Central Europe

523269 Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 21 July 2022 - This morning news portal BUKA lost access to their Facebook page because their account was hacked.

Hacking websites and related social media accounts as well as blocking access to media content is a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression.

Media outlets play an important role in keeping society informed on issues of public interest; such cyber security attacks tarnish the trusted relationship between the media and its audience.

We believe that Facebook will resolve this issue in time before more damage to BUKA is caused.

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The Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department organized a third online training on 19 and 20 July. The workshop, titled “Identification of Impostors at Border Crossing Points”, was held for the members of the OSCE Border Security and Management National Focal Points (NFP) Network and selected representatives of border and customs services. The training was conducted by experts from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Interior and brought together 243 participants (71 women, 172 men) from 32 OSCE participating States.

“It is crucial for border security officials to keep their skillsets up to date, as challenges in travel document security are constantly developing. Phenomena such as morphing, impostors, and now counterfeit Schengen visas are becoming more and more frequent.  Therefore, today we emphasize the need to constantly keep acquiring new skills and knowledge, in order to prevent irregular movements in an efficient way”, said Dennis Cosgrove, Head of the OSCE Border Security and Management Unit, in his opening remarks.

Impostors represent one of the main challenges in the field of identity fraud. Despite improved travel document security features, stricter controls on documents’ issuance and strengthened security checks at cross-border checkpoints, identity fraud is on the rise. Criminals have been constantly diversifying forging methods as they look for ways to assume false identities without detection.

This online training enhanced the abilities of front-line officers to identify potential criminals travelling under false identities. It included a strong interactive component, including memory tests, exercises on facial appearance and comparison, lectures and practical modules on anatomical features, and examination techniques of facial components. Additionally, the training dedicated a specific session on Schengen Visa Security, Schengen Visa features, and related forgery methods.

Real examples and cases encountered by participants while performing their duties were presented and discussed. This course is part of a series of activities on the detection of forged travel documents and impostors organized by the OSCE Border Security and Management Unit in different countries since 2015.

The OSCE Secretariat held the second national workshop on the effective management and re-use of confiscated assets in Montenegro on 18 July.

The workshop focused on how to improve the management and re-use of assets confiscated from organized crime and corruption cases. Participants included representatives from the Montenegrin Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office, the Supreme Court, the Cadastre and State Property Administration, civil society organizations, and asset recovery experts.

In addition to raising awareness on the importance of developing and establishing an effective asset management and re-use system, the workshop also served as a consultative meeting for the Montenegrin authorities to discuss the new draft law on the confiscation of proceeds of crime and subsequent bylaws. Experts on asset confiscation, management, and re-use from Albania, Croatia, Romania, and the UK presented legislative frameworks and processes in their respective countries as well as practices from EU countries.

Representatives from the Government of Montenegro and the international community welcomed the workshop and emphasized the importance of asset management and the re-use of confiscated assets in the fight against crime and corruption. James J. Arguin, the senior justice advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica, stated that “Social re-use of assets serves two goals:  it ensures that criminals do not profit from their crimes, and helps rebuild community resilience and respect for the rule of law.”

The event was organized as part of a regional extra-budgetary project on asset recovery that supports criminal justice practitioners and other key actors in the asset recovery cycle. This project is supported financially by the United States, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom and implemented by the Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.

OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Poland, Zbigniew Rau, and OSCE Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid, today reiterated their call for the unconditional and immediate release of three national Mission members of the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), detained in Donetsk and Luhansk for more than three months.

“I call again attention to the unacceptable situation of the national OSCE Mission members still detained in non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, detained for engaging in their official duties as OSCE staff,” said Secretary General Schmid. “OSCE SMM Mission members have always performed their duties with the highest level of professionalism, dedication and impartiality. They must be released immediately“. 

OSCE Chairman-in-Office Rau deplored that SMM staff are held unjustifiably in conditions unknown to their families and loved ones. “I wish to recall their contributions to the SMM’s former mandate to provide impartial information related to the security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine“, said OSCE Chairman-in-Office Rau. “We call for their immediate release.” 

