Central Europe

NUR-SULTAN, 11 January 2021 – While preparations for Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections were efficiently run, an uncompetitive campaign and systemic de facto limitations on constitutionally guaranteed fundamental freedoms left voters without genuine choice, thus missing an opportunity to pilot the announced political reforms, international observers to the parliamentary elections said in a statement today.

The observation mission, a joint undertaking of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), found the legal framework  not yet conducive to holding elections in line with OSCE commitments for democratic elections, despite a number of revisions introduced since the country’s last parliamentary elections. Numerous long-standing recommendations on issues ranging from fundamental freedoms through to eligibility to vote and stand for elections, voter registration, and the publication of election results, remain to be addressed.

"We welcome the efficient organization of the elections, especially given the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic which was rightfully not allowed to impact the exercise of voting,” said Kristian Vigenin, Special co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission. "On the other hand, we remain concerned about the political environment elections took place in. OSCE principles call for unhindered pluralism and a flourishing, free and vibrant civil society: our hope is that the "listening state" concept promoted by the President will truly enable this to happen and that all citizens' voices will be valued."

Some 12 million voters were registered to take part in yesterday’s elections. Preparations for the election were efficiently managed by the election commissions in line with legal deadlines. Sessions of the central election commission were open to party representatives and observers, however, decisions were made ahead of formal sessions. The appointment and composition of commissions at all levels raised concerns about their independence. Election day was generally calm but was tarnished by concerted measures to prevent some domestic observers from an effective observation.

There are still major barriers to freedom of association and there are few political options, with no new parties registered since 2013. The political landscape is heavily dominated by the ruling party, and the distinction between party and government is often blurred. As all political parties contesting the elections supported the policies of the ruling party, the campaign was not competitive, and voters had no genuine political alternatives to choose from.

Curbs on the freedom of association, of assembly and of expression had a negative impact on campaign activities, which remained low key in the run-up to election day. While public debate is shifting online, providing some additional space for a wider range of opinions, national legislation continues to undermine the rights to freedom of expression and access to information.

“Long-standing and systemic shortcomings with regard to respect of fundamental freedoms are of significant concern and restrict the political space,” said Jarosław Marcin Domański, Head of the ODIHR limited election observation mission. “An election can only be truly democratic when voters have real political options to choose between, and the voice of civil society is heard and appreciated.”

The international election observation mission to the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan totalled 48 observers from 20 countries, including 41 ODIHR-deployed experts and long-term observers, and 7 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA.

For more information, please contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

Guido Almerigogna, OSCE PA: +7 771 413 57 05 / +45 60 10 97 72 or guido.almerigogna@oscepa.dk  

Summary

• The SMM recorded 13 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 32 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded 23 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 62 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and spotted people inside the disengagement area near Zolote.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable the repair and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and three checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Shevchenko, Donetsk region, and close to a border crossing point outside government control near Leonove (formerly Chervonyi Zhovten), Luhansk region.*

Summary

• Between the evenings of 5 and 7 January, the SMM recorded 57 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded ten ceasefire violations in the region.
• Between the evenings of 5 and 7 January, the Mission recorded 71 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 208 ceasefire violations in the region.
• A boy was injured by the detonation of an explosive device in Blahodatne, Donetsk region.
• The Mission corroborated damage to an inhabited house on 29 December 2020 due to small-arms fire in Zolote-4/Rodina, Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable construction, repairs, assessment and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and two checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission visited two border crossing points outside government control and monitored areas close to the border with the Russian Federation in Donetsk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

VIENNA, 8 January 2020 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde will present Sweden’s Chairpersonship programme and priorities for the OSCE to its Permanent Council on Thursday, via video teleconferencing on 14 January in Vienna.

Journalists are invited to cover the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s speech delivered via video teleconferencing set to begin at 10:00 a.m. on 14 January.

An online press conference by Chairperson-in-Office Linde and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will take place from 14:00 to 14:20, following the formal inauguration of the Swedish OSCE Chair. The press conference will be held in English.

Journalists wishing to attend are required to send an e-mail requesting registration to press@osce.org, no later than 13 January at 18:00.

