OSCE

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• A man was injured due to the detonation of an explosive device in Fedorivka.
• The SMM observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM observed long queues of civilians at the Stanytsia Luhanska entry exit-checkpoint.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The SMM was also restricted in non-government-controlled Shevchenko and near Novolaspa and Yasne, as well as near a border crossing point outside of government control in Leonove,  Luhansk region.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 110), compared with the previous reporting period (30 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) and south and south-south-west of the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 20 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (80 explosions). More than two thirds of the ceasefire violations were recorded in areas east of Hannivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk) and the majority of explosions were recorded east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk).

Man injured due to the detonation of an explosive device in Fedorivka

The SMM followed up on reports of a man injured on 6 April due to the detonation of an explosive device near Fedorivka (government-controlled, 32km north-west of Mariupol). On 18 April, at a hospital in Mariupol, the SMM saw a man (aged 60-70) whose right hand had been amputated just above the wrist (which was covered by a bandage). He told the SMM that the explosion had occurred in the afternoon hours of 6 April as a result of the detonation of a grenade. On 8 April, medical staff at the same hospital told the SMM that the man had had surgery on 6 April during which his hand had been amputated. A police representative in Fedorivka also told the SMM that the explosive device had been assessed as a grenade. A man (aged 48) who said he had witnessed the incident said that he had found an unexploded device at an abandoned farm near the village in the afternoon of 6 April. According to the interlocutor, the two men had decided to place the unexploded device into the lake; however, when the unexploded device had not detonated, the device had been removed from the water and at that moment it had exploded.

Disengagement areas[2]

Positioned on the eastern edge of Popasna, the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 7-10km east (assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area). Positioned in Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 4-6km north (assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area).

Positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) and north of the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed calm situations.[3]

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

Weapons in violation

Government-controlled areas

18 April

The SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) in a field off a local road near Oleksandropillia (71km west of Luhansk).

Non-government-controlled areas

16 April

An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted:

• seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), five towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm), five anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and seven multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122 mm) at the former Luhansk international airport about 10km south of Luhansk city;
• seven MLRS (BM-21) in a compound near Sadovyi (57km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations see SMM Daily Report 21 March 2019);
• seven MLRS (BM-21) in a training area near Miusynsk (62km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 9 April 2019); and
• 15 MLRS (BM-21) close to residential buildings near Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 9 April 2019).

17 April

An SMM mini-UAV spotted four tanks (T-64) north of Novoselivka (16km west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites

Non-government-controlled areas

16 April

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• 11 tanks (T-64), eight self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and 12 towed howitzers (D-30) in a training area near Miusynsk;
• six surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10) and eight tanks (T-72) at the former Luhansk international airport about 10km south of Luhansk city (see above); and
• seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and 24 towed howitzers (six D-30, eight 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm and ten 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) near Khrustalnyi.

Weapons storage sites

At a permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region

18 April

The SMM noted that all weapons previously observed at the site were present.

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]

Non-government-controlled areas

16. April

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) near Pakhalivka (40km west of Luhansk), as well as for the first time a trench about 200m north-east of the IFV extending for about 800m north within a treeline;
• an armoured combat vehicle (type undetermined) and a probable communications vehicle (type undetermined) near Smile (31km north-west of Luhansk);
• two IFVs (BMP-1) and three armoured combat vehicles (types undetermined) near Dovhe (22km north-west of Luhansk); and
• two armoured personnel carriers (APC) (a BTR-80 and an MT-LB) and an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) in Luhansk city.

17 April

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on a truck near Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk);
• 12 IFVs (nine BMP-1 and three probable BMP variants) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on an APC (MT-LB) near Dovhe; and
• an APC (BTR-80) and an IFV (BMP variant) in Novoselivka.

Mine hazard signs near Myrne, Krasnohorivka and Vuhlehirsk, as well as demining activities in Myrna Dolyna

On 17 April, the SMM saw for the first time 20 mine hazard signs (with “Stop, Mines” written in Ukrainian) and two other signs (with “Attention, demining operation is ongoing in this area” written in Ukrainian) on the southern edge of road T-0512 about 4.5km east of Myrne (government-controlled, 40km north-east of Mariupol).

The following day, in a field on the eastern edge of road H-20 at the exit for Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 24km north of Donetsk), the SMM saw a mine hazard sign (“Careful, mines” written in Ukrainian and Russian) attached to a wire stretched between two bushes.

On the western edge of a local road about 4.5km north-west of Vuhlehirsk (non-government-controlled, 49km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM again saw a mine hazard sign (with “Stop, Mines” written in Russian).

The Mission saw about 15 people in protective gear bearing the logo of an international organization in a field 50m west of a local road in  Myrna Dolyna (government-controlled, 67km north-west of Luhansk)

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk) and to the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne (formerly Artemove, government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk), as well as to a water pipeline near Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk) and to power lines near Spartak (non-government-controlled, 9km north of Donetsk). The SMM also monitored the security situation in the area of the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk) and facilitated the operation of the DFS.

Long queues of civilians at Stanytsia Luhanska entry exit-checkpoint

At 12:35, at the checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw about 500 people queuing to travel towards government-controlled areas. At 13:30, at the same checkpoint, the SMM saw about 400 people queuing to exit government-controlled areas. At 12: 30, at the checkpoint of the armed formations south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM saw around 40 people queuing to travel towards government-controlled areas and around 20 people queuing in the opposite direction.

