OSCE

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

On 13 April, an SMM patrol comprising four members and two vehicles was positioned outside of the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk) to monitor adherence to a localized ceasefire to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk).

Despite security guarantees having been provided that a localized ceasefire would be adhered to, at 13:23, two SMM patrol members standing outside the vehicles heard nine undetermined explosions and six bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1-2km south, as well as three whistling sounds assessed as caused by small-arms fire or pieces of shrapnel at varying heights overhead. Subsequently, from its position, the SMM heard three impacts: one on the exterior wall of the railway station building about 20-50m south; one on the ground about 50m south; and one on a railcar about 100m south.

The SMM patrol immediately relocated about 1km north of the railway station in Yasynuvata and continued monitoring adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate the operation of the DFS. The patrol returned safely to its base in non-government-controlled Donetsk city.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 10 and 11 April, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Between the evenings of 11 and 12 April, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. It recorded no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM saw damage caused by shelling to a functional school (currently closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak) and residential buildings in the Kuibyshevskyi district of non-government-controlled Donetsk city.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the SMM passage towards non-government-controlled areas at checkpoints near Olenivka and Oleksandrivka, Donetsk region, as well as towards non-government-controlled and government-controlled areas at a checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, Luhansk region.*
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations, including an explosion assessed as an impact of an undetermined weapon, in the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM monitored and facilitated adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance of and repairs to civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line, as well as demining activities in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and their corresponding checkpoints in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

On 11, 12, and 13 April, members of the armed formations again denied SMM attempts to cross into non-government-controlled areas along official crossing routes: four times in Donetsk region and twice in Luhansk region, while a further attempt to cross into government-controlled areas in Luhansk region was also denied.

On 11, 12, and 13 April, at a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), members of the armed formations denied SMM patrols, travelling from government-controlled areas, passage into non-government-controlled areas, once providing no reason and twice referring to quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.

On 11, 12, and 13 April, at the checkpoint of the armed formations south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), members of the armed formations denied SMM patrols passage into non-government-controlled areas on two occasions and passage into government-controlled areas on one occasion, referring to quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.

On the morning of 12 April, at a checkpoint near Oleksandrivka (non-government-controlled, 20km south-west of Donetsk), members of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol, travelling from government-controlled areas, passage into non-government-controlled areas, referring to quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.

The Mission began facing repeated denials when attempting to cross into non-government-controlled areas at checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk region on 21 March and Luhansk region on 23 March (see SMM Spot Reports 2/2020, 3/2020, 4/2020, 5/2020, 6/2020, 7/2020, 8/2020, 9/2020, 10/2020). They restrict the SMM’s freedom of movement across the contact line, thus impeding the implementation of its Mandate throughout the country.

***

With regard to COVID-19, the SMM has introduced a number of stringent mitigation measures into its operational procedures. These include strict adherence to social distancing rules both internally and with external interlocutors, daily temperature checks, use of PPE, and minimizing the number of personnel in vehicles.

VIENNA, 12 April 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today regarding two recent incidents against the KoSSev online portal.

On 11 April, the police briefly arrested the editor-in-chief of the KoSSev portal, Tatjana Lazarević, for allegedly violating the curfew announced last month. According to KoSSev, Lazarević was on her way to report on the situation at the Zvečan Health Centre, in relation to the coronavirus pandemic. During her arrest, she identified herself to the police by presenting her press card to them. She now reportedly faces criminal proceedings.