Sweden took over the chairing of the Organization from Albania on 1 January 2021. Chairperson-in-Office Linde will outline Swedish OSCE Chair priorities, with a focus on defending the European security order, addressing protracted conflicts and enhancing democracy and gender equality.

Updates and the latest news from the Swedish OSCE Chair can be followed via www.osce.org/cio and on Twitter @SwedeninATOSCE.

The OSCE Permanent Council is a decision-making body gathering representatives of all 57 participating States of the Organization and 11 Partners for Co-operation. It convenes weekly in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make decisions.

An OSCE-organized three-day online training on international co-operation and mutual legal assistance in asset recovery for beneficiaries in Albania concluded on 7 January 2021.

The Office of the Coordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) and the Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) co-organized the training, which is part of a series of national trainings that are scheduled for early 2021 in South-Eastern Europe. The aim is to strengthen the skills of criminal justice specialists in requesting and providing relevant information to enable successful international co-operation in transnational asset recovery cases, in particular related to asset tracing, freezing, confiscation and repatriation. The training also focused on international exchanges of intelligence and evidence.

During the workshop, ten criminal justice practitioners from Albania examined how they may use the tools and legislation of other jurisdictions, both in the region and elsewhere, to either assist in convictions and subsequent confiscation of assets or in the seizure and repatriation of assets by another method in the absence of a conviction.

The interactive training, delivered by international experts, involved engagement in simulated investigations and practical case studies. The objective of using specialized immersion in practical cases is to allow the beneficiaries to apply the theory and practitioner skills taught in a simulated investigation.

The online workshop was organized in the framework of the OSCE extra budgetary project “Strengthening the fight against transnational organized crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use” financially supported by the United States Department of State, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.

On 5 January 2021, the OSCE Programme Office handed over a specialized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the East-Kazakhstan Regional Territorial Forestry and Wildlife Inspection during the signing of a loan agreement.

The equipment was procured by the OSCE Programme Office within the framework of the long-term co-operation with the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources for the concrete implementation of previously reached agreements.

The UAV is designed to perform a wide range of tasks – from controlling forest fires to tracking poaching in remote areas and monitoring the number of rare and endangered species of animals. It is capable of functioning in any weather conditions and has a wide range and flight altitude. It can also spend a considerable amount of time in the air without recharging.

“We decided to procure a specialized UAV within the scope of our support of the national environmental authorities in Kazakhstan. Such devices have proven themselves effective in many countries and are successfully used in environmental protection activities,” said György Szabó, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan. “We are confident that this sophisticated piece of equipment will enhance the Committee’s capabilities and support the training of its personnel and inspectors on the ground”.

As part of the equipment transfer, the OSCE Programme Office will also support training for two inspectors in the use and maintenance of the UAV.

WARSAW, 7 January 2021 – Watching the increasingly disquieting events unfolding in the United States capital in recent hours following the November general elections, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) voices its concern regarding the integrity of the democratic process, and calls on all sides to keep to the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

As one of the 57 countries of the OSCE region, the United States has committed not only to hold democratic elections but also ensure that “the candidates who obtain the necessary votes are duly installed in office.” While the US legal system provides for a smooth transition of power, restraint by all those involved in the process remains vital, even in a country with such strong institutions and traditional respect for democratic norms. Neither incitement to violence nor violence itself has any place in the democratic process.

The leading institution worldwide in the field of election observation, ODIHR was on the ground in the US from late September until well after election day. ODIHR stated clearly that while every candidate has the right to go to court if they believe there have been errors in the election process, the ODIHR observation mission found that all allegations of systematic fraud were groundless.

All countries of the OSCE have recognized the crucial role of democratic elections in ensuring long-term security and stability. ODIHR therefore calls on the United States and every other country in the OSCE to remember that elections are a celebration as the embodiment of the civil and political rights at the core of our democracies.

STOCKHOLM/VIENNA, 6 JANUARY 2021 - OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde and OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid called for a peaceful return to order and respect for the democratic process in Washington DC, in response to the developments in and around the Capitol Building.

“The outcome of a democratic election, as well as constitutional principles, must be respected”, said CiO Ann Linde.