The Mission continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

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

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see below). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denials of access:

• While in Shevchenko (non-government-controlled, 69km south of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area, preventing the Mission from continuing northward.
• On the eastern edge of Novolaspa (non-government controlled, 50km south of Donetsk), two armed members of the armed formations denied the SMM entrance to the village, citing ongoing “security operations” in the area.
• On the southern edge of Yasne (non-government-controlled, 30km south-west of Donetsk), three members of the armed formations (of whom one was armed) prevented the SMM from entering the village, citing “security reasons”.
• At a checkpoint of the armed formations about 6km north of the border crossing point near Leonove (formerly Chervonyi Zhovten, non-government-controlled, 82km south of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage towards the border crossing point, citing “the presence of unexploded ordnance” and the need for “prior permission” to visit it.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

Delay:

• At a checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations stopped the SMM for about 90 minutes before allowing it to proceed east through the checkpoint, citing “orders from a superior” and “ongoing demining activities”.

Other impediments:

• On 16 April, an SMM long-range UAV temporarily lost its dual GPS signal, assessed as due to jamming, while flying near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), Yesaulivka (non-government-controlled, 61km south of Luhansk) and Myronivskyi (government-controlled, 62km north-east of Donetsk).

[1] Please see the annexed table for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as a map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report.

[2]Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[3] Due to the presence of mines, including on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM cannot access its camera in Petrivske, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons

COPENHAGEN, 19 April 2019 – The Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights and humanitarian affairs committee, Margareta Kiener Nellen (MP, Switzerland) today reiterated her full support for efforts aimed at achieving a recommitment to a ceasefire in Ukraine on the occasion of the upcoming Easter festivities.

“Particularly during the Easter holiday period, humanitarian considerations should be first and foremost in the minds of those involved,” said Kiener Nellen. “It is my sincere hope that the efforts of Ambassador Martin Sajdik and Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan to once again get the sides to put down their weapons will be successful and enable those in the region to mark the holidays in peace.”

On 18 April a press statement by the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-In-Office, Ambassador Martin Sajdik, noted that the Trilateral Contact Group and its Working Group on Security Issues discussed several proposals but that no consensus could be found at this stage. 

Kiener Nellen recalled that the Minsk Agreements committed the sides to a long and lasting ceasefire, and reiterated that the people living in the conflict zone have a right to see this ceasefire respected.

KYIV, 19 April 2019 – The international observers for the second round of the presidential election in Ukraine will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 22 April, in Kyiv.

The mission is a joint undertaking of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the European Parliament (EP).

The statement will be delivered by George Tsereteli, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission, followed by Angela Smith, Head of the PACE delegation, Doris Barnett, Head of the OSCE PA delegation, Rebecca Harms, Head of the EP delegation, and Ambassador Peter Tejler, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission.

The international election observation mission comprises 685 observers from 44 countries, including 629 long- and short-term observers deployed by ODIHR, 33 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, 19 from PACE and 9 from the EP.

Journalists are invited to attend the press conference at 15:00, Monday, 22 April, in the Regency Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Kyiv hotel, 5 Alla Tarasova St., Kyiv. NB While the press conference is open to all and no registration or accreditation is needed to enter, we will only be taking questions from journalists.

Livestreaming of the press conference will be available at: www.facebook.com/osce.odihr and www.oscepa.org.

For further information, contact:

Anna Di Domenico, OSCE PA, +380 98 046 62 21 or +45 60 10 83 80, anna.didomenico@oscepa.dk
Thomas Rymer, ODIHR, +380 67 339 62 93 or +48 609 522 266, thomas.rymer@odihr.pl
Bogdan Torcatoriu, PACE, +380 96 429 48 91 or +33 6 50 39 29 40, bogdan.torcatoriu@coe.int
Doichin Cholakov, EP, +380 97 918 38 35 or +32 477 85 45 78, doichin.cholakov@europarl.europa.eu

SARAJEVO, 19 April 2019 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) presented today in Sarajevo its second report on the monitoring of corruption cases before courts in BiH. The report concludes that the judicial response to corruption in BiH is insufficient, particularly with regard to processing of medium and high-level cases.

The report, titled Trial Monitoring of Corruption Cases in BiH: Second Assessment, builds upon the work presented in the first report issued in February 2018. It presents 24 recommendations aimed at improving the judicial response to corruption, based on findings from the monitoring and assessment of 300 cases in courts at all levels of authority across BiH in 2017 and 2018.

The report, inter alia, finds that the performance of the justice system with respect to the productivity of prosecutor’s offices and courts, the capacity of prosecutors and judges in the application of the law and their efficiency in processing cases is affected by serious problems.    

“Changing this situation will require sustained corrective efforts and sincere political commitment,” said the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Bruce G. Berton. “Political and judicial leaders must unequivocally recognize that corruption is endemic in BiH and that the fight against this social plague will require the implementation of a coherent and comprehensive strategy, as well as their uncompromised attention for many years to come.”

The United States Ambassador to BiH, Eric Nelson stated: “The citizens of BiH know that corruption is one of the biggest problems afflicting their country. Because of corruption, they cannot get jobs, or start businesses, and their loved ones are leaving. The U.S. is steadfast and remains committed to supporting citizens, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and political leaders who are ready to fight corruption.”

Slavo Lakić, Prosecutor at the FBiH Prosecutors’ Office and member of the High Judicial and Prosecutors Council of BiH said that the report represents a basis for the improvement of functioning of the judiciary within the existing legal framework. “The recommendations should be thoroughly examined in order to overcome the identified shortcomings in the system and create conditions for efficient and effective fight against corruption.”

The report was developed within the framework of the project “Assessing Needs of Judicial Response to Corruption through Monitoring of Criminal Cases” supported by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.  

Kunduz Rysbek

A capacity-building training course for staff of the Probation body and Settlement colonies was organized in Osh, Kyrgyzstan by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek from 15 to 19 April 2019 on how to support the rehabilitation of persons convicted of crimes related to extremism and terrorism.