In another incident, on 9 April, the Head of the Crisis Headquarters of Mitrovica North, Aleksandar Spirić, called out the KoSSev portal for live-streaming a press conference of the Crisis Headquarters that took place the previous day. In particular, Spirić urged the portal not to cause instability by posing political questions, but instead to help the authorities in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am concerned about the brief arrest of Tatjana Lazarević and how the local authorities in Mitrovica North are treating the work of the KoSSev portal. Journalists play a key role during this health crisis by providing vital information to the public. Access to information and a free working environment are therefore essential and need to be ensured at all times,” Désir said. He added that any kind of pressure against journalists has an immediate consequence, not only on them but also on the public’s right to be informed.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He 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.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the SMM passage towards non-government-controlled areas at a checkpoint near Horlivka, Donetsk region and towards government-controlled areas at a checkpoint south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It saw two people close to former military positions in the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas, as well as mines inside the latter.
• The Mission saw for the first time anti-personnel mines in a field north of the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM monitored and facilitated adherence to localized ceasefires to enable repairs to and maintenance and construction of civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line, as well as demining activities.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and their corresponding checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

On 9 and 10 April, members of the armed formations again denied SMM attempts to cross into non-government-controlled areas on official crossing routes: three times in Donetsk region and once in Luhansk region, while a further attempt to cross into government-controlled areas in Luhansk region was also denied.

On the morning of 9 April, at a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), five members of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol, travelling from government-controlled areas, passage into non-government-controlled areas, citing quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.

On the same morning, at a checkpoint about 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), three members of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol, travelling from government-controlled areas, passage into non-government-controlled areas, citing quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19. The SMM also saw for the first time three anti-tank mines on a wooden plank near the checkpoint, in the middle of a road leading towards Verkhnoshyrokivske. Members of the armed formations said that they would not remove the mines.

On the same morning, at the checkpoint of the armed formations south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), two members of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol, travelling from government-controlled areas, passage into non-government-controlled areas, citing quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.

On the morning of 10 April, at the checkpoint of the armed formations south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, a member of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol, travelling from non-government-controlled areas, passage into government-controlled areas, citing quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.

On the morning of 10 April, at a checkpoint near Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), three members of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol, travelling from government-controlled areas, passage into non-government-controlled areas, citing “orders from commanders that nobody may pass”.

The Mission began facing repeated denials when attempting to cross into non-government-controlled areas at checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk region on 21 March and Luhansk region on 23 March (see SMM Spot Reports 2/2020, 3/2020, 4/2020, 5/2020, 6/2020, 7/2020, 8/2020, 9/2020). They restrict the SMM’s freedom of movement across the contact line, thus impeding the implementation of its Mandate throughout the country.

***

With regard to COVID-19, the SMM has introduced a number of stringent mitigation measures into its operational procedures. These include strict adherence to social distancing rules both internally and with external interlocutors, daily temperature checks, use of PPE, and minimizing the number of personnel in vehicles.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• In Donetsk region, small-arms fire was assessed as directed at SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) flying over areas near Petrivske and Hranitne, one of which was lost and assessed to have crashed near Petrivske.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the SMM passage towards non-government-controlled areas at checkpoints in Donetsk region and at a checkpoint in Luhansk region.
• The Mission recorded two projectiles in flight inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska.
• It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske, and saw a person inside a trench near the northern edge of the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM monitored and facilitated adherence to localized ceasefires to enable  repairs to and maintenance and construction of civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line, as well as demining activities.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and their corresponding checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the SMM passage towards non-government-controlled areas at checkpoints in Donetsk region and towards government-controlled areas at a checkpoint in Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM monitored and facilitated adherence to localized ceasefires to enable  repairs to and maintenance and construction of civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line, as well as demining activities in Krasnyi Yar, Luhansk region.
• The Mission again saw that two entry-exit checkpoints and their corresponding checkpoints in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained closed amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

449851 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a three-day training seminar for officers of the Drugs Control Agency of Tajikistan (DCA) from 7 to 9 April 2020 in Dushanbe. The course trained participants on how to protect human rights and promote gender aspects in the daily work of law enforcement agencies. Some 25 young officers from DCA participated. This initiative was part of a 15-day special training for young employees of the DCA, who recently started their career in the law enforcement sector.

The participants learned about gender aspects and gender equality in law enforcement agencies, and reviewed forms of domestic violence and prevention measures. Special attention was paid to protecting the rights and freedoms of detainees in criminal cases with discussions focused on the rights to freedom and personal inviolability. During the training, discussions on women’s rights and gender discrimination took place.