“I am disturbed by this assault on democratic institutions and principles we are witnessing in Washington D.C. today,” said Schmid.

They reiterated the comments and concerns of the OSCE Election Observation Mission presented after the November national elections in the USA.

Summary

• The SMM recorded ten ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded seven ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded 208 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, the majority of them assessed as a live-fire exercise outside the security zone in a government-controlled area. In the previous reporting period, it recorded one ceasefire violation in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable construction and operation of critical civilian infrastructure and demining activities.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and two corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission observed a calm situation in southern Kherson region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

BELGRADE, 6 January 2021 –Jan Braathu, a Norwegian career diplomat of ambassador rank, assumed his duties as Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia on 1 January 2021. 

“The OSCE has a lot to offer to Serbia in terms of assistance, advice and expertise. I look forward to working in partnership with the government, civil society, media and other stakeholders on the implementation of the Mission’s comprehensive mandate in supporting democratic values and human rights and other OSCE commitments,” Ambassador Braathu said.

Ambassador Braathu brings with him extensive knowledge of the Western Balkans region, coming to Belgrade from Pristina where he served as Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo from 2016 to 2020. Prior to that, he was Norway’s Ambassador to Kosovo and Albania and Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Previously, he served as Deputy Director General and Head of the Division for Western Balkan Affairs from 2000 to 2006, where he was responsible for Western Balkan policy for the Norwegian Government and for co-ordinating the activities of embassies in the region and their assistance programmes.

Summary

• The SMM recorded seven ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 112 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded one ceasefire violation in Luhansk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Inside the area near Petrivske, an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle spotted people near former positions of the armed formations during daytime hours.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable construction and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM monitored a march in Kyiv.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

SUMMARY

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

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international Mission members, including the Chief Observer (CO) and one first responder[1]. The Mission is supported administratively by a staff member and the Chief of Fund Administration based in Vienna.

Update on COVID-19 measures

Activities have been impacted by COVID-19 and measures undertaken by the OM to ensure the safety and duty of care of its Mission members and compliance with measures set by the host country authorities. The Mission is continuing to keep the situation under review, in close contact with the OSCE Secretariat and the Chairmanship. Following the host country recommendations, the observers are adhering to social distancing. Due to the preventive measures taken by the central and regional authorities, the OM is faced with certain difficulties, but is still able to continue to fulfil its mandate without any limitations in its observation and reporting activities.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border                                                                                                                                                                     

The profile of persons crossing the border can be categorized as follows:

1. Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage.
2. Persons in military-style outfits.
3. Families (often including elderly persons and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The data on the average number of entries/exits from both border crossing points (BCPs) for the reporting period is not available, since the OM did not receive the relevant figures from the competent Authorities, due to the public holidays in the Host Country. 

Responding to the COVID-19 situation, the host country has closed its borders for the majority of foreigners starting from 18 March. Among the exceptions of persons allowed to cross the border (which entered into force on 19 March), are Ukrainian citizens and stateless persons holding passports or identification documents proving permanent residence in certain areas of Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine. In addition, reportedly, due to the threat of the spread of COVID-19, starting from 10 April, the organized passenger transport commuting between the non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region of Ukraine and the Russian Federation was temporarily suspended and restored from 25 June.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border was eight, compared to 16 last week. Five persons crossed into the Russian Federation while another three persons crossed into Ukraine. These individuals crossed the border on foot.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

The OTs continued to report on families, sometimes with elderly persons and/or children, crossing the border at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, five families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and 12 families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when two families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and four families crossing into Ukraine.

Bus connections                                         

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (267 compared to 342 observed during the previous week). There were 124 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 143 bound for Ukraine.

On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, while some buses did not display their route at all. The majority of long-distance buses commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a significant decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (145 compared to 758 during the previous reporting week); 76 at the Gukovo BCP and 69 at the Donetsk BCP, 63 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 82 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, on a daily basis, the OTs also noted trucks registered in the Russian Federation, Belarus, Lithuania and trucks with “LPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (20 compared to 49 during the previous reporting week). These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks had hazard signs, indicating that they were transporting propane or a mix of propane and butane. All trucks underwent systematic inspection by the Russian Federation officials, which could include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavourable observation position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks.