The course aimed at enhancing the participants’ capacity in the development of plans and mechanisms for the social rehabilitation of convicts in these categories, both during their imprisonment and after release.

The course served as platform to discuss key concepts, international agreements and norms, and international experiences in the rehabilitation of inmates and their re-socialization into society.

The course highlighted the importance of the role of the staff of the State Service for the Execution of Punishment under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (SSEP) and the probation body as key to providing effective and systematic rehabilitation assistance. 

This course is a key part of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek’s activities in assisting the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in preventing radicalization in prisons and promoting a rehabilitation system for persons convicted of crimes of an extremist-terrorist nature.

BRATISLAVA, 19 April 2019  - OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajčák today expressed his deep regret that the Trilateral Contact Group and its Working Group on Security Issues were not able to agree yesterday on a recommitment to cease fire in eastern Ukraine on the occasion of the upcoming Easter festivities.

Alarmed by the ceasefire violations, the Chairperson-in-Office stressed the urgent need to not only recommit to a renewed truce, but agree on a sustainable and irreversible ceasefire.

“Every day, people in eastern Ukraine are suffering hardships. It is the duty of the sides to guarantee a safe and secure environment and it is a key precondition for any positive development, including improving the dire humanitarian situation,” Lajčák said.

The Chairperson-in-Office strongly urges the sides to continue their discussions in order to achieve and maintain a recommitment to cease fire.

VIENNA, 19 April 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today strongly condemned the killing of journalist Lyra McKee in Northern Ireland, in the United Kingdom.

McKee was covering riots in the city of Londonderry when a gunman fired shots towards the police and fatally wounded her. 

The authorities are treating her death as a terrorist incident.

“I am deeply saddened by the death of Lyra McKee in Londonderry. She was doing her job, covering the riots in the city. I strongly condemn this senseless and horrific killing of a journalist,” said Désir. “I welcome the investigation launched by the authorities and hope that those responsible are swiftly identified and brought to justice."

The Representative welcomed the condemnations by political leaders.

“Lyra McKee was a young and passionate journalist and was known for her investigative reporting on the history of political turmoil in Northern Ireland. This is a terrible loss,” he said. “I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of Lyra at this difficult time.”

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.

Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

Strengthening the capacity of police crisis negotiators from across Kazakhstan was the focus of a five-day training course held from 15 to 19 April 2019 in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Karaganda.

The course was led by national experts from the Academy of the National Security Committee and the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the General Prosecutor’s Office. The experts shared best practices on managing large crowds, non-verbal communication tools and understanding human behaviour.   

The event, organized for 30 police officers from across the country, Karaganda city Police Department and Police Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Karaganda reviewed a number of case studies where they were familiarized with innovative communicative tools used in the negotiation process, and learnt details of recent incidents where negotiators facilitated an effective resolution.

The training is part of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan’s activities to enhance security, increase accountability, and promote best practices in security at large-scale events.

KYIV, 18 April 2019 – “The Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) and its Working Group on Security Issues convened this afternoon and evening in the videoconference format.

In the Working Group on Security Issues, under the co-ordination of Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan, the sides discussed several proposals with a view to agree a joint statement of the TCG, with the participation of representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, confirming their recommitment to cease fire on the occasion of the upcoming Easter festivities. Also in the TCG itself, various compromise texts were proposed by the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office with the same view.

Unfortunately, no consensus could be found at this stage. The sides only agreed to continue their discussions during the next regular meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups in Minsk, on 24 April.” 

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• A woman was reportedly injured due to shelling in Zaitseve.
• The SMM saw fresh gunfire damage to inhabited houses in Trokhizbenka and Dokuchaievsk.
• The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM observed a weapon in violation of the withdrawal lines near Novoluhanske.
• It saw fresh craters near Novoluhanske, as well as anti-tank mines near Petrivske and Vesela Hora.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions and observed the restoration of the water supply to Dokuchaievsk following the completion of repairs to the Vasylivka water pumping station.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. It was also restricted near government-controlled Kamianka and in non-government-controlled areas, including at checkpoints near Bezimenne and Verkhnoshyrokivske and at border crossing points near Izvaryne and Sievernyi.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 30 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 310 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in south-easterly directions of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 77km south of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 80 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (40 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including the majority of explosions, were recorded in areas east-north-east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk) as well as in and near the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk).

Woman injured due to shelling in Zaitseve

On 16 April, a woman (late thirties) in a non-government-controlled part of Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk) told the SMM that she had been injured by an explosion in the yard of her house on 8 April while she and her husband were running for cover in the basement. The woman added that, before she had reached shelter, an explosion had occurred nearby that had thrown her against an outside wall of the house and shattered windows, glass from which left cuts on her legs. The woman’s husband and four neighbours told the SMM that there had been shelling in the area on the morning of 8 April. The woman told the SMM that her house was located between positions of the armed formations and of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Shrapnel and gunfire damage to inhabited houses in Trokhizbenka and Dokuchaievsk

On the south-western edge of Trokhizbenka (government-controlled, 32km north-west of Luhansk) at 245 Donetska Street, the SMM saw a broken north-facing window of a house and shrapnel damage to a north-facing iron fence. The SMM saw a crater approximately 35m north of the house, assessed as recent and caused by a 120mm mortar round fired from a southerly direction. A resident of the house (male, 80 years old) told the SMM that he had been inside of the house with his wife when shelling took place in the evening of 6 April.