The OSCE’s duty of care towards all of its employees continues during and after the closure of the SMM. The OSCE has and will continue to take steps to pursue all available channels to secure the privileges and immunities of current and former OSCE officials.

523126 Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ton van den Brandt

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, visited Portugal from 5 to 8 July 2022. Ribeiro held consultations with the Speaker of Parliament Mr. Augusto Ernesto Santos Silva. She also met with several governmental officials, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Portugal Mr, João Gomes Cravinho, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mr. Francisco André, the Minister of Justice Ms. Catarina Sarmento e Castro, as well as the Minister of Culture Mr. Pedro Adão e Silva and the Secretary of State for European Affairs Mr. Tiago Antunes.

Furthermore, Ms Ribeiro had meetings with the Ombudsperson for Human Rights, Ms. Maria Lúcia Amaral and the Members of the Parliament Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees. The Representative also had an exchange with the Chairperson of the Regulatory Authority for the Media (ERC) Mr. Sebastiao José Coutinho Póvoas and the Director of the Public Broadcaster Mr. António José Teixeira. Ms Ribeiro met with several media representatives, as well as with the President of the Journalists Union (Sindicato dos Jornalistas), Mr. Luis Filipe Simões.

On top of the agenda was the decline of media freedom in the OSCE region, as well as developments and challenges related to the current war in Ukraine. Establishing a clear link between media freedom, public debate and democracy, the Representative discussed Portugal’s achievements and challenges, urging the authorities for the decriminalization of defamation.

VIENNA, 18 July 2022 – While OSCE participating States made a steady progress in combating trafficking in human beings, more work needs to be done to scale-up their responses both at policy and practice levels, the OSCE 2021 Survey Report says. The main findings were presented at the event organized by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in Vienna today.

“Trafficking in human beings is not like any other crime. It feeds off economic and gender inequalities, and weak institutions,” stressed OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid. “The OSCE report gives us a blueprint on where to invest. Now we need the political commitment to make those investments.”

The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Valiant Richey highlighted the emerging trafficking trends that report reveals. These include trafficking for the purpose of remote sexual abuse (e.g., online pornography), increased risks of online child exploitation, and substantial increases in forced criminality and forced begging, as well as trafficking for sham marriages.

“There is an urgent need for enhanced political will from OSCE participating States to increase investments and confront this global scourge at scale,” Richey stressed.

In his remarks, he also pointed to worrying findings of the report showing that only seven OSCE participating States reported holding technology companies criminally liable for knowingly facilitating trafficking on their platforms. At the same time, Richey noted that the report highlights positive trends, such as the doubling of countries with anti-trafficking procurement policies in place.

The 2021 Survey Report is a follow-up to a 2015 survey developed in order to track national progress made towards the implementation of OSCE anti-trafficking commitments. The survey provides comprehensive data identifying positive practices and persisting challenges and serves as an updated baseline for measuring future progress.

The Survey Report features new sections such as the role of technology in facilitating and combating human trafficking and online child sexual exploitation and presents recommendations for participating States and the broader anti-trafficking community.

In the long term, the Report will serve as a crucial touchpoint for whether countries are progressing in their efforts to eradicate trafficking in human beings.

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 18 July 2022 — The OSCE Mission launched today its latest thematic report Protection of Cultural Heritage in Kosovo, which reviews current practices and offers recommendations to relevant institutions.

Covering the period between 2014 and 2020, the report concludes that the effective protection of cultural heritage in Kosovo should not be limited to physical restoration and that a broader approach is needed. Inclusive management, imaginative spatial planning, awareness raising, and training for  cultural heritage personnel are also required to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage.

The report provides insight into the policy, legal and administrative frameworks of cultural heritage protection and analyses the close interconnectivity between heritage protection, security, infrastructure and spatial planning issues. It notes that, while many provisions are already in place, full implementation requires a better coordinated approach. The report also highlights the need to amend the Law on Cultural Heritage and fully align primary and secondary legislation to ensure a more coherent approach to cultural heritage.

