Central Europe

VIENNA, 1 September 2022 – In times when the OSCE is seriously tested, it is essential to rebuild mutual trust and confidence, and to demonstrate the political will to re-engage in dialogue on widely shared security concerns, said North Macedonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani today.

As he presented North Macedonia’s priorities as the incoming 2023 OSCE Chairman-in-Office to the Permanent Council today, Osmani spoke about Russia’s war against Ukraine, stating that “this war erodes the foundations of the OSCE. It runs counter to the principles we have agreed upon and hold dear. It is a far cry from our milestones and the guiding principles governing relations between participating States.”

He underscored that North Macedonia’s Chairmanship will be working closely with OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, OSCE structures and the participating States to safeguard the fundamental principles that lie at the heart of the Organization.

Minister Osmani emphasized that the Chairmanship will focus on the OSCE’s mandate by continuing to make a difference on the ground, implementing the commitments made by all participating States, and rebuilding stability by restoring dialogue.

In the political-military dimension of security, conflict prevention and management will remain a high priority. Protracted conflicts, their related by-products and incremental progress towards peace will top the incoming Chairmanship’s agenda. 

“Ukraine will remain our highest priority. However, let us not forget that there are tensions across the OSCE region that are also of great concern. It is important to build upon the existing formats and to provide support for our presence on the ground and other field operations. The Organization should stay dedicated across the OSCE in search of peace,” said Osmani.

Additionally, he listed border management, hybrid and cyber threats, and Women, Peace and Security agenda as first dimension priorities.

In the economic and environmental dimension of security, the Chairmanship will focus on raising further awareness about the nexus between climate change and security. Energy and food security will also be of special importance as both a consequence of the war and potential triggers for conflicts.

“Connectivity and people-to-people contacts have proven beneficial as part of the confidence-building measures. We will build on this. Our focus in 2023 will be also on combating corruption and promoting good governance,” said Minister Osmani.

Underscoring the significance of upholding of human rights, he stated that the human dimension is essential for to the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security.

“North Macedonia will initiate a broad debate on the necessity of increased engagement related to the respect of fundamental human rights in the light of the today’s complexities, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, wars and conflicts,” said Osmani.

Suggesting that many issues on the OSCE’s agenda are crosscutting, Minister Osmani also highlighted migration and trafficking in human beings as priority targets.

Finally, Minister Osmani underscored the notion of shared responsibility: “We all share the burden of responsibility. We have the tools, we have the knowledge and we have history as our teacher, we should deliver a better future for our people.”

Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid welcomed Foreign Minister Osmani’s comprehensive presentation of the incoming Chair’s priorities, and pledged her full support to North Macedonia’s Chairmanship.

“I welcome the breadth of North Macedonia’s priorities for 2023 – rightly balanced across our three dimensions – and addressing many of the most pertinent contemporary challenges. My team and those of all other OSCE executive structures will stand behind you in delivering on them,” Secretary General Schmid said in her response to Foreign Minister Osmani at the Permanent Council.

“The work awaiting North Macedonia is not easy and its scale and range – enormous. We are all aware that the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine is not only the biggest threat for the European Security from the end of the II World War, but also a serious challenge to the OSCE itself,” Ambassador Adam Hałaciński, Permanent Representative of Poland to the OSCE, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, said in his response to Foreign Minister Osmani.

SOFIA, 31 August 2022 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 2 October early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, following an official invitation from the national authorities.

The mission is headed by Nina Suomalainen and consists of a core team of 11 international experts based in Sofia and 12 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 7 September. ODIHR has also requested 200 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day. 

The mission will assess the conduct of the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the elections, including pre and post-election developments. Specific areas of focus include the implementation of the legal framework, candidate registration, the conduct of the campaign including on social networks, as well as the work of the election administration at all levels, election dispute resolution and media coverage. They will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

Meetings with representatives of state authorities, political parties and candidates, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

On election day, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with a delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, counting ballots and tabulation of results.

An interim report will be published two weeks prior to the elections to update the public and media on the observation mission’s activities. The day after the elections, the mission’s preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference. A final report with an assessment of the entire election process and containing recommendations will be published some months after the elections.