At 241 Donetska Street, the SMM saw a broken west-facing window and shrapnel damage on the west-facing wall of a house and a wooden door of a shed about 25m south. In a garden 30m south of the house, the SMM saw a crater assessed as caused by an 82mm mortar round fired from a south-south-easterly direction. Approximately 200m east of the previously mentioned house, at a residential house at 225 Donetska Street, the SMM saw a crater assessed as caused by an 82mm mortar round fired from a south-south-easterly direction in a garden approximately 25m south of the house, along with three damaged beehives, shrapnel damage to a chimney and wooden fence on the eastern side of the house, and metal fragments assessed as belonging to an exploded 82mm mortar shell. At 223 Donetska Street, the SMM saw a broken south-facing window and a broken powerline near the southern gate of the house, all assessed as caused by shrapnel. Residents of all three houses told the SMM that shelling had taken place in the evening of 16 April and that Donetska Street was without power due to the damages (for previous reports of shelling on Donetska Street, see SMM Daily Report 10 April 2019).

In southern Dokuchaievsk (non-government-controlled, 30km south-west of Donetsk) at 48 Shorsha Street, about 2.5km north-east of the line of contact, the SMM saw a hole in the ceiling of a house’s bathroom and two holes each on its south- and north-facing walls, assessed as caused by an unknown projectile entering through the ceiling and ricocheting off the walls. A resident of the house (female, 50 years old) told the SMM that she had been inside the house with her family when the room had been damaged in the evening of 15 April.

Disengagement areas[2]

On the evening of 16 April, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded 27 projectiles (12 at an assessed range of 2-4km south-east and 15 at an assessed range of 2-4km south-south-east), six undetermined explosions (three at an assessed range of 2-4km south-east and three at an assessed range of 2-4km south-south-east) and a muzzle flash at an assessed range of 2-4km south-south-east, all assessed as inside the disengagement area. On 17 April, while positioned in Zolote, the SMM heard 16 undetermined explosions and 32 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire at an assessed range of 2-3km south-east, all assessed as outside the disengagement area.

During the evening and night of 16-17 April, while in Popasna, the SMM heard approximately 240 bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, 130 shots of heavy-machine-gun fire and automatic grenade launchers, and 51 undetermined explosions, all at an  assessed range of 4-8km east-north-east and all assessed as outside the disengagement area near Zolote.

Positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) and north of the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed calm situations.[3]

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

Weapons in violation of withdrawal lines  

Government-controlled areas

16 April

An SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a probable mortar (2B14, Podnos 82mm) near Novoluhanske (53km north-east of Donetsk). (The UAV also spotted fresh craters in the area, see below.)

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]

Government-controlled areas

16 April

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) and an armoured combat vehicle (ACV) next to residential houses in Pobeda (27km west of Donetsk).

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BTR-3E) about 300m west of the Bakhmut Agrarian Union's pig farm near Novoluhanske.

17 April

The SMM saw two armoured personnel carriers (BTR-80) near Shyrokyne (100km south of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

16 April

An SMM mini-UAV spotted a probable ACV (type unknown), a probable IFV (BMP variant) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a truck near Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk).

17 April

The SMM saw an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a truck near Kypuche (formerly Artemivsk, 46km west of Luhansk).

Fresh craters near Novoluhanske

On 16 April, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted at least 15 fresh craters approximately 80m west of the Bakhmut Agrarian Union's pig farm near Novoluhanske, assessed as caused by mortar rounds (calibre undetermined).

Mines near Petrivske and Vesela Hora and a mine hazard sign near Novoluhanske

On 12 April, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted for the first time at least 150 probable anti-tank mines buried in two curved lines in a field about 450m north-west of Petrivske and about 300m north of the northern edge of the disengagement area near Petrivske.

On 16 April, east of Vesela Hora, an SMM mini-UAV again spotted four anti-tank mines laid across the western lane of road H21, as well as again at least 36 anti-tank mines in a field about 50m south-west of the same road.

The SMM saw a mine hazard sign with “Be careful, mines” written in Russian near a former checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the eastern side of a road leading from Novoluhanske. Near the checkpoint, the SMM saw two vehicles bearing the logo of an international demining organization and four individuals in uniforms of the same organization.

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk) and to power lines near Spartak (non-government-controlled, 9km north of Donetsk) and Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk). It continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk).

The SMM monitored the security situation in the area of the water pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk) and was told by personnel at the pumping station that it had become fully operational on 17 April following the completion of repair works (see SMM Daily Report 16 April 2019). As a result, the SMM observed that potable water had been restored to Dokuchaievsk (non-government-controlled, 30km south-west of Donetsk). (For previous reports of the lack of potable water in the area, see SMM Daily Report 15 April 2019.)

Border areas outside government control

While at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw three cars (two with Ukrainian and one with Lithuanian licence plates), a covered cargo truck with Ukrainian licence plates, and eight pedestrians entering Ukraine. After about 15 minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

While at a pedestrian border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) for about 45 minutes, the SMM saw six pedestrians entering Ukraine and a pedestrian exiting Ukraine.

While at a pedestrian border crossing point near Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw four pedestrians entering Ukraine and five pedestrians exiting Ukraine. After about five minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

The Mission continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

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

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see below). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denials of access:

• At a border crossing point near Izvaryne (non-government-controlled, 52km south-east of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
• At a pedestrian border crossing point near Sievernyi (non-government-controlled, 50km south-east of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
• At a checkpoint near Bezimenne (non-government-controlled, 100km south of Donetsk), three members of the armed formations denied the SMM access to proceed further west of the checkpoint, citing “ongoing special operations.” While present, the SMM saw other civilian vehicles crossing the checkpoint in both directions.
• While driving toward Verkhnotoretske (government-controlled, 23km north-east of Donetsk), about 2km north-east of Kamianka (government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk) five members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stopped the SMM and told the Mission that they could not proceed.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

Delay:

• At a checkpoint of the armed formations near Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk) three armed members of the armed formations stopped the SMM for 18 minutes before allowing it to proceed east through the checkpoint.