“The OSCE Mission has consistently supported efforts to protect and promote the rich and varied cultural legacy in Kosovo, as the effective preservation of cultural heritage is important for all communities,” said Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. “We believe the report we launched today, its insights and recommendations, will help the institutions in their efforts to preserve and protect cultural heritage for future generations.”

Addressing the participants at the launch event, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Hajrulla Çeku highlighted the importance of cultural heritage protection as a priority of the Government. “We have an extraordinary cultural wealth, which is a universal value and key to creating social interaction and overcoming differences between communities,” he said. “We are committed to placing culture and cultural heritage at the centre of the fundamental principles of coexistence, mutual respect and development of a democratic society.”

The report lists a number of recommendations to key institutions to enhance the protection and valorization of cultural heritage, including: to introduce management plans for cultural heritage sites, to conduct heritage impact assessments for planned interventions, to adopt a more inclusive definition of cultural heritage, and to enhance the resilience of cultural heritage sites against climate change and intentional destruction.

The full report is available in Albanian, Serbian and English on the website at: https://www.osce.org/mission-in-kosovo/522892

Protecting the human rights of trafficking victims must be placed at the heart of all responses to this global crime that particularly targets women and girls, who are even more at risk in situations of armed conflict, OSCE leaders said at the opening of a two-day conference today.

Almost 300 participants from OSCE states, civil society, international organizations and national human rights institutions across the OSCE region registered for the meeting in Vienna, which will provide a forum to discuss the rights of human trafficking victims both in peacetime and during armed conflict.

“The unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine has shaken the foundations of international and European security, causing thousands of unnecessary deaths and enormous suffering to the civilian population,” said Ambassador Adam Hałaciński, Permanent Representative of Poland to the OSCE, on behalf of the Polish 2022 OSCE Chairmanship. “It has also caused Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since World War II. The refugee and humanitarian crisis has the potential to turn into a trafficking one, as many experts predict.”

According to UN figures, approximately 40 percent of all global human trafficking cases take place within the OSCE region. The risk of becoming a victim grows during armed conflict, when traffickers are able to plausibly offer rescue and safety or assistance, but in fact with the intention of trafficking them for exploitation. The reach of traffickers has also expanded together with the internet, and the online world offers traffickers anonymity and immediate, global access to individuals and groups with specific profiles. At the same time, new technologies also bring advantages for monitoring and combating trafficking.

Children are especially at risk of becoming victims of trafficking, and the trauma can remain with them far into adulthood. The protection needs of child trafficking victims are significantly different from those of adults, and a dedicated session will therefore focus on child victims of trafficking and ways in which to improve and strengthen child protection systems.

This year ODIHR launched the second edition of a handbook on establishing and strengthening national referral mechanisms to assist OSCE countries in improving their efforts to combat trafficking and support victims. These mechanisms are national frameworks that enable governments to coordinate their efforts to protect and promote the human rights of trafficking victims in strategic partnership with civil society, the private sector, victims, and others working in the field.

“Victims of human trafficking are ripped away from their homes and out of their societies, affecting all those involved for the rest of their lives,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “There are now also new threats that have made individuals and groups already at risk of trafficking even more vulnerable. ODIHR will continue its work with countries across the OSCE to strengthen national frameworks and partnerships with civil society in order to combat human trafficking, and at the same time ensure the voices of victims are heard and their human rights respected.”

Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings are a platform for the OSCE’s participating States and OSCE institutions, as well as international organizations and civil society, to exchange views and good practices to find common solutions for the challenges facing the OSCE region. Today’s discussion is the final SHDM of 2022 and follows meetings dedicated to international cooperation to address violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and the importance of democratic institutions in times of crisis.

WARSAW/VIENNA, 16 July 2022 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, concluded his visit to South-Eastern Europe.