“Alongside the discussions on human rights and freedoms, we used practical exercises based on several cases focusing specifically on their gender aspects,” said Shamigul Aminova, one of the experts who delivered the training.

COPENHAGEN, 9 April 2020 – The leadership of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on Wednesday agreed to endorse a call by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres for a worldwide ceasefire, emphasizing that a number of conflicts continue to rage in the OSCE area even as countries struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Guterres issued the call for a global ceasefire on 23 March and since then, at least 70 UN Member States have endorsed it along with regional organizations and civil society groups. Some warring parties have also heeded the call to lay down weapons, including Saudi Arabia’s armed forces in Yemen and the ELN rebel group in Colombia.

“As the world grapples with containing the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing we need is armed conflict to complicate these efforts,” said OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia). “The OSCE area is impacted by a number of conflicts, including in the South Caucasus and in eastern Ukraine. I urge all parties to heed the UN call for a ceasefire so that we can all focus on the common struggle today against COVID-19.”

Bureau members raised concerns over recent attempts by members of armed factions in eastern Ukraine to block monitors from the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission to travel towards non-government-controlled areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, citing COVID-19. They also stressed that the coronavirus crisis should not be exploited to curtail human rights, and emphasized that the recent “elections” held in internationally unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh and Abkhazia were illegitimate and could aggravate the public health threat.

The PA’s elected leaders, who met by video conference for informal discussions on the Assembly’s activities during the coronavirus crisis, were also briefed by Vincenzo Amendola, Italy’s Minister of European Affairs.

Minister Amendola provided an update on the situation in his country and the European institutions’ reaction to the crisis. He said that multilateralism is needed now more than ever, emphasizing the need to reshape multilateral tools and decision-making procedures to adapt to the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic, which he stressed is not “business as usual.” In terms of Italy’s response to the crisis, he noted that the first pillar is health care and the second pillar is economic recovery, highlighting the need for Europe to stand together to make a full recovery.

Head of the Canadian Delegation Hedy Fry briefed the Bureau members on the recent decision to cancel the 2020 Annual Session in Vancouver. Noting the difficulty of making this call, she pointed out that with the unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic and Canada’s travel restrictions, organizing an international meeting was not realistic at this time. Canada would, however, be interested in hosting another Annual Session in the years ahead, she said.

President Tsereteli highlighted the economic hardship that the crisis may have on parliaments, and how this could impact the work of the Assembly. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in the work of parliamentarians, who are continuing to meet the challenges of this period.

The Bureau leaders also made an appeal to governments, the scientific community and pharmaceutical industries to join efforts, pool resources, and establish co-operative arrangements to accelerate clinical research for the rapid and safe development of treatments and a vaccine to fight COVID-19 for the benefit of all.

Secretary General Roberto Montella stressed that the PA is working closely with other organizations in order to promote cohesion and the strengthening of international multilateral organizations. Addressing the Bureau, he said that the challenges of the 20th century – whether those related to public health, movement of people, climate change or terrorism – are global and require global responses and policies.

SG Montella also reported on a meeting he held earlier in the day with the Secretaries General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for discussions on common challenges facing the three organizations. The talks focused, Montella said, on the practicalities of holding virtual meetings for parliamentarians, including the feasibility of simultaneous interpretation in online forums.

Discussion during the informal Bureau meeting also touched on various opportunities for continuing OSCE PA work by using tools such as webinars. The OSCE PA’s general committees could meet in an online forum, it was suggested, to explore the impact of the pandemic on the OSCE’s three dimensions of security. Members also discussed ways to ensure that the work of ad hoc committees and special representatives can continue during this period.

Wednesday’s meeting was the second time the elected leadership of the Assembly has met in an online forum during the coronavirus pandemic, with an earlier meeting featuring a briefing by the President of Lombardy Region of Italy, Attilio Fontana, who discussed the situation in his region, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus.