Compared to the previous week, the total number of X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP significantly decreased from 136 to 36. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 31 trucks (86 per cent) were bound for Ukraine, the remaining five trucks (14 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a considerable decrease in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (69 compared to 168 observed during the previous week); 33 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 36 into Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains on the railway tracks located approximately 150m south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 15 occasions; the OTs assessed that eight trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining seven trains were travelling to Ukraine (more details are provided in the sections “trends and figures at a glance” below).

Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees located between the train tracks and the BCP.

Other observations

The majority of vehicles crossing the border had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region or Russian Federation licence plates. A significant number of vehicles with “LPR” plates were also observed crossing the border in both directions on a daily basis. The OTs also observed vehicles with Lithuanian licence plates.

On 30 December at 07:56, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance with Russian Federation licence plates, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking next to the main building. The OT noticed the driver and one medical personnel on board. At 08:07, the ambulance drove back to the Russian Federation with three other passengers inside. The OT was unable to observe any other details from its position.

On 30 December at 16:40, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a traffic police car with flashing lights on, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation side and parking close to the BCP’s main building. At 17:15, the vehicle drove back to the Russian Federation. The OT was unable to observe any other details from its position.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 01 December 2020 to 05 January 2021, please see the attachment here.

[1]First responders are OSCE staff or Mission members deployed for a short period of time.

[2]Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles which correspond to driving licence C1).

COPENHAGEN, 5 January 2021 – Roberto Montella of Italy has begun a second five-year term as Secretary General of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, following his re-election by the Assembly’s Standing Committee at the 2019 Luxembourg Annual Session. In a year-end letter to all 323 members of the OSCE PA, he expressed gratitude for their trust and support, and offered an assessment of where the Assembly stands since he first took over as Secretary General five years ago.

“Since 2016, our region – the whole northern hemisphere from Vancouver to Vladivostok – witnessed a number of important developments which directly affected the work of the OSCE and our Parliamentary Assembly,” he wrote. Highlighting trends such as the conflict in eastern Ukraine, increased tensions in South Caucasus, the refugee and migrant crisis, rising nationalism, terrorism, undermined public trust in democratic systems, deterioration of human rights, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Montella pointed out that the PA has striven to be proactive and effective in its responses.

“We have always tried to react promptly trying to ask ourselves some fundamental questions such as ‘how should we react?’, ‘how can we contribute?’, in each of these challenging circumstances, and ‘where is the specific added value of parliamentarians and of the Parliamentary Assembly representing more than one billion people?’, Montella wrote.

In this regard, he pointed to initiatives undertaken to adapt the Assembly’s work through ad hoc committees and targeted activities, and to establish better relations with the OSCE’s government representatives in Vienna and its executive structures. “With regular co-ordination at all levels on programmatic activities, positions and statements, truly providing a distinct parliamentary added value in the framework of the wider ‘OSCE family’ product,” Montella said, “we made the Parliamentary Assembly a politically lively and dynamic body, always engaged.”

Multilateralism must be reinforced, the Secretary General stressed, urging OSCE parliamentarians to invest in it. “With our humble work, we stand here to facilitate this and support you,” Montella wrote. He also noted that the Assembly has the assets to think strategically and build long-term approaches.

With a background working in conflict prevention, resolution and institution-building, in particular in OSCE missions in South East Europe, Montella has long been an advocate for the field work of the Organization and for strengthening links between the Assembly and the OSCE’s governmental side, as well as with other international organizations.

Before his election as Secretary General, Montella held various posts within the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Secretariat, including as Director of Presidential Administration, and worked at OSCE field missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia and Montenegro. He has served as Co-ordinator of Long-Term Election Observers for the Carter Center in Lebanon, as political advisor to an Italian senator and PACE Vice-President, and also has campaign-related and corporate experience. In addition to his native Italian and French, Montella is fluent in English and Serbian.

The Secretary General holds general responsibility for managing the affairs of the OSCE PA; implementing the decisions of the Bureau, the Standing Committee and the Assembly; and overseeing the Secretariat’s offices in Copenhagen and Vienna. Along with the Treasurer, he is responsible for the management of the Assembly's financial resources.