In Belgrade, the OSCE’s Chairman-in-Office discussed cooperation and security issues with President Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Ana Brnabić and Foreign Minister Nikola Selaković, as well as with representatives of civil society.

“My visit has coincided with serious security challenges the OSCE region is now facing. Over the past few years, we have witnessed a gradual decline in the feeling of commitment to the values that have shaped our Organization,” said Minister Rau. “I am pleased that Serbia shares the OSCE’s understanding of fundamental values and respects them.”

Minister Rau also met with the OSCE Mission’s Head of Field Operation, Ambassador Jan Braathu, and its staff. He thanked the Mission’s work in supporting Serbia’s reform process. The Chairman of the OSCE underlined special efforts made to integrate national minorities.

During his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Minister Rau met with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Deputy Foreign Minister Josip Brkić, the representatives of the Collegium of both chambers of parliament, the international community, and the Central Election Commission, as well as civil society activists and the staff of the OSCE’s Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, including its Head, Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec.

Minister Rau called on the representatives of the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to enhance internal dialogue and intensify efforts to build a stable state. He reiterated OSCE’s support for reforms, including those of the election system and in rule of law, and encouraged all sides to engage in inclusive and transparent election reform.

“At this political stage, the fate of the reform process is in the hands of Bosnia and Herzegovina itself. It is you who know best what solutions are good and feasible under current circumstances. The OSCE is here to help your country through the process. I want to reaffirm the Organization’s full support and the Mission’s readiness to provide any assistance and expert consultations to enhance security, stability, and prosperity of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Minister Rau during talks in the parliament.

In Pristina, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office met with President Vjosa Osmani, Speaker of the Assembly Glauk Konjufca, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, Minister for Communities and Returns Goran Rakić and the Central Election Commission.    

“The purpose of my visit to Pristina has been to meet the institutional leaders, partners of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, and get first-hand information on the ongoing reforms in the fields of the judicial system, fight against corruption, enhancing media freedom, and advancing much- needed electoral reforms,” said OSCE Chairman-in-Office. “I was also pleased to hear from the Head of OSCE Mission, Ambassador Michael Davenport and from my interlocutors about important OSCE work to support and advance the rights of non-majority communities.” 

“Through its field operations, the OSCE contributes to the further development of a democratic and multi-ethnic society. I sincerely hope that this will also lead to fostering stability and reconciliation in South-Eastern Europe,” stated Minister Rau.

VIENNA, 15 July 2022 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, today denounced the continued shrinking space for freedom of expression and media freedom in Russia as the authorities enact more restrictive laws.

Ribeiro’s comments follow President Vladimir Putin’s signing on 14 July of the law “On amendments to certain legal acts of the Russian Federation” that provides important changes in the media law, in particular, in relation to foreign media in Russia as well as the enactment of the law “On control over the activities of persons under foreign influence.” 

“It is deeply troubling that Russia continues to impose such severe restrictions that are completely incompatible with the right to freedom of expression and media freedom,” Ribeiro said. “I call on the authorities to repeal these highly restrictive and disproportionate laws, and stop other initiatives that curtail public discussions and free flow of information, and exert a dangerous chilling effect on the work of media workers.”

The law “On amendments to certain legal acts of the Russian Federation” broadly empowers the Prosecutor-General or her/his deputies – upon consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – to ban the activity of foreign media that disseminates its products in Russia, including online, whenever the activity of a Russian media outlet in another country was banned or restricted. Such a ban can also involve withdrawal of accreditation of foreign correspondents in Russia, registrations and broadcast licenses, freezing of bank accounts and bank operations, and closure of bureaus of affected foreign media.

The same statute also introduces amendments to the law “On the Mass Media” allowing, for the first time since the law was adopted in 1991, the Prosecutor-General or her/his deputies to suspend the activities and ultimately close down media outlets without a court decision. The statute can be enacted if the prosecution considers actions to be in  violation of a broad spectrum of bans, including dissemination of information “directed to discredit the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the aims of protection of the interests of the Russian Federation” or simply “untruthful information” on such a use (even unintentionally), as well as calls to introduce sanctions against the Russian Federation and expressions of disrespect towards Russian public bodies. During the suspension period, the publishers, editors and journalists of the affected media outlet(s) are not allowed to conduct any activity regulated by law “On the Mass Media”.

