/11/2015 - 15:40

ASTANA, 10 November 2015 – The role and participation of civil society in preventing and countering violent extremism was the topic of an OSCE-supported roundtable discussion, which began today in Astana.

The two-day event was co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana with Kazakhstan’s Anti-Terrorism Centre  for some 40 high-level officials of the National Security Committee, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Anti-Terrorism Centre, the Supreme Court, Ministries of the Interior, Education and Science, Justice , the Religious Affairs Committee of the Culture and Information Ministry, the Emergency Situations Committee of the Interior Ministry, the Astana City Administration as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations and academia.

Participants will review how civil society works in different countries to prevent violent radicalization of people in their communities, how they interact with the state institutions and what instruments could be employed to work with at-risk groups. Experts from Denmark, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and the United Kingdom will share their experiences and present case studies from their countries. The discussions will focus on preventive measures, including community outreach, mentoring as well as the driving forces and motivations of the at-risk groups.  

“To strengthen non-repressive ways of addressing violent extremism we should identify at-risk groups and ways of victims’ recruitment,” said Natalia Zarudna, Head of OSCE Programme Office in Astana. “To this end, we need to enhance capacities of educational institutions, educators, journalists, public figures and, most importantly, civil society, for them to effectively lead the counter narrative campaign, most notably in the internet.” 

Zhanat Saypoldayev, Head of the Anti-Terrorism Centre’s Headquarters, said: “No country can fight terrorism on its own. Therefore, it is important to join efforts inside the international community and within each of the nations to achieve tangible results in preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization.” He underlined the importance of using targeted non-repressive methods as the most effective way to address this threat.

As a result of the discussions, a set of recommendations will be developed for the parliament, government and local administrations on enhancing their interaction and co-operation with civil society in countering and preventing terrorism.

The event is part of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana's activities to enhance the host country’s capacities to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism.

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OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities assesses inter-ethnic situation in south-eastern Ukraine

OSCE - Tue, 10/11/2015 - 14:14
Report of the Human Rights Assessment Mission on Crimea (6–18 July 2015) Language and identity in Ukraine

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Astrid Thors visited Ukraine from 2 to 6 November 2016, including trips to Kyiv as well as Mariupol, where she assessed the inter-ethnic situation in south-eastern Ukraine.

In Kyiv, Thors discussed the status of modernizing the institutional framework for inter-ethnic relations. She urged the authorities, in consultation with representatives of minority communities, to establish a designated executive body that would be a main governmental interlocutor for minorities in Ukraine.

She also discussed the impact that the package of “de-Communization laws” and associated policies may have on social cohesion and the integration of Ukrainian society. She noted that in some communities, such as in Mariupol, there are divergent views on the implementation of these laws.

Thors also discussed the situation in Crimea with a variety of interlocutors, including in the context of the recent Human Rights Assessment Mission Report, published jointly by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the HCNM.

Near Mariupol, Thors visited the village of Sartana, one of a number of villages in the area inhabited by the ethnic Greek community that are located close to the contact line in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone. There she met with representatives of the ethnic Greek community and the municipal authorities, and visited a local school that provides teaching of the Greek language with support from the Education Ministry.  

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OSCE/ODIHR Director Link to present findings of report on the human rights situation of detainees at Guantanamo at event in Vienna on Thursday

OSCE - Tue, 10/11/2015 - 13:15

VIENNA, 10 November 2015 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), will present the findings of the ODIHR report, The Human Rights Situation of Detainees at Guantanamo, on Thursday, 12 November, at the Hofburg Conference Centre in Vienna.

The report contains the findings of the comprehensive assessment conducted by ODIHR from 2012 to 2015 on the human rights situation of the detainees since the opening of the detention facility. It analyzes the compliance with OSCE commitments and other international human rights standards and, as applicable, international humanitarian law of conditions and treatment in the Guantanamo facility and of proceedings before the military commissions. It also explores challenges related to the closure of the facility and accountability and redress for human rights violations that may have occurred in the Guantanamo context.

Director Link will be joined for the presentation by Omer Fisher, Deputy Head of the ODIHR Human Rights Department, and Lucile Sengler, ODIHR Adviser on Anti-Terrorism Issues. They will provide detail on the report’s main findings and recommendations, as well as challenges for and possible future steps toward the closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo.

Journalists are invited to attend the presentation on Thursday, 12 November, at 14:00 in the Bibliotheksaal (5th floor) of the Hofburg Conference Centre, Vienna.

Media wishing to attend are kindly requested to confirm their attendance by sending an e-mail to press@osce.org

For admittance to the Hofburg Conference Centre, please bring a valid press card to the security desk (main entrance from the Heldenplatz).

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OSCE-organized workshop in Montenegro discusses preventing early forced marriages among vulnerable groups

OSCE - Thu, 24/09/2015 - 09:22
Iva Scepanovic

The prevention of early forced marriages was the topic of a workshop organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro on 22 September 2015.

The event brought together experts in gender equality and combatting the trafficking in human beings from institutions in Montenegro. The panellists were representatives of national institutions, as well as from targeted municipalities and civil society  

Emphasizing the need for a multi-disciplinary approach, Minister for Human and Minority Rights Suad Numanović said that it was not enough to focus only on the victim as other members of family also needed support. “The present stigma and discrimination against Roma and Egyptian population is one of the main obstacles to their full participation in the education system. There is also the high rate of poverty, and low levels of education and literacy.” 

Referring to the complex nature of this issue, the Ambassador of France in Montenegro, Veronique Brumeaux, recalled the provisions of the 2003 OSCE Action Plan on Gender Equality that should address the deep-rooted issue of human trafficking. “My wish is that this project will be able to implement actions that will really bring benefit to young women and girls who are exposed, especially through forced marriages to exploitation by traffickers.”

The Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Dan Redford emphasized numerous factors that lead to the phenomenon of early marriage. “In this part of Europe it is mostly related to the negative aspects of tradition. Girls, mostly Roma and Egyptians, are sold as brides so that their families can provide for the means of survival. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, these kinds of actions present a severe breach of human rights - and, at the same time, a path to continue the vicious circle of poverty.”

This workshop is a part of a joint project of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the French Permanent Mission to the OSCE and the French Embassy in Montenegro that will continue until the end of 2016.

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