 

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

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

[2]Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[3] Due to the presence of mines, including on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM cannot access its camera in Petrivske, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons

ST. PETERSBURG, 18 April 2019 – The evolving nature of the threat posed by terrorists and violent extremists requires enhancing co-operation at all levels, including between parliamentarians, said Chair of the OSCE PA’s Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism (CCT) Makis Voridis (Greece) at today’s opening plenary session of the International Conference on Counter-Terrorism in St. Petersburg.

“The overall number of terrorist acts has increased worldwide, and the drivers of terrorism are also changing, with factors related to political extremism and disenfranchisement becoming more prominent,” Voridis said. “To ensure an effective approach to the international fight against terrorism and violent extremism, greater involvement of parliamentarians and leveraging their comparative advantages of policy-making and oversight is indispensable.”

The conference, organized by the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States with the support of the OSCE PA and of several other parliamentary assemblies and UN agencies, included the participation of some 15 parliamentarians from the OSCE PA. In addition to CCT members Voridis and Lisa Chambers (Ireland), the OSCE PA delegation included human rights committee Chair Margareta Kiener Nellen (Switzerland) and economic and environmental committee Rapporteur Elona Gjebrea Hoxha (Albania). 

The conference explored issues such as challenges associated with prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration of foreign terrorist fighters, the role of international institutions in building a common strategy to counter terrorism and the need to better address terrorism financing. Voridis chaired Session Three on “Preventing Illegal Use of Network Technologies, Mass Media and Social Networks to Spread Extremist Ideas,” which also featured Chambers as a keynote speaker.

“When seeking to prevent radicalization and illegal use of social media and social networks, individual countries cannot work in isolation – we must act as a global community to tackle this universal problem,” Chambers said. “Online platforms do not recognize land borders and so if we want to get ahead, we must come together. We can do this by talking, sharing information and developing international best practice, this is precisely why the CCT was established and why our work has been so effective. We are learning from each other and working together as parliamentarians, using the avenues open to us to direct policy and enact legislation in our own countries.”

Intervening in the session on “Stepping Up Efforts Against the Financing of Terrorism and Extremism,” Kiener Nellen said: “To prevent terrorists from benefiting from transnational organized crime as a source of financing or logistical support, the international community needs to urgently co-ordinate its efforts at the local, national, regional, and international levels.” 

Conference participants concurred that countering terrorism and violent extremism is a common goal and priority for the international community, including for parliamentary institutions. They also confirmed the relevance of the provisions of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006, noting that parliamentarians play a key role by adopting relevant legislation, allocation of budget funds and performing oversight to ensure protection from terrorist violence in line with human rights obligations.

Voridis held bilateral talks on the margins of the conference with Yuri Fedotov of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Sergei Lebedev of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and Liliane Maury Pasquier of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, to better co-ordinate efforts in the fight against terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism.

For more information on the work of the CCT, please click here.

417665 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Ivana Milatovic, OSCE Mission to Serbia

Lobbying against corruption was the topic of a training event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Mission to Serbia from 16 to 18 April in Belgrade. The event gathered 52 participants (36 women and 16 men) from the Serbian Anti-Corruption Agency, the Embassy of the United States and civil society organizations.

ODIHR and the OSCE Mission to Serbia have been providing assistance to the Anti-Corruption Agency as authorities in Serbia prepare to implement the law on lobbying, due to enter into force in August 2019. The course was tailored to Serbia’s legal and institutional framework and covered international standards on lobbying and specific lobbying practices, as well as activities related to the drafting of the code of conduct for lobbying participants in Serbia. The lobbyist registration process and the development of a register of lobbyists were also discussed.

“The approval of the law on lobbying is an important step towards enhancing public integrity in Serbia,” said Jacopo Leone, Associate Democratic Governance Officer at ODIHR. “Together with the OSCE Mission to Serbia, ODIHR stands ready to support the Anti-Corruption Agency in implementing the law, so as to achieve higher standards of pluralism, transparency and inclusion in decision-making in Serbia.” 

Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Andrea Orizio, said: “This inception training course is just the beginning of a series of support activities by the OSCE Mission to Serbia in the area of lobbying as a corruption prevention measure. By initiating the adoption of the law on lobbying, Serbia has yet again shown its willingness to assume increased ownership of the reform process.”

Verka Atanaskovic, Assistant Director at the Department on Conflict of Interest and Lobbying Issues of the Serbian Anti-Corruption Agency, added: “We are fully committed to the effective implementation of the newly adopted law on lobbying, and value the support and expertise provided by the OSCE during this induction training.”

VIENNA, 18 April 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, condemned the intimidation and threats against TV21 journalists in the municipality of Aracinovo, in North Macedonia.

Yesterday, a TV21 journalist and camera operator were verbally threatened and intimidated while carrying out their work. The journalists were first approached by several people allegedly related to the municipality’s mayor, who, in addition to carrying out verbal assaults, wanted them to delete the recorded footage and threatened to destroy their equipment. After the journalists refused to do so, they were taken to the municipal building where they were faced with the same demands. They were subsequently transferred by force to Skopje.

“Journalists are being targeted because of their work; this is a blatant attack on freedom of the media. I strongly condemn this intimidation and threats against journalists of TV21,” Désir said.

The Editor-in-Chief of TV21 was also threatened and pressured not to publish the recordings. According to available information, this incident was reported to the police, and the Mayor of Aracinovo municipality subsequently publicly condemned the incident and apologized.

“I call on the authorities to conduct a swift investigation and to bring the perpetrators to justice. It is essential to guarantee safe working conditions for journalists,” Désir said, noting that media professionals must be able work without fear of intimidation or attack.