The new law “On control over the activities of persons under foreign influence” brings together and expands the existing ‘foreign agent’ regulations (which OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ribeiro addressed on many occasions previously) by introducing more overly vague and broad terms. It allows an entity to be labeled a ‘foreign agent’ if it “has received support and/or is otherwise under foreign influence” and engages in a broad range of activities, including raising issues of public interest and other standard journalistic practices. Among other things, the law also establishes a separate register of persons affiliated with a so-called ‘foreign agent’ by including anyone who is in any way connected (or was connected) with organizations and/or individuals carrying such a status.

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.

Bucharest, 15 July 2022 — The OSCE Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid, today concluded her visit to Bucharest, where she attended the second edition of the Moldova Support Platform conference and met with high-level officials.

Addressing the Moldova Support Platform conference, co-hosted by Romania, Germany and France, the Secretary General thanked the Republic of Moldova for its continued hospitality to Ukrainian refugees. Amidst the numerous difficulties the country is facing in light of the war against Ukraine, the conference was a proof of the strong international support for Moldova.

“We know that Moldova is facing a number of challenges and yet is demonstrating tremendous commitment to the principles we all hold so dear. Despite high-inflation, broken supply chains, and uncertainty of energy supplies, they persist in their reform efforts,” she said.

Secretary General Schmid underlined the OSCE’s ongoing support for the Republic of Moldova and the vital work the OSCE Mission has been doing in the country. “Our Mission to Moldova has continued to support the pragmatic and result-oriented dialogue between the Moldovan Government and Transdniestria that is vital to peace and stability. The 200 monitoring visits carried out by the Mission since 24 February in the security zone and along border areas contribute to transparency and stability,” she said.

The Secretary General furthermore emphasized that the OSCE, across its institutions, will step up its assistance to the Republic of Moldova on a wide range of issues, including preventing and investigating illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, strengthening its ability to respond to the risks of human trafficking, and fighting corruption.

During her visit, Secretary General Schmid also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Bogdan Aurescu. Schmid expressed her gratitude for Romania's commitment to advancing regional co-operation, which plays a crucial role in addressing the current security threats and challenges in the region and alleviating their impact on the people.

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 15 July 2022 – The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will present on Monday, 18 July 2022, its latest thematic report on the protection of cultural heritage.

The report provides insight into the policy, legal and administrative frameworks of cultural heritage protection, and analyses the close interconnectivity between heritage protection, security, infrastructure, and spatial planning issues. It includes several recommendations to key institutions and agencies to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations.

This thematic report is a follow up to the OSCE’s 2014 “Challenges in the Protection of Immovable Tangible Cultural Heritage in Kosovo”.

Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Mr. Hajrulla Çeku; and the Head of the Board of the Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage, Ms. Zanita Halimi will deliver opening remarks. A presentation of the report and a Q&A session will follow.

Media representatives are cordially invited to attend the event on Monday, 18 July 2022, at the Swiss Diamond Hotel in Prishtinë/Priština, starting at 09:30. 

522772 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The 2022 early parliamentary elections in Malta were organized efficiently and professionally, with stakeholders expressing confidence in most stages of the process, though its transparency was diminished by limited access to Electoral Commission activities, the lack of regulations allowing for election observation and limited oversight of and access to information on party and campaign financing. Concerns identified also include the use of public resources by the governing party.

These are some of the main conclusions of the final report on the 26 March elections published  by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The report offers 21 recommendations to improve the conduct of elections and to support efforts to bring them further in line with OSCE commitments, as well as other international obligations and standards for democratic elections.