The Bureau consists of the Assembly’s President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Officers of the three General Committees and President Emeritus. It will meet again in an online format on 27 April for its formal annual meeting, which ordinarily takes place in Copenhagen every spring.

KYIV, 9 April 2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG ‎and its working groups:

“Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the regular meetings of the Trilateral Contact Group and its Working Groups were held through video conferencing from 6 to 8 April 2020.

The Humanitarian Working Group focused its debates on the exchange of detainees. The sides agreed in principle on the next phase of the exchange with a view to its completion in the near future. Aspects of the opening of new entry-exit crossing points on the line of contact in the Luhansk region were further discussed.

The Security Working Group paid major attention to the identification of additional disengagement areas of forces and hardware. Yet, further efforts are still needed to come to a decision on this issue.

In the discussion on mine action, the demining of civilian facilities and their surroundings was prioritized. In this regard, emphasis was made on the need for timely mine clearance of entry-exit crossing points and adjacent areas in the period before the future lifting the ongoing restrictions on crossing the line of contact.

The Economic Working Group discussed the question of economic relations across the line of contact. The discussion also touched upon pressing environmental issues and currenyt issues of water supplies to certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR).

The Political Working Group discussed aspects related to the special status of CADR and CALR, as foreseen by the Minsk Agreements”.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the SMM passage towards non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region at a checkpoint near Olenivka.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It continued to observe anti-tank mines inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM monitored and facilitated adherence to localized ceasefires to enable  repairs to and maintenance and construction of civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line, as well as to enable demining activities in Krasnyi Yar, Luhansk region.
• The Mission again saw that two entry-exit checkpoints and their corresponding checkpoints in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained closed amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

On 7 and 8 April, members of the armed formations again denied attempts of the SMM to cross into non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, as well as an attempt to cross into government-controlled areas in Luhansk region, all along official crossing routes.

On the morning of 7 April, at a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), an armed member of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol, travelling from government-controlled areas, passage into non-government-controlled areas, citing “orders from superior command due to established COVID-19 restrictions”.

On the morning of 8 April, at the checkpoint of the armed formations south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), two members of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol, travelling from non-government-controlled areas, passage into government-controlled areas, citing “closure of the checkpoint due to COVID-19”.

On the morning of 8 April, at a checkpoint on road H-15 near Oleksandrivka (non-government-controlled, 20km south-west of Donetsk), three armed members of the armed formations denied an SMM patrol, travelling from government-controlled areas, passage into non-government-controlled areas, citing “orders from their commanders related to COVID-19”.

The Mission began facing repeated denials when attempting to cross into non-government-controlled areas at checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk region on 21 March and Luhansk region on 23 March (see SMM Spot Reports 2/2020, 3/2020, 4/2020, 5/2020, 6/2020, 7/2020, 8/2020). They restrict the SMM’s freedom of movement across the contact line, thus impeding the implementation of its Mandate throughout the country.

***

With regard to COVID-19, the SMM has introduced a number of stringent mitigation measures into its operational procedures. These include strict adherence to social distancing rules both internally and with external interlocutors, daily temperature checks, use of PPE, and minimizing the number of personnel in vehicles.

Communication and Media Relations Section

Persistent gender inequality might worsen due to the impact of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus if not properly addressed from the beginning, said speakers at the OSCE online discussion held on 7 April 2020. The webinar, organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Gender Section and moderated by OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues Amarsanaa Darisuren, provided a platform for the exchange of ideas and good practices on how to respond to gender-related impacts of COVID-19.

Discussion topics included the role of the security sector, the intersection of crisis and conflict-affected populations, economic vulnerability and environmental challenges. Discussions also addressed the impact on gender-based violence, including the rise in domestic violence, and specific challenges for disadvantaged groups.

Over 170 participants took part in the online event, including OSCE delegations, representatives of civil society, international organizations, and OSCE staff. Speakers and participants stressed that the crisis response to COVID-19 needs to be more inclusive and a gender perspective needs to be included from the onset.

