OSCE

Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Latvia, Parliamentary Elections, 6 October 2018: Final Report

Latvia’s 6 October 2018 parliamentary elections were administered in a professional and efficient manner with a high level of confidence among stakeholders, concludes the final report issued by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 17 January 2019. The report commends efforts to facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities in the electoral process.

All political parties were able to campaign freely with the freedoms of speech, movement and association respected, the report says. While the campaign was competitive, some restrictions on candidate and party registration challenged international standards for democratic elections, including those affecting potential candidates with prior convictions or with certain prior political affiliations and occupations. Although the campaign finance law is comprehensive, certain provisions could be further refined, the report notes.

Women represented around 32 per cent of candidates, of whom 31 were elected to the 100-seat parliament. Building on the recent good practice of some political parties, the report recommends introducing special measures to further promote women candidates.

The campaign in the media was vibrant, with freedom of expression respected, and the media generally ensured balanced coverage. However, the continued criminalization of defamation is at odds with international standards. In addition, the report recommends that regulations on disclosure of media ownership be revised to ensure full transparency in a publicly accessible format.

As noted in previous ODIHR reports, issues pertaining to language and identity generated divisive political discourse. Despite progress in integration, a significant number of people belonging to national minorities, who are permanent residents of Latvia without citizenship in any country, cannot participate in elections. In order to promote inclusive political participation, the report recommends that the authorities explore additional ways to increase the naturalization rate of adult non-citizens.

VIENNA, 17 January 2019 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) and OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella met on Wednesday with the President of the Austrian National Council and Head of the Delegation of Austria to the OSCE PA, Wolfgang Sobotka.

In their conversation, Tsereteli praised the role of Austria in the OSCE and its Parliamentary Assembly:

“As the home of the OSCE, Austria has always been a strong and generous supporter of our work and has allowed our Organization to conduct its important work,” said OSCE PA President Tsereteli. “I particularly value Austria’s leadership within the Parliamentary Assembly. It is no coincidence that two of my predecessors were members of the Austrian parliament and that the Austrian delegation continues to play such an active role in our activities.”

Tsereteli and Sobotka exchanged extensively on the situation in and around Ukraine, following the Austrian Speaker’s recent visit to Kyiv and last December’s visit to Eastern Ukraine by the leadership of the PA’s Third Committee.

They also discussed upcoming PA events, including next month’s Winter Meeting, which President Sobotka is scheduled to address.

While in Vienna, President Tsereteli met with Reinhold Lopatka, the Deputy Head of the Austrian Delegation, for talks on the work and priorities of the Austrian delegation, as well as future PA activities, including election observation and participation in OSCE events. Tsereteli also exchanged with the PA’s Special Representative on Central Asia, Roman Haider, regarding his plans in the run-up to the 2019 Annual Session.

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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 Mission recorded military presence inside and ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM saw weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
• The Mission saw long queues of civilians waiting to travel across the contact line.
• In Odessa, the SMM followed up on reports of a public gathering in front of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation. It saw splashes of red paint on the ground in front of the Consulate.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 200 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 25 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including the majority of explosions, were recorded in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area and in areas south-east and south-west of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), including about 20 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds.

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions (about 100), compared with the previous reporting period (about 40 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including the majority of explosions, were recorded close to the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) (see the disengagement area section below).

Disengagement areas[2]

On 16 January, positioned on the south-western edge of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard about 50 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1km north-west. Positioned on the north-western edge of Holubivka (formerly Kirovsk, non-government-controlled, 51km west of Luhansk), the Mission heard 74 undetermined explosions and about 350 shots and bursts, all at an assessed range of 4-7km north-west. Positioned about 1km south of Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km north-west of Luhansk), it heard an undetermined explosion and about 55 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 1-6km north-east and south-south-west. All of the above ceasefire violations were assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area.

On 15 January, inside the Zolote disengagement area, an SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) again spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) west of road T1316 and north of a railway bridge (about 900m south of the disengagement area’s northern edge and about 2km east of its western edge), assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

During the day on 16 January, 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.

In violation of withdrawal lines

Government-controlled areas

15 January

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• four tanks (T-72) north of Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk) (see SMM Daily Report 16 January 2019).

Non-government-controlled areas

16 January

The SMM saw:

• a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela10) in Donetsk city; and
• a tank (type undetermined) near Sofiivka (formerly Karlo-Marksove, 40km north-east of Donetsk).

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• two self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and four towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) near Bile (22km west of Luhansk).

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites

Government-controlled areas

16 January

The SMM saw:

• a tank (T-64) near Zlatousivka (66km south-west of Donetsk); and
• four tanks (two T-64 and two T-72) near Zachativka (74km south-west of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

16 January

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• 29 tanks (11 T-72 and 18 T-64) near Bile.

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[3]

Government-controlled areas

16 January

The SMM saw:

• four IFVs (BMP-1) in Zaitseve (62km north-east of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

16 January

The SMM saw:

• three IFVs (BMP variants) near Sofiivka;
• three armoured personnel carriers (APC) (MT-LB) in Donetsk city; and
• an APC (BTR-80) and an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) in Luhansk city.

Long queues of civilians at checkpoints along the contact line

At the checkpoint of the armed formations south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), at 09:50 on 16 January, the SMM saw about 3,000 people queuing to travel towards government-controlled areas through one open booth and about 50 queuing in the opposite direction. The Mission saw about 1,500 people waiting at a nearby bus stop. About two hours later, it saw that the queues of people at the checkpoint in both directions had not changed. At the entry-exit checkpoint north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM observed about 300 people queuing to exit government-controlled areas and about 100 people queuing in the opposite direction.

On 15 January, the SMM saw about 500 people in a queue to enter government-controlled areas through the forward-most Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint 3.5km north-east of Berezove (government-controlled, 31km south-west of Donetsk). On 16 January, at the same location, the Mission observed about 200 people.