Media contacts:

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

Inta Lase, Media Analyst with the Election Observation Mission: inta.lase@odihr.bg or +359 87 941 2689

SOFIA, 30 August 2022 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference on the opening of the observation mission to the early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria on Wednesday, 31 August.

The press conference will take place via Zoom only.

What:

• An introduction to the role of the ODIHR election observation mission and its planned activities
• The press conference can be attended via Zoom (registration details below)

Who:

• Nina Suomalainen, Head of the ODIHR observation mission

When:

• 15.00 local time (GMT +3) on 31 August 2022

Registration:

Please register by 12:00 Eastern European time on 31 August by contacting Inta Lase at the following link.

For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in Bulgaria, please visit:  https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/bulgaria.

WARSAW, 24 August 2022 – Six months since the start of the 24 February Russian war against Ukraine, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Poland Zbigniew Rau today renewed his call on the Russian Federation to immediately put an end to the unprovoked violence and stop the tragic suffering and loss of life it continues to cause.

“Over the past six months, the unprovoked war the Russian Federation launched against Ukraine has brought indescribable destruction and suffering. We have seen thousands of innocent people die in the face of indiscriminate attacks all across Ukraine,” Minister Rau said.

“The Russian attacks aimed at critical infrastructure have left millions of civilians without access to vital services and resources. The Russian aggression has displaced millions of people, causing the biggest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. Women and children, in particular, are put at greater risk of trafficking by being forced to flee their homes,” the Chairman said.

He also raised the appalling issue of the so-called filtration operations. Minister Rau condemned widespread detentions and forced deportation of Ukrainian citizens to Russia.  

“The war against Ukraine is unjustifiable and unacceptable.  It is a clear violation of international law and every principle on which our Organization was founded. It must stop immediately,” Chairman Rau said.

OSCE Chairman-in-Office Rau called on the participating States to uphold their commitments to the OSCE’s fundamental principles and work together for peace and security. He also reaffirmed that the OSCE remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s population in these challenging times.

On 2 August, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Rau and Secretary General Schmid announced a new OSCE support programme for Ukraine. The support programme, which sets out the implementation of some 25 projects, will build on the OSCE’s work in Ukraine over the past three decades and will support the country in areas including demining, environmental protections, and humanitarian needs. 

On 22-23 August 2022, the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department organized the third online training on “Identification of Impostors at Border Crossing Points” for the respective representatives of border and customs services of Ukraine. The training that brought together 113 participants (54 women, 59 men) was conducted by two experts from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Interior.

“While modern technology is advancing in the field of border security and management with unprecedented speed, it is essential to continue training border security officers in detecting forged documents and impostors who are trying to cross the border illegally. We are excited to see among the participants a fairly equal number of male and female officers, which reinforces the OSCE commitment to advancing gender equality in the security sector," said Dennis Cosgrove, Head of the OSCE Border Security and Management Unit, in his opening remarks.

Impostors represent one of the main current 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.

The online training course is aimed at enhancing the abilities of front-line officers to identify potential criminals travelling under a false identity.

The training course had 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. In addition, the training course had a specific session on Schengen Visa Security, Schengen Visa features, and related forgery methods.

This training course is a part of a series of activities on the detection of forged travel documents and impostors organized by the Transnational Threat Department’s Border Security and Management Unit in different countries since 2015.

SARAJEVO, 24 August 2022 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 2 October general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, following an official invitation from the national authorities and a needs assessment mission conducted in June this year.

The mission is headed by Ambassador Peter Tejler and consists of a core team of 13 international experts based in Sarajevo and 24 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 31 August. ODIHR also plans to request 300 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day. 

The mission will assess the conduct of the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the elections such as voter registration, the conduct of the campaign including on social networks, the work of the election administration at all levels, election-related legislation and its implementation, media coverage, and election dispute resolution. They will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

Meetings with representatives of state authorities and political parties, civil society, the media, and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

On election day, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with the delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the European Parliament (EP), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO PA) to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

An interim report will be published some two weeks prior to the elections to update the public and the media on the observation mission’s activities. The day after the elections, a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference. A final report with an assessment of the entire election process and containing recommendations will be published some months after the elections.

The ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina operate independently under their separate mandates. For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in the country, please visit: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/bih

Media contacts:

Ivan Godarsky, Media Analyst: ivan.godarsky@odihr.ba  or  +387 671300492

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson: +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile), or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl.

VIENNA, 22 August 2022 - As we mark the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief , the continued Russian aggression against Ukraine bring more death, new refugees, and the destruction of civilian sites, including houses of worship and religious shrines and memorials. Christians, Muslims, Jews, those of other religious beliefs, and those with no religious belief are among the victims. The religious leaders in Russia willingly or under coercion provide a rationale for this unprovoked war. Those who would speak out or even remain silent do so at their own peril.

With great concern, we observe religious persecution taking place in other parts of the OSCE area and beyond. We mourn the loss of life and the suffering of people due to the innumerable acts of violence based on or justified by religion or belief.

Last year, we noted that the COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing restrictions led to a proliferation of online intolerance. While those restrictions have now been lifted and life returns to normal, online hate is still growing. Much of it is directed at Jews, Muslims, and communities of believers, especially vulnerable minorities. Many who promote these messages of antisemitism and intolerance are motivated by their own extremist religious ideologies. However, they are not confined to the virtual world. They also serve to encourage and inspire numerous physical attacks.

OSCE participating States are obliged to respect the freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief for all without distinction of race, sex, gender, ethnicity, language, or religion, as part of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of protecting and promoting peace and security. They should strive to promote a climate of tolerance, inclusion, and respect for diversity. Acts of violence, including hate speech and hate crimes based on religion or belief, must be swiftly and loudly condemned. Victims must be supported. Perpetrators must be held accountable and punished.

Participating States should avail themselves of all resources available to meet their commitments. As the Personal Representatives of the Chairperson-in-Office for tolerance issues, we are ready to assist.

Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism

Ambassador İsmail Hakkı Musa, Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims

Professor Regina Polak, Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions

WARSAW, 22 August 2022 — Establishing, maintaining, and accessing places and objects of worship or contemplation are crucial to the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, which applies during conflict and in times of peace, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion.

“The OSCE region has a rich cultural and religious heritage, but religious buildings and relics are not just objects of the past — they’re profoundly important for living communities today,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “Attacks on places of worship go against both the letter and spirit of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. They must be protected to ensure communities know that their past is respected, and their future is safe.”

ODIHR’s most recent hate crime data reveals that 51% of all incidents reported to the Office were anti-religious hate crimes. Most of these crimes targeted property, such as mosques, synagogues, churches, and cemeteries, though it is widely accepted that the vast majority of hate crimes are never reported to the state authorities or to anyone else. UN figures also show that 175 cultural heritage sites in Ukraine have been damaged since 24 February 2022, of which 74 are religious sites.

Hatred and intolerance against people from particular religious communities rarely take place in isolation, but go together with other human rights violations. The overall effect of violence and discrimination is not only negative for the communities concerned, but also for the security situation across the OSCE region.

The harm can also be less obvious, with peaceful religious or belief communities struggling in some OSCE countries to register their religious buildings or facing mandatory registration systems, insurmountable bureaucracy, or arbitrary closure and confiscation of their property. This shows clearly that states have much progress to make in ensuring that freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is a reality for everyone.

ODIHR continues to assist the countries of the OSCE in living up to their commitments to respect this right as well as to work towards tolerant societies. More information about ODIHR’s work in this area is available here.

SARAJEVO, 22 August 2022 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference on the opening of the observation mission to the forthcoming general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, 24 August.

What: 

• An introduction to the role of the ODIHR election observation mission and its planned activities

Who: 

• Ambassador Peter Tejler, Head of the ODIHR observation mission

When: 

• 10:00 local time (GMT +2) on 24 August 2022

Where:

• Hotel Holiday, Zmaja od Bosne 4, Sarajevo

Registration:

• No registration is necessary, but only questions from journalists will be taken.