The webinar resulted in a number of recommendations on how to develop and implement targeted gender-responsive measures and actions in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The speakers stressed that all measures and actions during this crisis should include a gender analysis. They noted the need to enhance efforts to deliver gender-sensitive security. Additionally, the protection of human rights, and awareness of the risks faced by vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, has to be increased.

The participants emphasized the importance of collaboration between rule of law authorities and protection service providers as well as the need to secure increased funding and support for local organizations providing support to victims of gender-based violence. The need to provide adequate protection and support for those combating COVID 19 in the healthcare and informal caretaking sector, civil society – disproportionately represented by women – was also underlined.

More data and analysis on gender-related impacts of the current pandemic will be available as time progresses. The OSCE plans to organize further webinars to explore gender-related issues with well-known experts from across the OSCE region.

COPENHAGEN, 8 April 2020 – As countries across the OSCE region are gathering data, including on people’s geographical movements, the leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee called for careful consideration to privacy concerns.

Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (MP, Cyprus), Michael Georg Link (MP, Germany), and Kari Henriksen (MP, Norway), the Chair, Vice-Chair and Rapporteur of the OSCE PA's General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, released the following statement:

“Our medical professionals battling this terrible pandemic need accurate information to continue saving lives. Personal mobile devices can be an important tool in collecting data that will be to our collective benefit. However, we call on all authorities to exercise utmost caution in collecting personal data. Any data collection must be carefully constructed and restricted to meeting a legitimate health-related purpose, with a limited timeframe and appropriate oversight measures in place to ensure personal data cannot misused.

“Most of us have accepted some restrictions on our daily lives on a temporary basis so that our societies can defeat this pandemic collectively. Long-term public trust in institutions and government will, however, depend on appropriate action during this emergency, and so maintain respect for privacy must be at the forefront of our minds.”

A number of OSCE countries have put in place mobile applications intended to help track COVID-19 infections, some of them mandatory. The information gathered is intended to help medical professionals with up-to-date data in order to understand developments and fight the global pandemic.

SUMMARY

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons significantly decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 21 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). 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 taken to ensure the safety of staff and compliance with measures set by the host authorities.  The Mission is continuing to keep the situation under review, in close contact with the Secretariat and Chairmanship; it is capable of continuing to fulfill its mandate under the current circumstances. Due to the mandatory self-isolation in the Mission’s area, the OM’s main office has operated with limited capability as of 30 March, but without significant consequences in the Mission’s 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 average number of entries/exits decreased from 3,360 to 1,111 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[1].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 349 per day for both BCPs. The Donetsk BCP continued to experience much more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.

Responding to the COVID-19 crisis, the host country closed its borders for the majority of foreigners from 18 March to 1 May 2020. Among the exceptions, entered into force on 19 March, there are Ukrainian citizens and stateless people having passport or Identification Document with the mark of permanent residence in certain areas of Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine. This category of people crossing is significant at both BCPs.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs was nine, compared to eight last week, one of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and eight into Ukraine (56 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP). They continued to cross the border individually or in groups. Most individuals crossed on foot, however, some made use of private vehicles, buses or minivans, making it more difficult for the observer teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border, especially since some of the private vehicles had tinted windows, and buses and minivans had drawn curtains.

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, no families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while three families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when one family was observed crossing to the Russian Federation and five families 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. In addition to regular bus connections, the OTs continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the buses did not state their route; instead they had a sign on the windshield stating “irregular”.

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a significant decrease in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (64 compared to 192 observed during the previous week). There were 32 buses bound for the Russian Federation and the remaining 32 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 and “LPR” plates.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (825 compared to 879 during the previous reporting week); 411 at the Gukovo BCP and 414 at the Donetsk BCP, 675 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 150 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 and trucks with “LPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting week, the number of tanker trucks slightly increased from 42 to 45. 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 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 slightly increased from 142 to 153. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 36 trucks (24 per cent) were bound for Ukraine: the remaining 117 trucks (76 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 frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. Compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans significantly decreased from 71 to 37 vehicles; 20 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 17 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 17 occasions; the OTs assessed that seven trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and ten 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.