SMM facilitation of repair works to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining near high voltage power lines near the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

On 15 January, representatives of the Voda Donbassa water company and the State Emergency Services told the Mission that the repair works to a water pipeline near Toretsk (government-controlled, 43km north of Donetsk) and Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) had been completed, and that the water supply to Toretsk had been restored (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 30 October 2018).

 

The SMM follows up on reports of a public gathering in front of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Odessa

On 15 January, in Odessa, the SMM followed up on media reports of a public gathering in front of the building of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation at 14 Haharinske Plateau  earlier that day. The Mission saw two red paint splashes: one on the sidewalk in front of the main entrance to the Consulate and a second on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. Two National Guard officers present told the SMM that 15 people had gathered on the morning of 15 January in front of the Consulate to express their support of Ukrainian Navy servicemen detained in the Russian Federation, and splashed red paint near the building. A police representative told the Mission that two persons had been brought in for questioning under article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences of Ukraine (minor hooliganism).

The Mission continued monitoring in Kherson, 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 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 SMM Daily Report 15 January 2019). 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.

Denial of access

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.

Other impediments

• On 16 January, an SMM long-range UAV temporarily lost its GPS signal, assessed as due to jamming, while flying near government-controlled Kostiantynivka (60km north-west of Donetsk) and Zoria (40km north-west of Donetsk).[4]

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint near Pyshchevyk was not operational and fog limited the observation capabilities of the majority of the SMM cameras.

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

[4] The interference could have originated from anywhere within a radius of several kilometres of the UAV’s position.

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CHISINAU, 17 January 2019 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajčák, will visit Moldova from 17 to 19 January for talks with high-level Moldovan officials and the political leadership in Tiraspol.

In his capacity as the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for 2019, Lajčák will focus on advancing the Transdniestrian Settlement Process within the parameters endorsed by all 57 participating States at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Milan in December 2018. He will also discuss the importance of conducting free and transparent parliamentary elections in Moldova in line with OSCE principles and commitments.

Media representatives are invited to a press briefing with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Lajčák and Foreign Minister Tudor Ulianovschi on 18 January, at 11:40 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Building in Chisinau (80, 31 August 1989 Street), and to a press opportunity on the same day in Tiraspol, at 13:30 at the House for official receptions (50, Mira Street).

For more information, please contact Anna Vorobeva, Spokesperson of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, at +373 22 887 846 (landline), +373 69 149 510 (mobile), e-mail: Anna.Vorobeva@osce.org

or

Katharina Kandt, Senior Adviser to the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship at + 43 660 11 44 059 (Austrian mobile), e-mail: Katharina.Kandt@mzv.sk

For further details please visit the website of the OSCE Mission to Moldova: http://www.osce.org/moldova/

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SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

KYIV, 17 January 2019 – Concluding a two-day official visit to Ukraine, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák said he was shocked by the alarming conditions of people living near the contact line in the country’s east, and called on the sides to step up their efforts for a peaceful political solution to the crisis.

Lajčák, on his first official visit as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, witnessed the daily hardships experienced by people caught in the crisis in and around Ukraine. These included the dangerous journeys people are forced to take because of attacks on critical infrastructure, such as crossing the seriously damaged bridge at the Stanytsia Luhanska entry-exit checkpoints. “In Europe – in the 21st century – people should not be struggling to have their basic needs met,” said Lajčák.

“The crisis in and around Ukraine is a top priority of Slovakia’s OSCE Chairmanship,” he stressed. “Being on the ground, I can see the critical work the OSCE is doing and how much more needs to be done. For the people affected, this conflict dictates their daily lives. Direct or nearby shelling is an everyday reality. We need to do better and come up with new and innovative ideas to improve their living conditions.”

To raise awareness of the most vulnerable people and the need to support the protection of critical infrastructure, Lajčák also visited the Luhansk Regional Children’s Hospital in Lysychansk, and donated 24 tons of humanitarian aid from Slovakia.

Supporting concrete projects like this will be high on the agenda of the Slovak Chairmanship, he said. Slovakia also aims to work closely with other international and regional organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union, as well as other partners like the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Seeing how the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (SMM) operates, Lajčák underlined the need for continuous support and further strengthening of its important work. “The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission is doing crucial work in reducing tensions on the ground,” he noted. “The monitors are the eyes and ears of the organization and they directly contribute to the prevention of further escalation.”

He added that the work of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine offered an important long-term dimension to the organization’s activities in the country, particularly in supporting constitutional, legal and criminal justice reforms, and in addressing the concerns of conflict-affected communities.

The Chairperson-in-Office also called for strong co-operation among the Trilateral Contact Group; the OSCE Chairperson’s Special Representative Martin Sajdik; and the Normandy format, in finding a peaceful political solution to the crisis.

A critical precondition for any positive development and ultimately lasting peace is a ceasefire, he said. “We are unlikely to see political momentum when shells are still falling from the sky,, Lajčák stressed.

While in Ukraine, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office met with Ukrainian Prime Minister, Volodymyr Groysman; Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin; Defence Minister, Stepan Poltorak; and the members of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group led by First Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada, Iryna Gerashchenko. With his Ukrainian partners, he discussed the crisis in and around Ukraine, as well as how to best support the work of the SMM and mitigate the risks faced by people living close to the contact line.

The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections were also a focus of the discussions.  “I am confident that all actors in Ukraine will work hard to ensure that the upcoming elections will be open, free and fair. And it is my hope that there will be no interference from external actors,” Lajčák said. “The elections can set the stage for a more peaceful and prosperous future for all Ukrainians. A future we all want.”

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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.
• Small-arms fire damaged a window of an apartment building in Dokuchaievsk.
• A civilian woman died while crossing the contact line near Maiorsk entry-exit checkpoint.
• The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to essential civilian infrastructure in Luhansk region.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas.*
• The SMM continued to follow up on a fire at the Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv.
• The Mission observed a calm situation at the crossing point in Chonhar and at a Ukrainian State Border Guard Service position in Valok, in the south-eastern part of Kherson region.