The Representative recalled the OSCE Ministerial Decision on Safety of Journalists, which urges participating States to “condemn publicly and unequivocally all attacks and violence against journalists” and welcomed the condemnations made by the AJM and MAN Associations of Journalists and the SSNM Independent Union of Journalists.

417581 Marina Živaljević

As part of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro’s ongoing support to municipalities in achieving gender equality, the Mission, in partnership with the Department for Gender Equality within the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, organized three workshops to support the development of local action plans on gender equality in the municipalities of Rožaje, Mojkovac and Cetinje from 10 to 15 April 2019.

The workshops were attended by representatives of the municipal secretariats, judicial and police bodies, primary and secondary schools, the media and non-governmental organizations. The interactive workshops were facilitated by two experts in gender equality, Branka Vlahović and Slavica Striković.

A model local action plan, developed in 2017 with the Mission’s support, was presented to the working groups as a practical guideline that can be customized to the needs of each municipality.

“New local action plans should be harmonized with the National Gender Equality Strategy and the Plan of Activities for Achieving Gender Equality,” said Biljana Pejović, Head of the Department for Gender Equality in the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights. She emphasized the importance of long-term co-operation with the OSCE Mission, which has contributed to the promotion of gender equality policy at the local level.

The one-day workshop held in Rožaje on 10 April provided an opportunity for a group of six men and three women to discuss and suggest solutions for tackling the issue of violence against women, which has been recognized as a priority for their local action plan.

During the two-day workshop in Mojkovac on 11 and 12 April, the participants identified current issues in the spheres of women’s health and violence against women, and defined concrete activities designed to address these topics to be included in the local action plan.

The workshop in Cetinje on 15 April showed that there is still room for improvement with respect to raising awareness on domestic violence and increasing the level of institutional responsibility within the municipality.

The OSCE Mission will continue to support Montenegrin municipalities in achieving gender equality at the local level. A two-day workshop in Ulcinj addressing similar topics will be held shortly.

417422 Kunduz Rysbek World Customs Organization accredits Kyrgyzstan’s State Customs Service Training Centre with regional status

Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Kunio Mikuriya, together with the Chairperson of the State Customs Service (SCS) of the Kyrgyz Republic Almaz Onolbekov, with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, opened a new Regional Training Centre of the World Customs Organization in Kyrgyzstan on 16 April 2019 in Bishkek.  

Previously, this facility was an SCS Training Centre, which acquired its new status following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the WCO and SCS in December 2018.

Following the signing of the Memorandum, the SCS Training Centre became the seventh regional training centre of the WCO in the European region.

Secretary General Mikuriya noted the co-operation of the WCO customs services contributes to the improvement of customs management in accordance with modern international standards and play an important role in ensuring security, simplifying customs procedures and creating favourable conditions for international trade. Similarly, Kunio Mikuriya mentioned that the new WCO Regional Training Centre will create a new impetus for the institutional development of not only Central Asian, but also the entire European region of the World Customs Organizations.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek helped the SCS to achieve this outcome within the framework of its long-term programmatic support to the SCS Training Centre.

Since 2009, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek has assisted in enhancing the capacity of the SCS to facilitate cross-border trade, combat trafficking of illicit goods, and adopt modern information and customs technologies. With OSCE support, the SCS Training Centre has implemented a number of international standards in capacity-building activities, which have allowed the Training Centre to include a regional component.

As such, since 2009 the SCS Training Centre has trained over 1,000 Kyrgyz and 250 Afghan customs officers, and more than 100 training modules have been developed with the OSCE’s support. 

The newly acquired status of the WCO Regional Training Centre will provide for an increased geographic reach and quality of training for customs officers of the OSCE region and beyond.

417521 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe conducted a training course on environmental journalism and the main environmental challenges in Tajikistan for 35 young journalists from Dushanbe and different regions of the country on 17 and 18 April 2019. The event was jointly organized with the Committee on Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan. 

The young journalists - 18 women and 17 men - from Dushanbe, Khorog, Khujand, Jayhun, Bokhtar and Rasht enhanced their knowledge on environmental challenges in the country, the Aarhus Convention, and how to better introduce environmental topics to audiences and readers through the media.

Ibodullo Sangov, Deputy Head of the Environmental Information Centre of the Committee on Environmental Protection, said: “Today's event is one of the OSCE’s initiatives in the framework of the beneficial co-operation between the OSCE and the Committee on Environmental Protection. Taking into account the importance of mass media in shaping public opinion, the OSCE in collaboration with the Committee is intending to train young journalists to raise their awareness of environmental problems and present real and precise information to the population.”

Filippo Crivellaro, Head of the Economic and Environmental Department at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, said: “We believe that high-quality and socially-oriented articles in the newspapers, internet, radio and TV programmes could reach more people across Tajikistan and pave the way for the implementation of the Government’s strategic documents on environmental protection.”

On the margins of the training, the participants visited a paper recycling plant and Dushanbe botanical garden where they developed reports on the visits that were later presented and analysed during the training course.

VIENNA, 17 April 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today called on the authorities in Uzbekistan to end the blocking of media outlets, in order to ensure that important news and current affairs resources be made accessible to the public.

“I have written to the authorities asking them to set forth a series of reforms to ensure  unhindered access to online media in the country,” Désir said. “I would like to reiterate to the state authorities that any blocking measures can only be justified in accordance with international standards, used only in exceptional cases, and be strictly proportionate to the legitimate aim pursued.”