On 2 April at 20:57, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a minivan with an inscription "Ritual" (written in Russian) arriving at the BCP from the Russian Federation side and parking in front of the customs control zone. After staying for a while, at 22:07 the vehicle left the BCP towards the Russian Federation without crossing the border to Ukraine.

On 5 April at 17:35, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance arriving at the BCP from the Russian Federation side. Two paramedics left the vehicle carrying a suitcase and entered the BCP’s main building. At 18:10 the ambulance with the mentioned staff on board left the BCP towards the Russian Federation.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 31 February to 7 March 2020, please see the attachment here

[1]Based on data received from the Regional Representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

[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).

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It spotted four persons walking inside the disengagement area near Zolote during night hours, as well as white tape stretched and wooden logs across road T-1316.
• It saw a mortar in violation of withdrawal lines in Sentianivka, Luhansk region.
• The SMM monitored and facilitated adherence to localized ceasefires to enable  maintenance and construction of civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line, as well as demining activities in Krasnyi Yar, Luhansk region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission again saw that an entry-exit checkpoint in Stanytsia Luhanska and the corresponding checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge remained closed amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

WARSAW, 7 April 2020 – A genuine campaign and real public debate are just as important for democratic elections as the opportunity to vote, said the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), following a vote in the Polish parliament on amendments to the electoral legislation ahead of the presidential election planned for next month.

Late in the evening of 6 April, the lower house of the Polish parliament approved a draft law to enable postal voting for all eligible citizens and to introduce other changes to the election code in a process that provided limited possibility for a meaningful debate on changes that could have wide-ranging consequences for Poland’s democratic system.

“Genuine elections require an authentic campaign in which voters can hear the programmes and opinions of all candidates in order to make a well-informed choice,” said ODIHR Director Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir. “The current limitations on public gatherings due to the pandemic make campaigning close to impossible. I am concerned that if the presidential election goes ahead under the current circumstances, it may fall short of a number of international standards.”

All OSCE countries have committed to holding democratic elections, which includes not only election day itself but also the periods before and after the vote. While postal voting can be an effective way of reaching citizens who may otherwise be unable to vote, the context in which the current changes are being planned as well as their scale are of particular concern so close to the election, especially as postal voting is difficult to organize in such a short space of time. The government’s current plans would therefore require additional legal and practical considerations to ensure the ability of all citizens to make use of their right to vote, another key OSCE commitment.

“I am closely following the ongoing debate in the Polish parliament,” said Gísladóttir. “I urge lawmakers to think carefully about the consequences of their decision. They need to consider the fact that in introducing postal voting on a large scale so close to the election, it may not be possible to ensure the secrecy and equality of the vote. At the same time, exceptionally thorough preparations by the election administration would be needed to maintain public trust in the democratic institutions that have been built up over the last 30 years.”

According to the OSCE commitments, legislation should be adopted “at the end of a public procedure” and be “formulated and adopted as the result of an open process reflecting the will of the people, either directly or through their elected representatives.” The Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission provides that “the fundamental elements of electoral law … should not be open to amendment less than one year before an election.”

While ODIHR is unable to deploy election observation missions at present following OSCE-wide travel restrictions to slow the rise of COVID-19 infections, ODIHR continues to closely follow developments regarding elections across the OSCE region.

SARAJEVO, 7 April 2020 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Office of the High Representative, the U.S. Embassy in BiH, British Embassy in Sarajevo, the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative note the introduction of a number of measures by the institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) aimed at combating and preventing the spread of COVID-19, and also alleviating its negative socio-economic impacts.  

While swift measures are necessary to combat the spread of COVID-19, measures must also be proportionate, lawful, and transparent. Governments must also take measures to minimize the risks of corruption by avoiding duplicative or uncoordinated action, which can increase opportunities for waste, fraud, and abuse. Corruption has the potential to undermine efforts to combat the virus and could considerably erode public trust and confidence in the conduct of authorities in BiH at a time when this is most needed. 