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 25 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 75 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded mainly in directions south-east of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) as well as in areas west-south-west of the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 40), compared with the previous reporting period (about 30 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-north-east of Yuzhna-Lomuvatka (non-government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and north-west of Myrne (non-government-controlled, 28km south-west of Luhansk), where the SMM assessed the ceasefire violations as live-fire training exercises outside the security zone.

Small-arms round damages window of an apartment building in Dokuchaievsk

On 14 January, in Dokuchaievsk (non-government-controlled, 30km south-west of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations led the SMM to a five-storey apartment building at 9 Polova Street. The SMM saw a hole in the outer pane of a south-south-west facing double-paned window of a first-floor apartment. A resident of the building (woman, seventies) told the SMM that a woman (in her thirties) and a child lived in the apartment but had not been present when the window was hit, which she said had taken place the evening of 13 January. The SMM assessed that the damage was caused by a single small-arms round but could not assess whether the damage was fresh.

Civilian woman died while waiting near entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk

The SMM followed up on reports that a woman (80 years old) had died on 5 January while waiting to cross the contact line near the entry-exit checkpoint at Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk). A representative of the State Border Guard Services and a police officer in Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, government-controlled, 67km north of Donetsk) told the SMM that a woman had died the morning of 5 January while waiting near the entry-exit checkpoint. On 8 January, staff at the morgue in Bakhmut confirmed that the woman had been brought in for a post-mortem examination and on 15 January, staff at the morgue in Bakhmut told the SMM that the woman had died of natural causes. 

Disengagement areas[2]

On the evening of 14 January, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded a projectile in flight at an assessed range of 3-5km east-south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area) and two projectiles in flight at an assessed range of 1.5-4km south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area).

On 15 January, positioned in Zolote-4/Rodina (government-controlled, 59km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard ten shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1-3km south and south-west (all assessed as inside the disengagement area).

Positioned south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 3-5km south-south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

Positioned close to the disengagement area near Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed a calm situation.[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.

In violation of withdrawal lines

Government-controlled areas

14. January

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

• four tanks (T-72) north of Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk).

15 January

• A surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) parked near a house where the SMM has seen Ukrainian Armed Forces in Klynove (68km north-east of Donetsk) (see SMM Daily Report 12 January 2019)

Non-government-controlled areas

15 January

• Two self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and four towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) near Bile (22km west of Luhansk)

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites

Government-controlled areas

15 January

• A surface-to-air missile system (9K33) near Kasianivka (22km north of Mariupol)

Weapons that the SMM was unable to verify as withdrawn:[4]

Heavy weapons holding areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region

15 January

• 12 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) were present, and
• 23 MLRS (BM-21), two surface-to-air missile systems (9K35) and a self-propelled howitzer (2S1) remained missing.

Weapons permanent storage sites:

A permanent storage site beyond the respective withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region:

15 January

• Five tanks (four T-64 and one T-72), four towed howitzers (D-30) and two self-propelled howitzers (2S1) remained missing.

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[5]

Government-controlled areas

14 January

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted:

• four infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP variants), two armoured personnel carriers (APC) (one MT-LB and one BTR variant), two armoured reconnaissance vehicles (one BRM-1K and one BREM-2) and an aircraft communications automatic jamming station (R-934B) near Prychepylivka.

15 January

• Four IFVs (two BMP-1 and two BMP variants) and an APC (MT-LB S) used as a medical evacuation vehicle near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk)
• Two IFVs (BMP variants) in Zolote-3/Stakhanovets (61km west of Luhansk)
• An APC (BTR-80) in Stanytsia Luhanska
• An IFV (BMP-1) on a trailer driving south-east near Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk)
• An APC (MT-LB) near Klynove

Non-government-controlled areas

14 January

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• two military-type positions, assessed as belonging to the armed formations about 2km south-south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 77km south of Donetsk). About 70m south-east of the aforementioned positions, the same mini-UAV spotted two men in firing positions assessed as members of the armed formations and recorded at least three rounds of small arms flying past the mini-UAV. (See SMM Daily Report 15 January 2019)

SMM facilitation of repair works to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to water wells in Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

Fire at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

On 15 January, the SMM followed up on reports of a fire at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (see SMM Daily Report 15 January 2019). The burned building had a plaque identifying it as an historic storehouse for books. The SMM could see at least six broken windows on the second floor as well as smoke marks and damage to the roof.  The SMM observed no other security, law enforcement or firefighters in the area, where the overall situation was calm.

SMM observes a calm situation south-east of Kherson

The SMM observed a calm situation at the crossing point in Chonhar (163km south-east of Kherson) and at a Ukrainian State Border Guard Service security position in Valok (188km south-east of Kherson).

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

*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 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 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 SMM Daily Report 15 January 2019). 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.

Denial of access:

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. During the reporting period, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint near Pyshchevyk was not operational.

* 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’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, 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.

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

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PARIS, 16 January 2019 - The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) hosted consultations between Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on 16 January in Paris. The Co-Chairs met separately and then jointly with the Ministers. Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in these meetings. This was the fourth meeting of the two Ministers.

State Secretary for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne reviewed the outcomes of the talks with the participants. The Co-Chairs were received at the Elysée Palace, where they briefed top diplomatic advisers of President Emmanuel Macron.

The participants expressed to the Ministers their appreciation for the ongoing efforts of the sides to maintain an environment conducive to intensive results-oriented negotiations.

The Ministers discussed a wide range of issues related to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and agreed upon the necessity of taking concrete measures to prepare the populations for peace. 

During the meetings, the Co-Chairs reviewed with the Ministers key principles and parameters for the current phase of the negotiation process.

The Ministers and the Co-Chairs considered next steps toward a possible summit between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in order to give a strong impulse to the dynamic of negotiations.

The Co-Chairs underlined the importance of possible mutually beneficial initiatives designed to fulfill the economic potential of the region.  