According to reports, editors and journalists encountered problems accessing news media, such as Fergana Agency, Ozodlik (the Uzbek service of the RFE/RL), Eurasianet.org, AsiaTerra, and Uzmetronom. among others. These concerns resurfaced following the adoption, by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2018, of a decree authorizing the blocking of news media that “promote extremist, propaganda or hateful content online”. However, neither a list of the banned resources, nor the exact criteria which led to the blocking of said news media have been made publicly available.

“I call on authorities to restore access to the blocked websites and reform the laws and regulations affecting access to information and freedom of expression in the country,” said the Representative. “Participating States must ensure that their laws, policies and practices, pertaining to media freedom, are fully in compliance with their international obligations and commitments.”

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

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM saw fresh damage caused by gunfire to houses in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka.
• The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas.
• The SMM observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines near Khrustalnyi, in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of essential civilian infrastructure in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere. The Mission was also restricted at a checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske in a non-government-controlled area of southern Donetsk region, as well as at a railway station in Voznesenivka and at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 310 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (33 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including the majority of explosions, were recorded in areas south and south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol), in areas south of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol) and in areas west-south-west of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk). Positioned about 2km south-west of Pyshchevyk, the SMM heard and saw 13 explosions assessed as impacts of 120mm mortar rounds and saw black smoke rising at an assessed distance of 4km south-south-east.

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including 40 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (five explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas east, south-east and north-east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk).

Damage caused by gunfire to houses and fresh craters in residential areas of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka

On 15 April, at 10 Lizy Chaikinoi Street on the western edge of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM, accompanied by members of the armed formations, saw a fresh crater in a yard about 4m north of the north-facing side of a two-storey house. The SMM saw about 14 shattered windows and fresh shrapnel damage (about 150 holes) on the north-facing side of the house. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by rounds of automatic grenade launchers (OG-9 or OG-15) fired from a west-north-westerly direction.

At 9 Lizy Chaikinoi Street, the SMM saw four shattered windows and fresh shrapnel damage (about 30 holes) on the south-facing side of a two-storey house. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by rounds of automatic grenade launchers (OG-9 or OG-15) fired from a west-north-westerly direction. A resident of the house told the SMM that shelling had occurred in the area at about 19:20 on 14 April when he had been with his wife inside their apartment on the first floor. He added that the residents of the apartment on the ground floor, a couple (aged 30-40) and their two daughters (aged 5 and 11), had also been inside the house. 

At 5 Dundycha Street, about 200m east of Lizy Chaikinoi Street, the SMM saw a fresh crater in a yard, about 40m west of the west-facing side of a two-storey house. The SMM assessed the crater as caused by the explosion of a rocket-propelled grenade round (PG-7-type) fired from a west-north-westerly direction.

On the north-western edge of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, at 1 Pervomaiska Street, the SMM saw a fresh crater in a yard 2m east of the east-facing side of a one-storey non-inhabited house and about 6m south of the south-facing side of another house (inhabited) located at the same address. The SMM saw two shattered windows on the east-facing side of the non-inhabited house as well as another crater 25m east of it. It also saw two shattered windows and fresh shrapnel damage to the south-facing side of the inhabited house. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by rounds of automatic grenade launcher(s) (OG-9 or OG-15), but it could not assess the direction of fire. A resident of the house (male, aged 38) told the SMM that shelling had occurred at around 19:50 on 14 April while he had been inside his apartment with his wife and son.

At 9 Poshtova Street, about 80m east of the houses at 1 Pervomaiska Street, the SMM observed a hole (around 40cm in diameter) on the eastern side of the roof of a one-storey house. The SMM saw two shattered windows and fresh shrapnel damage on the east-facing side of the house. It also saw fresh shrapnel damage to the west-facing side of an outbuilding and to the north-facing wooden side of a garage, respectively 2-3m west and 1m south of the house. The SMM assessed all aforementioned damage as caused by rounds of an automatic grenade launcher (OG-9 or OG-15), but it could not assess the direction of fire. A resident of the house (male, aged 55) told the SMM that shelling had occurred in the area at about 19:45 on 14 April and that he had been in the yard with his brother at that time.

At 4 Myru Street on the south-eastern edge of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, the SMM saw a hole in a west-facing window on the second floor of a functioning school building. It also saw fresh damage to a north-facing window of a one-storey building west of the main school building. The SMM was unable to assess the type of weapon used or direction of fire. A school representative (female, aged 45) told the SMM that shelling had occurred on the evening of 14 April and at that time no pupils had been present inside the facility. The same school has sustained damage eight times since December 2018 (for previous observations please see SMM Daily Report of 12 April 2019).

Disengagement areas[2]

On 15 April, inside the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) revealed that the previously observed anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid out across road T-1316 about 200m south of the railway tracks were no longer visible. The same UAV spotted an armoured combat vehicle (type undetermined), north of the railway tracks and west of road T-316, assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

During the day on 16 April, positioned near the checkpoint of the armed formations on the southern edge of the disengagement area, the SMM heard five bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1-2km north-west (assessed as inside the Zolote disengagement area).

During the day on 16 April, positioned about 2km north of Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 2-4km south-west (assessed as inside the disengagement area), as well as about ten undetermined explosions and about 25 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1-4km south-east, south-south-east and south (assessed as outside the disengagement area).[3]

Positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed a calm situation.

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

Weapons in violation of withdrawal lines

Non-government-controlled areas

16 April

The SMM saw 15 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk).  

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites

Government-controlled areas

16 April

The SMM saw a mortar (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) towed by a military truck (Ural) on road T-1306, about 4km south-east of Oknyne (53km north-west of Luhansk).

Weapons storage sites

At a permanent storage site in a government-controlled area of Luhansk region

16 April

The SMM saw that nine tanks (T-72) continued to be missing.