The Secretary General’s mandate is for five years and may be renewed twice.

Montella succeeded the Assembly’s first Secretary General, Spencer Oliver of the United States, as OSCE PA Secretary General in January 2016, following a vote at the 2015 Annual Session in Helsinki.

Summary

• Between the evenings of 30 December 2020 and 3 January 2021, the SMM recorded 145 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and 68 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. On 1 January, it recorded three shots of small-arms fire inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable construction and operation of critical civilian infrastructure. On 1 and 3 January, the Mission heard nine ceasefire violations close to the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) during and near times when a bus with DFS workers was driving towards the station and back to Yasynuvata.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk region.
• The Mission visited two border crossing points outside government control and monitored areas close to the border with the Russian Federation in Donetsk region.
• The SMM observed a calm situation in south-eastern Kherson region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at and near a checkpoint of the armed formations near Shevchenko, southern Donetsk region.*

COPENHAGEN, 4 January 2021 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will deploy seven parliamentarians and staff from five countries to observe the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan this Sunday. The PA’s observer team will focus its efforts in the capital, Nur-Sultan, and will work closely with long-term observers deployed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Altogether, the OSCE will have some 30 observers in the country.

Kristian Vigenin (Bulgaria) has been appointed Special Co-ordinator to lead the short-term OSCE observers and deliver the statement of preliminary findings and conclusions, which will take place at a press conference in Nur-Sultan on 11 January. A former foreign minister of Bulgaria, Vigenin is Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly, having previously served as Rapporteur of the General Committee on Political Affairs and Security. He is also Deputy Head of the Bulgarian Delegation to the OSCE PA.

“These elections come after several changes that have been made in the legal framework over the last few years, including reforms that address some of the previous OSCE/ODIHR recommendations,” Vigenin said. “Our observers look forward to seeing how these changes are implemented.”

Vigenin noted that the COVID-19 pandemic poses challenges, but the observer team is taking all necessary precautions to protect the health of observers, voters, and election officials. “We thank the authorities in Kazakhstan for all they have done to facilitate our work and make this election observation mission possible,” Vigenin said.

Observers will be briefed by election administrators, experts, political party representatives, and civil society representatives for two days prior to election day.

The elections will be assessed against democratic commitments contained in the OSCE’s 1990 Copenhagen Document, to which Kazakhstan has agreed. Key provisions include: free voting procedures, a fair and free campaign atmosphere, access to media, and honest and accurate reporting of results.

For previous OSCE PA assessments of elections in Kazakhstan, please click here.

Members of the media interested in further information should contact the following spokesperson for the OSCE PA's observer team:

COPENHAGEN, 31 December 2020 – As the 2020 OSCE Chairmanship comes to a close, the Chairperson-in-Office for the year, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, signed the Parliamentary Assembly’s “OSCE Call for Action.” In doing so, Rama joined his predecessors as well as other leaders of OSCE institutions, former Secretaries General and OSCE PA Presidents in calling for streamlining and refocusing OSCE activities to confront key challenges in fields where the Organization has deep expertise and a comparative advantage.

“In this final act of the Albanian Chairmanship, we add our voice to those who have signed this call to help ensure that the OSCE remains strong and in a position to foster comprehensive and co-operative security,” said Prime Minister Rama. “As an Albanian politician I have seen in the past the work that the OSCE has done in my country and as a consumer of the OSCE product I can attest to the great work that this Organization does. During this year as Chair I have had the opportunity to further explore the great potential of the OSCE and I am convinced that we need to fully exploit its potential. The OSCE PA initiative is very timely and I wish to congratulate the Assembly’s leadership for launching it.”

OSCE PA President Peter Lord Bowness welcomed Rama’s signature. “To realize our shared vision declared over 45 years ago in the Helsinki Final Act, we must all work together to ensure that our commitments are fully implemented, that dialogue is chosen over confrontation, and that multilateralism is chosen over unilateralism,” said President Bowness. “I thank Prime Minister Rama for joining this initiative.”