The Co-Chairs plan to meet the leaders of the two countries in the near future.

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CHISINAU, 16 January 2019 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the parliamentary elections scheduled for 24 February in Moldova. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the authorities.

The mission is led by Matyas Eorsi and consists of a core team of 11 experts based in Chisinau and 28 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country in teams of two, from 23 January. In addition, ODIHR will request that OSCE participating States provide 200 short-term observers. The short-term observers are due to arrive several days before election day.

The mission will assess these elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor candidate and voter registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, and the resolution of election-related disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

In the course of its observation, the mission will meet with representatives from state authorities and political parties, as well as with candidates, and with representatives from civil society, the media and the international community.

On election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results. For election day, the ODIHR election observation mission will join efforts with delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the European Parliament (EP).

The mission will publish one interim report in the course of its work. The day after the elections, a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued at a press conference. ODIHR will issue a final report on the observation approximately eight weeks after the end of the electoral process.

The ODIHR election observation mission and the OSCE Mission to Moldova operate separately and independently under their own mandates.

For further information, contact:

Alice Colombi, Media Analyst with the election observation mission, at +373 (0)68 692055, or at alice.colombi@odihr.md.

or

Thomas Rymer, ODIHR Spokesperson, at +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile), or at thomas.rymer@odihr.pl.

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VIENNA, 16 January 2019 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir yesterday sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Srđan Darmanović, regarding the recent court sentence against investigative journalist Jovo Martinović.

On 15 January Martinović was sentenced to 18 months in prison for “membership in a criminal organization” and “drug trafficking” after he, as a journalist, had been investigating a criminal organization. He was released from pre-trial detention in January 2017 after spending 14 months in prison.

The Representative recalled that Martinović, who won the Peter Mackler award for courageous and ethical journalism in 2018, is known for his contribution to several documentaries produced by prominent international media, such as the CAPA agency and Vice Media, on criminal organizations including the “Pink Panthers”.

“Investigating a criminal organization does not imply membership with that organization. To view it as such is highly problematic for investigative journalism as a whole, and can create a chilling effect for other reporters investigating other such matters of public interest in the country,” said Désir.

“I hope that this decision will be overturned in an appeal process and that Martinović will be able to continue his journalistic work,” concluded Désir.

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VIENNA, 16 January 2019 – Switzerland aims to bring a new perspective to established and current politico-military issues, said the State Secretary of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Pascale Baeriswyl, as she opened the country’s Chairmanship of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) in Vienna today. Baeriswyl added that Switzerland will engage in dedicated discussions and constructive debates to achieve more confidence and transparency on politico-military issues amongst all 57 OSCE participating States.

In her opening speech, Baeriswyl recognized the unique potential of the FSC as a platform with a wide range of tools at its disposal to approach complex politico-military questions “in an inclusive and pragmatic manner”. However she also acknowledged the difficulty of implementing the Swiss Chair’s core principles of co-operation and pragmatism during this currently challenging political climate.

Switzerland plans to encourage openness to new ideas, topics and expertise. New ideas will allow the FSC to explore “the potential of existing tools and commitments,” said Baeriswyl. Moreover, the Swiss State Secretary reminded OSCE participating States to reinforce their adherence to existing commitments, urging them to reflect and remind themselves of the principles of the Helsinki Decalogue and the Charter of Paris, as they build the core of the agreed OSCE principles.

Turning to the programme of the Swiss Chairmanship, which will extend to the end of the Easter recess, Baeriswyl said the focus will be on both established and newer aspects of political and military security: Well-established FSC topics such as small arms and light weapons, stockpiles of conventional ammunition and the Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures and the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security will be analyzed from different angles. Emerging topics and challenges, such as the role of private military and security companies, and aspects of modern warfare will also be addressed.

A running theme throughout the Chairmanship will be gender equality in the field of peace and security, she said, adding that Switzerland defines gender equality as “an equal partnership between women and men”. As well as chairing a Security Dialogue on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, Switzerland would bring gender to the next level of the security debate by replacing the ‘why’ with the ‘how’.

Baeriswyl expressed her thanks to Sweden, which chaired the FSC during the previous trimester, and said that she looked forward to working in the FSC Troika with both the outgoing Chair and Tajikistan, which will chair the FSC in the second trimester of the year. She said Switzerland will fully coordinate its FSC programme with Slovakia, which is chairing the OSCE in 2019.

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PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 16 January 2019 - The OSCE Mission will present a report tomorrow on the state of shelters for the victims of domestic violence in Kosovo.

The report provides an overview of the municipal mechanisms on protection from domestic violence Kosovo-wide, identifies the challenges shelters face, and gives recommendations to the relevant institutions on how to improve the provision of services to these victims.

Opening remarks will be delivered by the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu; National Co-ordinator on Domestic Violence / Deputy Minister of Justice Naim Qelaj; Executive Director of the Agency for Gender Equality, Edi Gusia ; Minister of Labour and Social Welfare  Skënder Reçica; and representative of the Kosovo Shelter Coalition, Nazife Jonuzi.

Media are cordially invited to cover the event tomorrow, 17 January 2019, at the Hotel Swiss Diamond, Prishtinë/Priština, starting at 10:15 hrs.

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This report is for the media and the general public.

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 was 9,000 at both BCPs. It was not possible to compare the data regarding persons crossing the border to the previous reporting period, as no information regarding this category was  provided to the OM.

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 Vienna-based staff member.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border                

The profile of the people 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 people and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits was 9,000 per day at both BCPs[1].

The Donetsk BCP continued to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits noted crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs was 16 this week (compared to 13 last week); 11 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and five into Ukraine (63 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 have tinted windows, and buses and minivans have drawn curtains.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

The OTs continued to report on families crossing the border, sometimes with elderly people and/or children, at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, six families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and eight were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when three families were observed crossing into Russian Federation and four 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 do not state their route; instead they have a sign on the windshield stating “irregular”.