Key recommendations include:

• Ensuring access for all stakeholders to Electoral Commission meetings and publishing the minutes of all meetings;

• Removing all restrictions on voting rights on the basis of any kind of disability;

• Ensuring that voting limitations imposed on convicted citizens are proportional to the crime committed;

• Enhancing the legal powers and resources of the Electoral Commission to carry out pro-active and efficient supervision, investigation and enforcement of political finance regulations;

• Ensuring the public broadcaster’s editorial independence through a transparent, competitive management selection process and legal safeguards for the broadcaster’s financial sustainability and autonomy;

• Guaranteeing access of citizen and international observers to all stages of the electoral process.

ODIHR deployed an Election Expert Team for these elections on 15 March 2022. All 57 countries across the OSCE region have formally committed to follow up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

522751 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor Promoting women’s economic empowerment in the energy sector in Central Asia

A high-level meeting and field visit aimed to foster young women’s participation in the renewable energy sector took place in Nur-Sultan on 14 July 2022. The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities organized the event together with the Kazakh German University.

The Kazakh Vice-Minister of Energy, Zhanat Zhakhmetova, the European Union Special Representative for Central Asia, Terhi Hakala, Ambassadors from the donor countries, the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, Volker Frobarth, and a representative of the 2022 Polish OSCE Chairmanship also attended the event.

Together with energy experts, female students from universities across Kazakhstan and Tajikistan discussed how the transition to renewable energy in Central Asia can be an opportunity for empowering women and what role the international community can play in facilitating the transition.

Vice-Minister Zhakhmetova reiterated the country’s ambition to achieve gender equality in the energy sector as well as to become carbon neutral by 2060.

Frobarth stressed that women are still highly underrepresented in the energy sector. “This imbalance urgently needs to be addressed for the energy transition to succeed”, he said.

“Women and girls are key agents of development and change”, highlighted Special Representative Hakala. “The EU will keep contributing to women’s entrepreneurship and employment in the green and circular economy, including sustainable energy”, she added.

The students also met with industry representatives, academia, civil society and other international organizations. They heard real-life experiences from those working in the energy sector and connected with like-minded peers, potential employers, female role models and mentors.

The participants also shared their experiences as women studying and working in the energy sector. In particular, they underlined the need to fight gender stereotypes in the energy sector. “Education plays a key part to employ more women in the energy sector”, said Barbara Janusz-Pawletta, Vice-President for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development at the Kazakh-German University.

Following the discussion, the participants went on a field learning experience to the renewable energy polygon of the Nazarbayev University. “With this roundtable and field trip, we are combining networking opportunities, training and practical field visits to fight gender stereotypes and harness the full potential of the energy transition”, said Giulia Manconi, Project Manager of the OSCE Project on Promoting women’s economic participation in the energy sector for energy security and sustainability in Central Asia, co-funded by Germany, Italy, Norway and Poland.

VIENNA, 14 July 2022 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, expressed serious concerns about the recent judicial suspension of the Journalists’ and Media Workers’ Union’s (JMWU) activities in Russia and the pending prosecutor’s motion to fully close the organization.

According to reports, the prosecutor’s office in Moscow initiated an administrative case against the organization on charges of ‘public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the armed forces,’ requesting the court dissolve the union. Pending the prosecutor’s motion, the Moscow City Court effectively suspended JMWU activities as of 4 July 2022. Reportedly, JMWU representatives were neither duly informed about the results of the inspection that preceded the prosecutor’s request, nor about the details of the charges against the union.

“Professional media organizations, such as the Journalists’ and Media Workers’ Union’s in Russia play an important role in protecting and strengthening the rights and freedoms of media workers and supporting high standards of journalism. In doing so, they are vitally contributing to the promotion of free, independent and pluralistic media,” Ribeiro said. “Against the backdrop of the continued increasingly repressive measures of the Russian authorities against media freedom in the country, it is of great concern to see the current legal developments around JMWU, as this further harms professional integrity, solidarity and accountability of journalists in Russia. I strongly urge the Russian authorities to reconsider the decision to close JMWU and allow the organization to continue its activities in an unhindered manner,” Ribeiro added.