For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, please visit: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/bih

524376 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The 3 April 2022 presidential and early parliamentary elections in Serbia presented diverse political options, but a number of shortcomings resulted in an uneven playing field favouring the incumbents. Recent legislative amendments adopted after extensive discussions among the ruling parties and the opposition included some welcome improvements, but key aspects of the electoral process require further reform.

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

Key recommendations include:

• Reviewing the legislation to further address the misuse of administrative resources and access to media and eliminate remaining gaps and inconsistencies well before the next elections;
• Introducing standardized mandatory training for all local electoral commission and polling board members;
• Conducting a full audit of the voter and civil registers as soon as possible;
• Revising the law to provide for a clear separation between the incumbents' official functions and campaigning activities and proactively addressing violations;
• Implementing effective legal and institutional oversight mechanisms to prevent intimidation and pressure on voters, including employees of public and state institutions;
• Introducing regulation of third-party campaigning and provisions on effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions for violations and inadequate reporting;
• Strengthening the independence of the Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and explicitly defining its responsibilities during the campaign period by law;
• Publishing clear, consistent and timely instructions and decisions on all election-day procedures that are not sufficiently regulated by the statutory law;
• Taking measures to enhance the effectiveness of dispute resolution including through substantive review of all election day-related complaints.

The ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the 3 April 2022 presidential and early parliamentary elections commenced its work on 22 February 2022 and remained in the country until 15 April.

All 57 participating States across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

524334

Between 15 and 19 August, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in co-operation with the Drohobych City Institute organized a workshop on the digital transformation of communities and regions of Ukraine and the sustainable development of municipalities.

Around 20 experts and municipal officials from different regions of Ukraine took part in the workshop held in Drohobych.  Participants discussed a wide range of issues related to sustainable municipal development in Ukraine, including practical application of different ISO-based development indicators, and explored how digital tools and data platforms can be used in decision-making processes at the municipal level. 

Participants also shared the experience of their respective municipalities in using data for better planning and administration of local economic development programs and optimization of social infrastructure taking into account the needs of local citizens. 

“Transparency in municipal administration, digitalization of public services, and integrity of civil servants are vital for the sustainable economic development of regions of Ukraine”, said Andrei Muntean, project manager at OCEEA.

“OSCE stands ready to support Ukraine in improving the efficiency of local governance through the use of standardized development indicators and introduction of data-driven and value-based decision-making processes,” he added.

The workshop was part of the extra-budgetary project on “Digital standardization of good municipal governance services in Ukraine” funded by the United States and Germany.

524280 Kunduz Rysbek

From 16 to 18 August, Kyrgyzstan hosts a peer-review exercise on the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in Issyk-Kul.

The peer-review aims to provide a platform to exchange best practices on national approaches to biosafety and biosecurity, define the roadmap on the further development of the legal framework for BWC implementation, including the draft law on biosafety and biosecurity.

More than 45 representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce R, Ministry of Health, State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan, as well as experts on biosafety and biosecurity from Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, the United States, Uzbekistan, European Union (EU) Delegation in Kyrgyzstan, EU Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence, International Science and Technology Center, World Organization for Animal Health, and the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)/UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)  participate in the peer-review and contributing to the advancement of a comprehensive national approach to biosafety and biosecurity.

“The peer-review exercise is voluntary in nature, and it serves as an important tool for building confidence in compliance to the BWC. It is also flexible and can be contextualized to the specific situation and circumstances of the country. We are grateful to the Kyrgyz government for being an active participant of the Convention, and co-organizing this event together with the UNODA and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek”, - shared Dr. Alex Lampalzer, Deputy Chief of the BWC Implementation Support Unit at the UNODA Geneva Branch.

The peer-review will help the national BWC implementing group to improve the system on prevention and reduction of risks of radiological, chemical, and biological emergencies, and identify opportunities for international co-operation and assistance.

“Securing the biosafety of the population is of utmost importance to the implementation of the BWC by Kyrgyzstan. The peer-review will help us to advance our efforts in implementation of the Convention provisions and adopt the best practices of other countries”, - said Ms. Damira Ashiralieva, Microbiology department lecturer, International High School of Medicine, Kyrgyzstan.