During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increase in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (412 compared to 319 observed during the previous week). There were 199 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 213 bound for Ukraine.

Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, no “irregular” route or destination was noted. The OM could observe bus destinations: Kyiv, Pervomaisk – Kyiv; Rovenky – Kyiv; and Stakhanov – Kyiv.

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

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OM observed an increase in the overall number of trucks crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the total number of trucks went from 130 to 441 (138 at the Gukovo BCP and 303 at the Donetsk BCP); 233 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 208 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, Lithuania and in Belarus.                                                                                           

Among them, the OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting week, the number of tanker trucks increased to 44 (compared to 28 during the previous reporting period). 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 undergo systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which may 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 increased from 28 to 47: of the total number of trucks scanned, 19 trucks (40 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 28 trucks (60 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 increased from 72 to 91 vehicles; 49 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 42 into Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains running on the railway tracks located approximately 150 metres south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on six occasions, compared to three last week; the OTs assessed that three trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the other three to Ukraine. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine was regularly informed about the trains bound for Ukraine.

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

Other observations

On 9 January, at 08:02 the OM at Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance with inscription “Urgent Medical Help” (written in Russian) crossing from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. While crossing the border, the ambulance used its red-blue flashing lights.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 11 December 2018 to 15 January 2019, please see the attachment here.

[1] Based on data received from the Regional Representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Due to the Russian national holidays, the OM was not able to receive and process the usual data on persons crossing at the two border checkpoints during the last two weeks.

[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).                       

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This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Small arms were fired in the direction of an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Chermalyk, Donetsk region and close to SMM patrols in Popasna and Kriakivka, Luhansk region. 
• The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area and an armoured combat vehicle in the Petrivske disengagement area.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to essential civilian infrastructure in Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as to enable the  removal of an unexploded ordnance in Kriakivka, Luhansk region.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The SMM was also restricted at two border crossing points with the Russian Federation near Izvaryne and Sievernyi.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including, however, a similar number of explosions (about 75), compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded mainly at south-easterly and south-westerly directions of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) and in areas south-south-west, south-west and west of the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk).

On the morning of 14 January, positioned on the eastern edge of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) while conducting a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight across the contact line, the SMM heard twice in the span of five minutes uncountable bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1-2km south-south-east. The Mission assessed the fire as aimed at the UAV, which at the time was flying about 1.2km south-south-east of the SMM's position. The Mission recalled and safely landed the mini-UAV (for a similar incident, see SMM Daily Report 14 January 2019).*

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 30 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours (one explosion). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded inside and close to the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) (see disengagement areas section below).

On the morning of 14 January, positioned at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint on road T0504 near Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard a burst of heavy-machine-gun fire about 200m east of its position. The Mission left the area.*

On the same morning, positioned on the western edge of Kriakivka (government-controlled, 38km north-west of Luhansk) to facilitate and monitor the adherence to the ceasefire to enable the removal of an unexploded ordnance (UXO), the SMM heard a burst of small-arms fire, assessed as originating from the direction of a house used by military personnel, about 40m east of its position. The Mission left the area.*

Disengagement areas[2]

On the evening and night of 13-14 January, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded 18 projectiles in flight at an assessed range of 2-4km east-south-east and south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area) and six projectiles in flight at an assessed range of 3-5km east-south-east and east (assessed as outside the disengagement area). It also recorded 18 projectiles in flight and an illumination flare, all at an assessed range of 1-5.5km east-south-east and south-east (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 14 January, positioned about 1km south of Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions and 16 shots of small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 2-3km south and west-south-west (assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area). Positioned on the western edge of Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions and 41 bursts and shots of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all at an assessed range of 2-3km north, south-south-west and west-south-west (assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area). Positioned on the northern edge of Kalynove-Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions as well as 26 shots of small-arms fire and 70 bursts of undetermined weapons, all at an assessed range of 2-3km west-south-west (assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area).

On the same day, an SMM long-range UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) inside the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), about 1.2km from its western and northern edges (assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces). [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.

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites

Non-government-controlled areas

13 January

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• 21 tanks (13 T-72 and eight T-64) in a training area near Ternove (57km east of Donetsk).

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

Government-controlled areas

13 January

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70) in Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk);
• an IFV (BMP-2) in Slavne (26km south-west of Donetsk);
• an IFV (BMP-2) in Taramchuk (29km south-west of Donetsk);
• an IFV (BMP-2) in Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk);
• an IFV(BMP-1) about 200m north of the disengagement area near Petrivske; and
• two IFVs (BMP-1) 700m south of the disengagement area near Petrivske.

14 January

• an IFV (BMP variant) parked near an abandoned house in Svitlodarsk
• an IFV (BMP-2) near Halytsynivka (29km north-west of Donetsk)

Non-government-controlled areas

13 January

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRM-1K) and an APC (BTR-80) in Luhansk city.

Presence of mines

The SMM saw for the first time two dark green square wooden boxes (with wires connected) attached to the metal gates of a sluice on the northern side of the Myronivskyi reservoir and close to a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Roty (government-controlled, 66km north-east of Donetsk). An unarmed soldier told the SMM about the presence of explosives on the sluice.

SMM facilitation of repair works to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to a water pipeline in Pivdenne (government-controlled, 40km north-east of Donetsk), to the Krasnohorivka gas distribution station between Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) and Oleksandrivka (non-government-controlled, 20km south-west of Donetsk) as well as to water wells in Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

The SMM also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable the removal of an UXO (a 125mm tank projectile), reportedly located in the front yard of a residential house at 4 Naberezhna Street in Kriakivka. After about two hours, a representative of the Ukrainian Armed Forces told the SMM that the UXO had been removed (see above).

Border areas not under government control

While at a border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw two pedestrians exiting Ukraine as well as five pedestrians entering Ukraine.