At a permanent storage site in a government-controlled area of Donetsk region

16 April

The SMM noted that the site was abandoned and that 14 mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) continued to be missing.

At a heavy weapons permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region

16 April

The SMM saw that seven MLRS (BM-21) and five towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) continued to be missing.

Weapons that the SMM could not verify as withdrawn[4]

At heavy weapons holding areas in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region

16 April

The SMM noted that:

• four anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) were present and
• 113 towed howitzers (45 D-20, 152mm; 56 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm; and 12 2A65), 18 self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) and 12 anti-tank guns (D-48, 85mm) continued to be missing.  

Presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and new mine hazard signs

The SMM saw a piece of UXO, assessed as a 122mm rocket from an MLRS (BM-21), lying next to a road in Novohryhorivka (non-government-controlled, 61km north-east of Donetsk).

The SMM saw three new mine hazard signs (red squares with “Stop Mines!” written in Russian and “Danger Mines!” in English) next to road M-04 near Debaltseve (non-government-controlled, 58km north-east of Donetsk).

Demining activities in Myrna Dolyna

On 16 April, the SMM saw a demining team from a non-governmental organization conducting demining activities in fields on both sides of road P-66, about 2km west of Myrna Dolyna (government-controlled, 67km north-west of Luhansk). 

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), as well as to powerlines in Katerynivka (government-controlled, 64km west of Luhansk) and near Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk). The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) and monitor the security situation around the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk).

Border areas outside government control

While at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 20 minutes, the SMM observed no vehicular or pedestrian cross-border traffic.

While at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for about one hour and ten minutes, the SMM saw 12 cars (four with Ukrainian, seven with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates), a bus (route “Moscow-Donetsk”) with “DPR” plates, and seven pedestrians (five women aged 30-70 and two men aged 30-60) entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw ten cars (one with Ukrainian, three with Russian Federation and two with Lithuanian licence plates, as well as four with “DPR” plates), three covered cargo trucks with Ukrainian licence plates, and three pedestrians (two women aged 30-40 and one man aged 40-50) exiting Ukraine.

At a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw two cars with Ukrainian licence plates entering Ukraine. After about five minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

At the Chervona Mohyla railway station near Voznesenivka, two members of the armed formations (of which one was armed) told the SMM to leave the area upon its arrival.*

SMM monitors security situation south-east of Kherson region

On 14 April, the SMM observed calm situations at the crossing point between Chonhar (163km south-east of Kherson) and Crimea, and along the Sea of Azov coast.

The Mission continued monitoring in Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

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

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, UXO and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see below). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denials of access:

• At a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, non-government-controlled, 65km south-east of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
• At the Chervona Mohyla railway station in Voznesenivka, two members of the armed formations (of which one was armed) told the SMM to leave the area.
• On two occasions at a checkpoint about 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol), members of the armed formations denied the SMM passage. On the first occasion, a member of the armed formations stopped the SMM, asking for a “trip ticket”, and added that for security reasons the SMM could not proceed through. About 30 minutes later, at the same checkpoint, another member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage, citing the need for approval from his “superior”.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

 

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

[2]Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[3] Due to the presence of mines, including on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM cannot access its camera in Petrivske, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons. The SMM noted that five such sites continued to be abandoned.

VIENNA, 17 April 2019 – Following reports about the recent arrest of several citizen journalists in Crimea, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today condemned the continued deterioration of freedom of expression and the safety of journalists on the peninsula.

According to reports, on 28 March 2019 citizen journalists Osman Arifmemetov, Rustem Sheikhaliyev and Remzi Bekirov were arrested on terrorism charges along with about 20 other residents of Crimea. All three have reportedly covered and distributed information regarding persecution cases, and Bekirov has also contributed to the Grani.ru media outlet.

“The practice of silencing critical voices in Crimea is unacceptable,” said Désir. “I call on those responsible for the arrests to respect the role of all media actors and release the affected journalists. They should be able to carry out their work without undue interference or fear of violence.”

The Representative also noted and expressed concern regarding the continued arrest of another Crimean citizen journalist, Nariman Memedeminov, who remains in custody since March 2018 on charges of ‘publicly calling for terrorism activities’.

417467 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Addressing hate crimes and other violations of the human rights of migrants at borders in South-Eastern Europe, including abuses motivated by racism and xenophobia, was the topic of discussion at an expert meeting in Zagreb on 16 and 17 April 2019. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) organized the event in co-operation with the Office of the Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia.

The 45 participants (30 women and 15 men) from ten OSCE participating States included representatives of national governments, local authorities, national and international civil society organizations and migrant communities.

“There is increased evidence that the fundamental human rights of migrants are at risk when they cross borders,” said Christie Edwards, Deputy Head of ODIHR’s Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department. “OSCE participating States must do more to address racism and xenophobia targeting migrants, as well as hate crimes against both migrants and civil society organizations assisting them. It is imperative that the states protect migrants’ right to life, prohibit arbitrary detention in border management procedures and apply the principle of ‘non-refoulement’, which forbids forced return to countries where the person faces threats to her or his life or freedom.”

“States have made a comprehensive set of commitments to address racism, xenophobia, intolerance and discrimination,” said Tena Šimonović Einwalter, Deputy Ombudswoman of Croatia. "Building effective partnerships and strengthening dialogue and co-operation between civil society and state authorities at events such as this one are essential to accomplishing this goal.”

The participants also discussed how to monitor detention conditions and instances of forced return as well as civil society efforts to address violations of the human rights of migrants at the border, including racism, xenophobia and hate crimes against migrants. The discussion also centred on obstacles preventing civil society actors from providing assistance to migrants in the region, as well as on tools and initiatives offered by ODIHR and other stakeholders to help address the issue.