OSCE PA High-Level Expert Ambassador Lamberto Zannier noted that by joining the initiative, Rama has underscored its timeliness and political significance. “Joining leaders of the OSCE over the last 30 years, Edi Rama adds his voice to the call for more effective multilateralism. Having just led the OSCE in one of the most challenging years in modern history, the Albanian Chairmanship has worked to build a stronger organization to meet our challenges under difficult circumstances.”

OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella noted that the Call for Action can help the OSCE overcome its difficulties.

“In these times of unprecedented global challenges and at the close of a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, we see more clearly than ever the need for effective multilateralism,” Montella said. “But at the same time, there is a lack of appreciation for international organizations and for the OSCE in particular. The challenges facing the OSCE are many – some of these are external, and some are internal, but none of them are insurmountable. As this year comes to a close, I hope that we can look ahead to a year of a renewed commitment to making the OSCE as strong as it can be, and I am confident that the incoming Swedish Chairmanship shares this commitment.”

The PA’s Call for Action, which has been endorsed by more than 50 former OSCE Chairpersons-in-Office, Presidents of the OSCE PA, Secretaries General and other Heads of Institutions of the OSCE, was presented at an event on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council on 3 December. It aims to stimulate the work of the OSCE and increase the political attention to it, reaffirming the importance of governments implementing their key commitments and proposes a set of considerations aimed at strengthening the role of the Organization in addressing the contemporary challenges.

Summary

• The SMM recorded 20 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 58 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded 26 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 37 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Inside the area near Zolote, near its northern edge, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted a 130m-long trench, assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable construction of critical civilian infrastructure and demining activities.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations in Donetsk region and at entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission visited a border crossing point and monitored areas close to the border with the Russian Federation outside government control, all in Donetsk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

On 27 December 2020, four young people from the coastal region of Montenegro, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and Forum MNE, organized an online debate focused on young people as promoters of European values in Montenegro and Montenegrin values in Europe, as part of the “Leaders against Intolerance and Violent Extremism – LIVE” project.

After being part of two-module training courses in September and November, four participants of the “LIVE” project gathered six young people – students of the high schools “Danilo Kiš” and “Bratstvo i jedinstvo” from Budva and Ulcinj respectively – to discuss the values of Montenegrin society, European values, multi-culturalism, human rights, ecology, social networks, technological innovation, prosperity and many other topics.

Through the debate “This home believes that the social media contributes to the promotion of Montenegrin values in Europe”, the students sought to contribute to the promotion of European values and those goals that modern Montenegrin society fully strives for, but also values that represent a counter-narrative to all forms of violent extremism that would lead to terrorism. 

“This debate has enabled young people from different cities of Montenegro to discuss very important topics related to their progress, but also the progress of society as a whole.  The debate encourages an argumentative discussion that requires research engagement, which is the basis of a quality dialogue,” said Mina Milović, the leader of the coastal group that organized the debate.

The participants concluded that P/CVERLT requires dedicated engagement and professional co-operation of all segments of society – state bodies and local governments, but also non-governmental organizations, private, scientific and civic sector.

“Leaders against Intolerance and Violent Extremism – LIVE” is a project aimed at the capacity building of civil society – youth, women and community leaders to support the community in preventing terrorism and countering violent extremism leading to terrorism (P/CVERLT).

Summary

• The SMM recorded 58 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 299 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded 37 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded two ceasefire violations in the region.
• A man was injured by an explosion while on a tractor near Kamianka, Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Inside the area near Zolote, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted people during daytime hours.
• The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in a residential area in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region and on both sides of the contact line in Luhansk region.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable construction and repairs to critical civilian infrastructure. The SMM heard 15 undetermined explosions near the Donetsk Filtration Station during and near the time when a convoy of workers was driving from the station to Yasynuvata.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at an entry-exit checkpoint and a checkpoint of the armed formations in Donetsk region and at three entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM observed a calm situation in east and south-east Kherson region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

Summary

• The SMM recorded 299 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 50 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded two ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Inside the latter two areas, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted people during daytime hours.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable construction and repairs to critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at one entry-exit checkpoint and two checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk region and at three entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a border crossing point outside government control near Dovzhanske, Luhansk region.*