While at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw two buses with Russian Federation licence plates exiting Ukraine. The Mission also observed seven cars (four with Ukrainian and two Russian Federation licence plates, and one with “LPR” plates), 12 covered cargo trucks (four with Ukrainian and two Russian Federation licence plates, and six with “LPR” plates) as well as a bus with Russian Federation licence plates and six pedestrians entering Ukraine. After about ten minutes, an unarmed member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

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

Fire at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

In Kyiv, in the late afternoon hours of 14 January, the SMM saw a fire on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The Mission observed that a two-storey building located at 23 Lavrska Street was on fire. The SMM saw 20 firefighters and 30 representatives of the State Emergency Services on the building’s roof extinguishing the fire and seven fire brigade trucks parked at the site. A female representative of the State Emergency Services told the SMM that the building had been on fire since the afternoon hours and that firefighters had difficulties in accessing the construction due to the risks posed by the blaze. The main engineer at the complex stated that the building had not been used for the past six years. The SMM observed that the fire was extinguished in the early evening hours. A police officer stated that an individual had been detained on suspicion of arson.

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

*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.

Denial of access:

• At a border crossing point near Izvaryne, a member of the armed formations again told the SMM to leave the area.
• At a border crossing point near Sievernyi, a member of the armed formations again told the SMM to leave the area.

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.

Other impediments:

• While conducting a mini-UAV flight in areas south-east of Chermalyk, the SMM heard twice in the span of five minutes uncountable bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1-2km south-south-east, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which landed safely.
• While positioned at the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint near Popasna, the SMM heard a burst of heavy-machine-gun fire about 200m east of its position.
• While positioned on the western edge of Kriakivka, the SMM heard a burst of small-arms fire about 40m east of its position.

[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. During the reporting period, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint near Pyshchevyk was not operational.

[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’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, 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.

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409148 Silvia Belloni, Councilperson with the Milan Bar Association, addresses event participants. Milan, 15 January 2019. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Identifying and building a regional approach to countering hate crime was the focus of an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Milan Bar Association and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, in Milan on 15 January 2019.

The discussion was based on the review of activities and lessons learned during ODIHR's two-year project Building a Comprehensive Criminal Justice Response to Hate Crime, which aimed to improve the collaboration among criminal justice professionals and civil society within four OSCE countries – Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Poland. In Italy, the project was implemented in the administrative region of Lombardy.

Participants explored the impact of project activities, including thorough and customized training on hate crime provided to all criminal justice stakeholders. They also examined the results of a detailed review of 13,000 judgements by the Court of Milan that was conducted during the project and highlighted the importance of improving support for hate crime victims.

“Hate crimes have a direct impact on local communities. This project gave us the opportunity to assess the situation in Lombardy in detail,” said Christie Edwards, Deputy Head of the ODIHR Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department. “For example, our review of rulings shows that courts rarely take into account the bias motivation of perpetrators. Based on this clear conclusion, we can help local authorities adjust their policies accordingly. This may include establishing hate crime data recording systems, directing training programmes for law enforcement, upgrading inter-agency co-operation and improving outreach to communities at risk.”

Silvia Belloni, Councilperson with the Milan Bar Association, said: “As a direct result of the training provided to local lawyers, the Milan Bar Association will start including free legal aid to victims of hate crimes as part of our current assistance efforts. I am happy to present this initiative in the hope that it will inspire our colleagues in other regions to copy our model.”

ODIHR recently published a comprehensive toolkit based on the project's activities in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Poland. This includes training packages, methodologies and guidelines on how criminal justice actors, public institutions and civil society can effectively address hate crime.

CHISINAU, 15 January 2019 – The election observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) for the 24 February parliamentary elections in Moldova will hold a press conference in Chisinau on Wednesday, 16 January 2019, on the occasion of the formal opening of the mission’s activities.

Matyas Eorsi, the head of the ODIHR election observation mission, will introduce the role of the mission and its upcoming activities. The mission's deployment follows an invitation from the authorities of Moldova.

The ODIHR election observation mission will partner with delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament for observation on election day, and for the release of a preliminary statement of findings and conclusions on the day after the elections.

Journalists are invited to attend the press conference at 14:00, Wednesday, 16 January, in the LOFT meeting room on the mezzanine floor of the Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel; Mitropolit Varlaam 77, Chisinau, Moldova 

For further information, please contact Alice Colombi, ODIHR EOM Media Analyst, at +373 (0)68 692055 or  alice.colombi@odihr.md.

or

Thomas Rymer, ODIHR Spokesperson, at +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile) or at thomas.rymer@odihr.pl

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This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 11 and 12 January, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• Between the evenings of 12 and 13 January, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• Small arms were fired in the direction of an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Chermalyk, Donetsk region.
• Small-arms fire damaged a house in a residential area of Chermalyk.
• The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area and near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to essential civilian infrastructure in Donetsk region.
• Participants of a gathering in Kherson demanded the release of a Crimean Tatar activist reportedly detained in Simferopol.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The SMM was also restricted at a railway station in Voznesenivka, an area near the border with the Russian Federation.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 11 and 12 January, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 20 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (34 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-west and north-west of the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk) and south and south-west of the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk).

Between the evenings of 12 and 13 January, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 80 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations, including the majority of explosions, were recorded in areas south of the DFS, south-east of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), as well as areas south and west of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk).

On the morning of 12 January, while conducting a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight across the contact line in areas south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard uncountable bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of about 2km south-south-east, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which at the time was flying over non-government-controlled areas about 1km south-south-east of the patrol’s position. The Mission recalled and safely landed the mini-UAV (see below).*

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 11 and 12 January, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including one explosion, compared with the previous reporting period (12 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-west of Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk).

Between the evenings of 12 and 13 January, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including one explosion, compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas west of Kalynove (non-government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and south-west of Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km north-west of Luhansk).