In order to ensure that public trust is preserved, all emergency response measures should be taken in a fair, accountable, verifiable and transparent manner. To this end, it is critical that institutions in BiH invest significant efforts to conduct emergency public procurement procedures, in line with the applicable legislation in order to prevent any misuse of such procedures. This is particularity relevant for procurement in the health sector, but also in all other sectors adversely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. It is similarly vital that any potential misuse of external emergency assistance be avoided, particularly by ensuring transparency and accountability in all distribution processes.

It is crucial that institutions in BiH include a clear anti-corruption perspective when devising such measures. The OSCE Mission to BiH, the Office of the High Representative, the U.S. Embassy in BiH, British Embassy in Sarajevo, the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative reiterate their support for BiH authorities in addressing COVID-19 pandemic and urge all BiH executive structures and their anti-corruption teams to develop plans for minimizing corruption risks, and calls for the inclusion of clear anti-corruption safeguards for all public interventions both now, and in the aftermath of COVID-19.

WARSAW/VIENNA, 7 April 2020 – Overcrowding and poor access to sanitation have long blighted Roma communities across Europe. On the eve of International Roma Day, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) highlight the longstanding neglect of Roma that is now leaving them highly vulnerable as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe.

“Already before the pandemic, many Member States failed to bring about real noticeable change for Europe’s Roma communities,” says FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty pointing to earlier research. “With the current EU Roma strategy ending this year, the EU and its Member States must act in future to end the longstanding Roma discrimination and marginalization that this pandemic regrettably is bringing into sharp relief.”

To counter the rapid spread of COVID-19, governments urge people to maintain physical distances, self-quarantine and regularly wash their hands with soap and water.

However, washing is a challenge for 30% of Roma because they live in households with no tap water, as FRA reports.

Up to 80% of Roma in some countries also live in cramped Roma neighbourhoods with overcrowded housing. This makes physical distancing, a key element of public health measures, close to impossible.

At the same time, quarantine and physical distancing measures are likely to push many Roma further into poverty. Many work in low paid jobs often without social security that depend on contact with other people or involve travel such as collecting scrap material.

“Besides the pandemic and all the health problems it creates, governments are likely to find themselves facing a serious economic and social crisis,” says ODIHR Director Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir. “Roma are particularly at risk, as well as others who are already vulnerable or are now in danger of slipping into poverty because of the current situation. Governments therefore have an important and urgent responsibility to develop comprehensive and inclusive plans of support – and make sure they are implemented.”

Amid media reports that the pandemic is worsening discrimination and anti-Gypsyism, ODIHR is systematically monitoring the effect of government emergency measures on Roma communities. This complements its work on assisting countries across the 57 countries of the OSCE region to increase the inclusion of Roma communities and combat racism and discrimination.

Buying medication, face masks and other forms of protective equipment is also a major challenge: within the EU alone, where most Roma live, 80% are at risk of poverty. This compares with the EU poverty average of 17%.

Access to basic services, such as doctors or pharmacies, may also prove difficult because they are often scarce in Roma neighbourhoods. And in times of lockdown, visiting other areas may be discouraged.

FRA research identifies local engagement practices with Roma communities that already exist. Health mediators can play a pivotal role in responding to this crisis. They are among the few who have trusted access to the most marginalized people. They build constructive dialogue with communities.

As participation and empowerment are key ingredients to sustainable inclusion, such examples should be replicated, and be integral to any future strategy. To move forward, poverty reduction is key. This includes eliminating segregated housing, better access to public utilities, like electricity and water, as well as more social housing.

The coronavirus pandemic underlines how persistent inequalities have left many Roma in an even more precarious situation than they usually face. Roma communities require urgent and immediate assistance so they can effectively protect themselves against the onslaught of the COVID-19 disease that is underway now, and its economic and social consequences.

International Roma Day, established in 1990, marks the date of the first international meeting of Roma representatives across Europe, on 8 April 1971 in Chelsfield in the United Kingdom.