JMWU was established by independent journalists in 2016 and is the only Russian media association that is a member of the European Federation of Journalists.

In earlier statements, the Representative has denounced the restrictive developments affecting freedom of expression and media freedom in Russia, including the introduction of criminal liability and imprisonment for spreading so-called “fake” information about the Russian armed forces in the context of the country’s military attack against Ukraine.

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 facebook.com/osce.rfom.

Communication and Media Relations Section

The OSCE Moscow Mechanism mission of experts undertaken by Professor Veronika Bílková, Professor Laura Guercio and Professor Vasilka Sancin presented their findings to the OSCE Permanent Council on 14 July 2022, collected in the report entitled ‘Report on Violations of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Committed in Ukraine (1 April – 25 June 2022)’.

The three experts were selected after 45 OSCE participating States, following consultation with Ukraine, invoked the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism on 2 June to “consider, follow up and build upon the findings of the Moscow Mechanism report received by OSCE participating States on 12 April” addressing “the human rights and humanitarian impacts of the Russian Federation’s invasion and acts of war, supported by Belarus, on the people of Ukraine, within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and territorial waters”.

The Mechanism, agreed by all OSCE participating States, allows for one or more participating States to request that ODIHR “inquire of another participating State whether it would agree to invite a mission of experts to address a particular, clearly defined question on its territory relating to the human dimension”.

The Permanent Council is one of the OSCE’s main decision-making bodies, and convenes each week in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and make decisions on future activities.

The observations of the mission of experts are available here.

522646 Strengthening Responses to Security Risks from Climate Change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia Decision No. 3/21 - STRENGTHENING CO-OPERATION TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE

On 13-14 July, over 50 participants representing a wide range of government and civil society organizations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as well as international organizations convened in a workshop in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The initiative aimed to discuss climate change and security challenges in the region, and to identify regional co-operation opportunities and joint actions to address these challenges.

This event, organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) and the Berlin-based think tank adelphi, in collaboration with the OSCE Field Operations in Central Asia, kicked off a regional consultation process on climate change and security.

In his opening remarks, Ralf Ernst, Deputy Co-ordinator and Head of Environmental Activities at the OCEEA, drew attention to the 2021 OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on climate change and underlined that addressing the complex challenges caused by climate change requires co-operation. “With today’s initiative, the OSCE aims to create new avenues for transboundary and regional co-operation to reduce the risks for the benefit of prosperity, stability and security in the region,” said Ernst.

Shattyk Tastemirova, the representative of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, highlighted the country’s commitment to climate action and its planned reforms in many sectors of its economy. “The consultation process that we are embarking on today in Almaty together with our neighbors is an important step in our collective efforts to address climate change, as it will allow us to exchange information and best practices towards strengthening climate resilience in our region," she said.

Pia van Ackern, Advisor at adelphi, highlighted that the challenges linked to climate change and security must be urgently addressed. “According to climate projections, Central Asia could see more frequent and intense droughts and heatwaves in the coming years, along with more glacial melt and water scarcity, all of which could lead to negative socio-economic and security impacts. As these impacts are not confined to one country only, transboundary co-operation is key,” she stated.

The Regional Consultation Workshop on Climate Change and Security in Central Asia was organized within the framework of the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Strengthening responses to security risks from climate change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia” funded by Andorra, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United States.

VIENNA, 13 July 2022 – Following recent prison sentences, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, today deplored the continued practice of judicial reprisals against journalists and media workers in Belarus.

On 13 July Katerina Andreyeva (Bakhvalova), journalist with Belsat TV channel, was sentenced to eight years in jail on state treason charges. The journalist is already serving a two-year prison sentence, after she and another journalist Darya Chultsova were convicted in February 2021, see: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/478885.

Earlier, on 8 and 15 June 2022, the courts handed six-year and 2,5-year sentences to RFE/RL’s freelance correspondent Andrey Kuznechyk and Novy Chas weekly’s chief-editor Oksana Kolb respectively. 