Small-arms fire damaged a house in a residential area of Chermalyk

On 12 January, at 76 Myra Street in Chermalyk, the SMM saw a fresh hole in a corrugated metal sheet which was partially covering a south-facing window of a one-storey house. The SMM also saw another hole in the window pane behind the corrugated metal sheet. Inside the house, about 1.5m from the damaged window, the SMM saw a hole in a doorframe. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by a single round (7.62mm) of small-arms fire from a south-south-easterly direction. About 2m south of the house, the SMM saw a hole in the west-facing wooden doorframe of a barn. Lodged inside the hole, the SMM saw a bullet (7.62mm) pointing north-north-west. The SMM assessed that the hole was caused by a round fired from a south-south-easterly direction.

A resident of the house (female, in her forties) told the SMM that the aforementioned window (in the bedroom) had been damaged on 11 January between 22:00 and 22:45. She added that she had taken shelter in the kitchen together with her husband, two children and a relative with limited mobility, due to ongoing fighting during that time. The same day, the SMM launched a mini-UAV over the area and heard bursts of small-arms fire, assessed as aimed at the UAV (see above).*

Disengagement areas[2]

On the evening of 11 January, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded two bursts at an assessed range of 3-5km south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area) as well as two projectiles in flight at an assessed range of 5-8km east-south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area). During the day on 12 January, the same camera recorded six projectiles at an assessed range of 0.5-1.5km east and east-south-east (all assessed as outside the disengagement area).

During the evening and night of 12-13 January, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded 12 projectiles at an assessed range of 2-4.5km south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area) and one projectile at an assessed range of 1-3km east (assessed as outside the disengagement area). During the day on 13 January, the same camera recorded two projectiles at an assessed range of 1-2km east-south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On the evening of 11 January, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard an explosion assessed as a mortar round at an assessed range of 3-5km west-south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area). During the day on 12 January, while at the same location, the SMM heard 25 shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 3-5km west-south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On 12 January, positioned close to the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed a calm situation.[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.

Weapon storage sites[4]

Heavy weapons storage sites beyond the respective withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region

12 January

• Six multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and 12 mortars (11 PM-38, 120mm and one 2B11 Sani, 120mm) continued to be missing.

Heavy weapons storage sites beyond the respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region

13 January

• A surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) and 12 MLRS (BM-21) were present,
• Two surface-to-air missile systems (9K35), 23 MLRS (BM-21) and a self-propelled howitzer (2S1) were again missing.

Indications of military in the security zone[5]

Government-controlled areas

11 January

• Two armoured personnel carriers (APC) (BMP-2, 30mm) in Svitlodarsk
• Two APCs (MT-LB) in Klynove (68km north-east of Donetsk)
• Three infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP variant) north of the Zolote disengagement area
• Two IFVs (BMP variants) in Zolote-3/Stakhanovets (61km west of Luhansk)
• An IFV (BMP-1) near Zolote-2/Karbonit (62km west of Luhansk)

SMM facilitation of repair works to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to a water pipeline in Pivdenne (government-controlled, 40km north-east of Donetsk). It continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS.

Border areas not under government control

On 12 January, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for one hour, the SMM saw 30 cars (five with Ukrainian, 19 with Russian Federation licence plates and six with “DPR” plates) as well as a bus and a minibus (both with Ukrainian licence plates) entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw 34 cars (seven with Ukrainian, 15 with Russian Federation, one with Lithuanian licence plates and 11 with “DPR” plates) and two buses (one with Ukrainian licence plates and one with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine.

On 13 January, while at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) for about 15 minutes, the SMM saw four cars (one with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates), one truck with Ukrainian licence plates and five pedestrians (three males in their forties and two females in their thirties) entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw three pedestrians (two females in their forties and a male in his thirties) exiting Ukraine.

On the same day, at the railway station in Voznesenivka, the SMM saw more than 60 cargo wagons, including 12 fuel tanks, all of which were assessed as empty. The SMM also observed 60 train wagons, loaded with coal, travelling towards the border with the Russian Federation. In the last wagon, the SMM saw two armed members of the armed formations. After about ten minutes, two members of the armed formations present at the railway station asked the SMM to leave the area.*

Participants of a gathering in Kherson demanded the release of a Crimean Tatar activist reportedly detained in Simferopol

On 12 January, the SMM saw about 50 people (mixed ages and gender) gathered in front of the Regional Administration building in Kherson in support of Kherson-based Crimean Tatar activist Edem Bekirov, who had reportedly been detained in Simferopol on 12 December.  Some of the participants were holding Crimean Tatar flags. The SMM saw five police officers securing the event, which ended without incidents.

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, 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 (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.

Denial of access:

• On 13 January, at the railway station in Voznesenivka, two armed members of the armed formations asked the SMM to leave the area.

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.

Other impediments:

• On 12 January, while conducting a mini-UAV flight in areas south-east of Chermalyk, the SMM heard uncountable bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of about 2km south-south-east, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which it landed safely.

[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. During the reporting period, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint near Pyshchevyk was not operational and winter weather conditions limited the observation capabilities of some of the SMM cameras.

[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’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] The SMM visited areas holding 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 two such sites (both in non-government-controlled areas) continued to be abandoned.

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

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COPENHAGEN, 14 January 2019 – With the persistence of a dangerous climate for journalists in many countries of the OSCE region, the leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee, Chair Margareta Kiener Nellen (MP, Switzerland), Vice-Chair Michael Georg Link (MP, Germany), and Rapporteur Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (MP, Cyprus), today called for increased attention to the importance of the safety of journalists. Recent developments demonstrate that journalists have been facing increasing repression, intimidation, physical attacks and restrictions on their freedom to work, they said.

Committee Chair Kiener Nellen expressed deep concern regarding new charges brought against the Azerbaijani anti-corruption blogger and chair of the media NGO Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety, Mehman Huseynov. He has been detained on defamation charges since March 2017.

“As Mr. Huseynov’s expected release date is just weeks away, the initiation of new charges against him that could lead to a further imprisonment of up to seven years is deeply worrying. I am also deeply concerned about his health as he began a hunger strike in protest of the new charges against him,” said Kiener Nellen. She reiterated the call by OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir for the authorities to drop new criminal charges brought against him.