The event is organised by joint efforts of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the KR, ISU BWC/UNODA, European Union and OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek under the European Union Council Decision 2019/97 in support of the BWC. The event is part of range of activities within the framework of OSCE’s assistance to the Kyrgyz government in implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1540.

524274 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a four-day training course for lawyers from the OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs) and local authorities from 11 to 14 August in Dushanbe. The course trained participants on how to provide legal advice and legal assistance to victims of domestic violence and people at risk of experiencing domestic violence.  Some 23 lawyers from the Sughd, Khatlon, Rasht Valley regions, and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan participated.

Specialized trainers/attorneys with many years of hands-on domestic violence law experience delivered the course.

During the course participants were familiarized with the legislative framework in the field of prevention of domestic violence, international and national mechanisms, identification of domestic violence and skills of working with victims of domestic violence. Other topic covered was redirecting mechanisms and mechanisms of recovering materials and moral compensation to victims of domestic violence in criminal and administrative cases. During the event, discussions on human trafficking also took place.

Participants had a hand-on exercises and group works which helped them to discuss issues and find solutions.

Shamsiddin Mirzosafarzoda, a lawyer from the local government authority of the Dusti district, Khatlon region found useful that during the course he was able to enhance his knowledge of national and international laws and how they are implemented. He also mentioned he found the sessions on legislation in the field of combating domestic violence and human trafficking particularly informative.

Mirzoboy Mallaev, a lawyer from WRC “Kuhsor” in the Ayni district, Sughd region said: “The involvement of lawyers from relevant state structures was very good and timely. This will expand and strengthen co-operation between local structures and will lead to the improvement of activities for the prevention of domestic violence.” He added that he will use his gained knowledge and skills in his field of activity.

The OSCE Programme Office will continue to support the Government of Tajikistan in implementing the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence. The Programme Office provides a comprehensive support to victims of domestic violence in the regions through a network of 14 OSCE-established WRCs in close partnership with local authorities.

The current activity is being implemented within the WRCs project of the OSCE Programme Office funded by Norway, the United States of America, Finland, the European Union, Andorra and Germany.

524271 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

A four-day training course for psychologists from the OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs) and local authorities was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe from 11 to 14 August in Dushanbe. The event brought together 23 psychologists, of which 22 were female participants from the Sughd, Khatlon, Rasht Valley regions, and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan.

During the course participants learned about the psychological characteristics of children at different ages; children who witness domestic violence in the family; psychology of children who are victims of violence and how to help those children. Other main topics covered at the event were the problem of behavior - deviant and delinquent - in relation to oneself, in relation to others; art therapy and its methods and detection screening - sexual abuse.

Fotima Tojiboeva, a leading specialist of the Department of Women and Family Affairs of Local Executive Body in Isfara city, Sughd region said: “The involvement of the governmental authorities who are responsible for the implementation of the State Program for the Prevention of Domestic Violence is carried out in a timely manner. This will contribute to the improvement of this Program.” She also mentioned that she will use her gained knowledge and skills when providing psychosocial counseling to the survivors of domestic violence. 

“Since the work of a psychologist is a difficult and delicate one, it requires regular capacity building trainings. The OSCE-organized training course is very important for the work and daily activities of a psychologist,” said Barfia Shodieva, a psychosocial counselor of WRC “Oksana” in the Balkhi district, Khatlon region. She added that she will use her knowledge in her practical work.

The OSCE Programme Office will continue to support the Government of Tajikistan in implementing the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence. The Programme Office provides a comprehensive support to victims of domestic violence in the regions through a network of 14 OSCE-established WRCs in close partnership with local authorities.

The current activity is being implemented within the WRCs project of the OSCE Programme Office funded by Norway, the United States of America, Finland, the European Union, Andorra and Germany.

SARAJEVO, 16 August 2022 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is proud to support the Cultural Festival, organized by the Amfiteatar Busovača, in Busovača and Kaćuni from 16 to 21 August 2022.

The festival will gather young people from Busovača, representatives of relevant civil society organizations, and members of the public from across BiH.