The Representative continues to follow closely the cases of other members of the press who are facing trials.

“Imprisoning journalists for doing their job is unacceptable. I repeat my call on the Belarusian authorities to stop the attack on freedom of expression and media freedom commitments,” Ribeiro said. “All imprisoned, arrested or detained media workers must be released.”

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.

522595 Farhod Nabiyulloev Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

Twenty-five Special Unit officers of Tajikistan’s Border Troops started the course on Sustaining Field Operational Capacity on 12 July in the Regional Training Center of Tajikistan's Border Troops in Shahrinav district. The training course is conducted within the framework of the Patrol Field Capacity Building project through the promotion of Regional Cooperation, financed by the Republic of France and implemented by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

The French Ambassador in Tajikistan Michel Tarran, Deputy Commander of Tajik Border Troops Colonel Kishvarsho Khushvakhtov, Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Ilgar Ibrahimli and the Head of Political-Military Department of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Jukka Tuononen participated in the opening ceremony of the training.

The French Ambassador Michel Tarran emphasised that “the security of the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan is a major concern not only for Tajikistan but also for other countries in Central Asia and beyond for European countries too, because they all belong to one regional space. That is the reason why France decided to give a special grant to support the border reinforcement programme led by the OSCE.”

“The OSCE remains committed to partnering with Tajikistan in support of its border management and security agenda,” said Ilgar Ibrahimli, Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe. “We believe that trilateral cooperation between the OSCE, the French Republic and Tajikistan’s Border Troops will help in combatting the threats from outside the border areas including illegal cross-border movements, drug trafficking, terrorism and violent extremism and trafficking in human beings,” added Ibrahimli.

Colonel Kishvarsho Khushvakhtov expressed his gratitude to the OSCE for long-term cooperation and support and noted that the project includes not only training activities but also technical support for improving the capacity of Tajikistan's Border Troops in tackling illegal activities in border areas.

In a four-week course, the participants will be able to strengthen their skills and knowledge of topography and pathfinding, first aid related to battlefield injuries, tactical patrolling including individual and group camouflage techniques and radio communications. National border regulations, gender awareness, risk assessment and patrol report writing will also be the focus of the training. International experts will lead military mountaineering and daily physical training exercises.

522577 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

An OSCE-organized regional training workshop on risk management based on the analysis of nonverbal communication, including emotional facial and body expressions, took place from 12 to 14 July 2022.

The workshop brought together, online and in-person, around 80 officials from relevant border and security agencies of the five Central Asian countries. Organized as part of the Centre’s ongoing efforts to support Central Asian countries to combat terrorism and transnational threats, the event aimed to enhance the knowledge of border security and management agencies about different areas of human behaviour and methods for identifying and mitigating the risks associated with the human factor.

In his welcoming speech, John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat noted: “In a digital age, undoubtedly, the wide use of modern technology is instrumental in preventing and countering terrorism. Paired with modern technology, risk management based on the analysis of nonverbal communication is proven effective.”

International experts, drawing on their two-decade experience and expertise, demonstrated the practical application of academic concepts of biometrics, kinesics and proxemics to the security field while being mindful of body language specific to any given culture. In addition, the experts also discussed the use of technologies in the process of surveillance and counter-surveillance at international border crossings and the intelligence technologies that provide for enhanced security.

Representatives from Central Asian countries learnt about proven analytical tools designed to detect deceit based on micro-facial expressions. The experts stressed that at a busy border crossing point with the intensive movement of people and goods across the border, criminals often attempt to conceal their mal-intent by controlling their emotions, facial experiences and body language and cross the border undetected. The agenda included practice-oriented sessions on how to see, interpret, and process information in the visual world, held with the use of digital platforms.

Based on the participants’ recommendations and ideas, the Centre plans to organize a follow-up regional event in the last quarter of 2022.

The workshop is organized within the framework of the Centre’s extrabudgetary multi-donor project “Strengthening State Border Service Capacities of Turkmenistan” and supported financially by the Government of Japan.