Highlighting recent data published by Reporters Without Borders, Hadjiyianni stressed that it was absolutely unacceptable that 80 journalists were killed in 2018, with 348 held in prison, and 60 being held hostage throughout the world.

“It is far too often that we hear about attacks on journalists and media workers,” he said. “In recent months we have seen the arrest, threats and attacks against journalists including in OSCE countries. I strongly condemn such unacceptable attacks which contribute to an atmosphere of intimidation and repression, harming all people. Journalists need to be able to carry out their work without fear of violence or retribution. The relevant authorities must investigate all attacks, bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure a safe working environment.”

Committee Vice-Chair Michael Link expressed concern about the freedom of expression and media and the safety of journalists particularly in Turkey and the Russian Federation. He deplored the continued intimidation and death threats directed at journalists of Cumhuriyet in Turkey as well as of the well-known Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, twelve years after the murder of famed journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

“So-called ‘fake news’ has become a problem throughout the world, but we must be careful in legislating responses that may restrict freedom of expression,” said Link. “I urge my colleagues in the Russian Duma and other parliaments to prioritize freedom of expression, freedom of the media and the safety of journalists when considering legislation.”

The officers of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs welcomed the adoption of an OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on the safety of journalists on 7 December 2018 and reiterated the Assembly’s call on OSCE governments to “immediately cease the harassment, imprisonment and mistreatment” of journalists and restore their rights (OSCE PA Berlin Declaration 2018).

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VIENNA, 10 January 2019 – OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (Georgia) and Secretary General Roberto Montella welcomed the priorities outlined by the new OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Slovakia’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak, in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council today.

Noting that Lajcak’s agenda of preventing and mitigating conflicts, providing for a safer future and promoting effective multilateralism coincide with the Parliamentary Assembly’s focus on producing tangible results for the more than one billion citizens of the OSCE area, Tsereteli and Montella emphasized that the PA stands ready to work with the Chairmanship on developing common strategies.

“As PA President, I look forward to working with the Chairperson-in-Office on mediating, resolving and preventing conflicts, as well as promoting a safe and secure future and recommitting to effective multilateralism,” Tsereteli said. “Too many people are victims of unresolved conflicts and human rights violations, and we all must work to ensure that the OSCE is empowered with the instruments it needs to improve the situation for all our people. We see positive developments for example in Moldova, and this progress needs to be built upon and leveraged in other areas.”

President Tsereteli highlighted the numerous resolutions adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly. “The PA produces very important recommendations based on our debates which can always serve as useful guidelines for the OSCE,” he said. “We anticipate that the governmental side will take into account these resolutions and incorporate them into the acquis of the OSCE in order to build comprehensive security.”

Montella said: “I was pleased to hear the priorities outlined by Minister Lajcak today and his recognition that the tools exist to address our common challenges. One of these tools is the Parliamentary Assembly and the energy that our 323 dedicated parliamentarians bring to this organization. As the most direct link between the OSCE and the ‘end users of the OSCE product’ – the citizens we work for – the Assembly is in a unique position to help advance the worthwhile priorities outlined in Vienna today.”

Montella, OSCE PA Special Representative Amb. Andreas Nothelle and several staff members are participating in the opening of Slovakia’s OSCE Chairmanship in Vienna this week. Montella is representing the Assembly at the Annual Heads of Institutions meeting and senior policy staff are participating in regional working group sessions. Montella spoke today with the new Chairperson-in-Office on key issues in 2019.

Next week, President Tsereteli will address the OSCE Permanent Council and hold a series of bilateral meetings in Vienna. The President also plans to visit Moldova on 21-22 January for discussions in the capital with governmental and parliamentary leaders.

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COPENHAGEN, 14 January 2019 - The leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee, Chair Margareta Kiener Nellen (MP, Switzerland), Vice-Chair Michael Georg Link (MP, Germany), and Rapporteur Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (MP, Cyprus), today called for urgent steps by Turkish authorities to ensure the safety of Member of Parliament Leyla Güven, imprisoned pending trial.

In a letter earlier today to Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the human rights leaders called for immediate attention to case. They have issued the following appeal:

“With worrying reports of a serious deterioration in Leyla Güven’s health, we urge the authorities to take urgent measures to alleviate the situation. On humanitarian grounds, we call for her immediate transfer to a hospital where she can get the adequate medical attention and treatment and enable contact with her lawyers and family.”

Kiener Nellen, Link and Hadjiyanni were responding to multiple reports that Leyla Güven, elected to parliament in Turkey in June last year, was in critical condition as her hunger strike enters its 65th day. Her deteriorating health has reportedly limited her ability to meet with lawyers and visitors.

The OSCE PA officials also expressed concern at the imposition of pre-trial detention, reiterating OSCE PA calls for such measures only “exceptional cases and when public security is at stake or when a suspect presents a genuine flight risk” (OSCE PA 2015 Helsinki Declaration).

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VIENNA, 14 January 2019 – The State Secretary of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Pascale Baeriswyl, will open Switzerland’s Chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation in Vienna on Wednesday, 16 January 2019.

Media representatives are invited to attend State Secretary Baeriswyl’s address to representatives of the OSCE participating States, in which she will present Switzerland’s priorities and objectives for its Chairmanship, which will extend up until the end of the Easter recess.

Media representatives are invited to cover her address from 10:00 am on Wednesday, 16 January in the Neuer Saal on the second floor of the Hofburg Conference Centre.

State Secretary Baeriswyl will also hold a briefing (in English) for media representatives in Room 525, tentatively at 12:00 noon.

Media representatives wishing to attend should confirm their attendance by sending an e-mail to press@osce.org, no later than 16:00 hrs, 15 January 2019.

The Chairmanship of the Forum for Security Co-operation rotates three times a year. It takes the lead in setting the agenda for each meeting of the Forum and brings attention to issues concerning the implementation of commitments adopted by the Forum. 

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