“The Festival of Culture offers an opportunity to youth to express their concerns, underline their needs and tell us more about their dreams through art. Young people have the right to be heard, their opinions are valuable and must be taken into account. By empowering youth, we empower a better future for all citizens in BiH,” said Igor Nedera, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina Travnik Field Office.

During the five days of the festival, guests will be able  to enjoy the theatre plays for children and youth, prepared by students of primary and secondary schools in Busovača. Also, three murals, sending a message of hope for a better future and societal togetherness will be unveiled in Busovača and Kaćuni.

“Recognizing young people as key partners for positive change and promoters of peace and reconciliation, we are glad to be part of this positive story and we invite citizens to join us at the Festival of Culture,” concluded Nedera.

VIENNA, 15 August 2022 – Following recent cases of criminal and administrative charges against journalists and media professionals in the Russian Federation, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, strongly deplores the continued practice of judicial persecution resulting in further decline in media freedom and access to information.

“Over the last few weeks, a considerable number of new cases of judicial persecution have been brought to my attention,” said Ribeiro. “These cases often refer to the alleged ‘dissemination of false information about the Russian armed forces,’ which is criminally punishable under a new law adopted following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

Marina Ovsyannikova, former producer at Pervyi Channel, has been charged with ‘dissemination of false information about the Russian armed forces’ and faces up to ten years imprisonment for a single-person picket she organized in front of the Kremlin on 15 July. Perviously, Fortanga’s editor-in-chief and journalist Isabella Evloyeva faced a criminal charge for a similar offence of ‘dissemination of false information’ based on her posts on Fortanga’s Telegram channel about the losses of the Russian army and the bombardment of a shopping mall in Kremenchuk, Ukraine.

“The charge of spreading ‘false information’ in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine is being instrumentalized for the purposes of silencing dissenting voices,” Ribeiro said.

Furthermore, administrative fines continue to be used to financially undermine media outlets and journalists. For example, authorities imposed a fine on Novaya Gazeta for ‘abuse of media freedom’ and threatened to invalidate its registration both as a print and digital outlet. Vladislav Postnikov, editor-in-chief of the Ekaterinburg-based independent news outlet, Vietchierniye Vedomosti, and Sergey Smirnov editor-in-chief of Mediazona were also fined on charges of ‘discrediting the use of Russian armed forces.’

On 9 August, Life.ru journalist and former correspondent for Kommersant and Izvestia, Alexandra Bayasitova, was put in pre-trial detention and charged with ‘extortion in order to get property’ (art. 163-6.3, Criminal Code). She faces up to 15 years imprisonment if convicted.

“Journalists must not be punished for carrying out their professional duties. In addition, pre-trial detention should not be used for putting unjust pressure on media workers. By violating OSCE commitments, Russian authorities deny their citizens access to essential information and create an atmosphere of fear and repression,” concluded Ribeiro.  

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.

524151 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, Tea Jaliashvili met the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, Muzaffar Huseynzoda on 12 August 2022 to discuss areas of co-operation.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Huseynzoda expressed his appreciation for existing co-operation and reaffirmed interest in future partnership.

Acting Head of the Office expressed her gratitude to Huseynzoda and the host country for its strong support of the activities of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe. She updated the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs about current priorities of the Office in Dushanbe in contributing to all three areas of security: Politico-Military, Economic and Environmental and Human Dimensions of Security.

524082

The first specialized training on operative essentials for anti-corruption officers was held in Yerevan on 8-12 August. The training, which focused on the effective investigation of corruption was hosted by the OSCE’s Office of the Co-ordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) with the support of the newly established Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia (ACC).

Through the training, 26 operative officers from the ACC acquired new tools and skills in criminal intelligence and information gathering, special operative methods and tactics, and proper use of classified information for criminal investigation purposes.

Participants also discussed sharing knowledge and best international practices and standards on planning, implementing, and supervising varied relevant activities.

“The Armenian Anti-Corruption Committee as a newly established agency combating corruption attaches great importance to studying the advanced international experience in the subject field and adopting its best elements for ensuring tangible results. We appreciate the support of the OSCE and remain confident that this workshop will contribute to the development of professional skills of operative officers,” said Mushegh Babayan, Acting Deputy Chairman of the ACC.

Participants applied crime simulation techniques and corruption investigation methods during numerous practical exercises on handling diverse sources of information and planning and executing special operative measures and covert operations.

“We are excited to be a part of this practical workshop, especially since the OSCE has been instrumental in the establishment of the ACC before it became a fully operational governmental agency in Armenia in the fall of 2021. We are pleased to develop the capacity building and technical advice in the special investigative methods and tactics for efficient anti-corruption to investigate money laundering to the ACC as it has already launched activities to combat corruption in Armenia,” said Ralf Ernst, Deputy Co-ordinator at OCEEA.

The event was supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Embassy of Switzerland in Armenia and organized in the framework of the OSCE Project on strengthening anti-corruption reform in Armenia, financed by Switzerland, Italy, and Germany.

524016 Jeff Bieley

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo today published its latest thematic report on: The Right to Effective Representation in Criminal Proceedings and the Ex Officio Appointment System.

Covering the period between 2020 and 2021, the report reviews standards of defence representation and the function of the ex officio appointment system that assigns defence counsel to defendants who cannot afford a lawyer.

The report provides insight into the policy and legal frameworks for the provision of defence representation and draws on the findings of surveys with judges, prosecutors and lawyers, to assess some of the challenges and barriers to effective criminal defence representation in Kosovo.

The OSCE Mission advocated for the development of the current ex officio appointment system and was pleased to find that the system benefits from general support. Nonetheless, the report also notes concerns regarding standards of defence representation and emphasizes that it is important that indigent defendants receive effective ex officio representation whenever legal representation is in the interests of justice.

Launching the report, Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo said: “The provision of legal representation does not of itself guarantee the right to effective defence. The necessary legal framework, institutions and procedures need to be complemented by a professional defence culture determined to uphold standards. The OSCE report highlights the role of defence counsel and the importance of ex officio appointments. So I hope we can now seize the opportunity of wider judicial reform in order to strengthen defence counsel within the criminal justice system.”

The report lists a number of recommendations to key institutions including a comprehensive review of the current system, providing guidance on disclosure and access to case files, and improved training and qualifications for lawyers practicing criminal defence, particularly those undertaking ex officio work.

The full report is available in Albanian, Serbian and English on the website: https://www.osce.org/mission-in-kosovo/523952  

524004 Kunduz Rysbek

On July 26, 2022 in anticipation of World Day against Trafficking in Persons, a press café was held in Bishkek for media representatives and leading bloggers of the country to inform the society about issues related to the combat against trafficking in persons in Kyrgyzstan.

At present, according to national experts in the field, this industry ranks as the first most profitable in the world, already leaving behind trafficking in arms and drugs. The human trafficking problem is extensive and includes sexual slavery, illegal organ transplants, forced marriages abroad, begging, and more.

International Labor Organization data demonstrates that 11,4 million women and girls and 9,5 million men and boys are victims of forced labor annually; 5,5 million of them are children.

During the press café, experts from law enforcement and civil society discussed statistics on trafficking, cases and human stories from Kyrgyzstan, the National Referral Mechanism and various methods to better identify and help victims of trafficking, as well as on-going efforts to counter human trafficking.

The real-life stories of victims of trafficking from Kyrgyzstan illustrate that Kyrgyzstan is both a source and a transit country for human trafficking.

Notably, according to the national law enforcement experts, the number of victims of human trafficking is far higher in Kyrgyzstan as compared to the official statistics. The secrecy of this type of crime complicates the work of state agencies in combating this phenomenon, yet a joint and coordinated work of law enforcement agencies, social workers, and civil society organizations makes the fight against this problem more effective.

For many years, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek has been providing assistance to national stakeholders in capacity building, conducting seminars and training courses for law enforcement, social workers, and religious leaders, as well as information campaigns for the population.

In addition, first national trafficking simulation exercise had been conducted for the first time in Kyrgyzstan in 2021, which helped test the National Referral Mechanism in practice.