OSCE

BISHKEK, 6 October 2018 – In advance of the 20 October parliamentary elections to be held in Afghanistan, the leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee express their deep concern at the arbitrary exclusion of candidates from running for office.

The officers of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Chair Margareta Kiener Nellen (MP, Switzerland), Vice-Chair Michael Georg Link (MP, Germany), and Rapporteur Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (MP, Cyprus) issued the following statement:

“Elections are fundamentally intended to be a process through which people can select their decision-makers. Candidates must not be excluded from running based on unclear grounds.

“We express our strong hope for democratic elections in Afghanistan, to help bring peace and development to a country that has seen far too much conflict and pain. The closed-door process in Afghanistan that has barred a number of candidates for election, including the well-known human rights activist Fawzia Koofi, a former Chair of the Committee on Human Rights of the Interparliamentary Union (IPU), has not provided them with a right to respond to allegations against them or effectively defend themselves. Unless immediate steps are taken to rectify this situation, trust in the electoral process overall will almost certainly suffer.”

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This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on a casualty as a result of an explosion in Kadiivka. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as near Zaichenko and Yuzhna Lomuvatka.* The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and maintenance of critical water and electrical infrastructure in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, repairs to the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne, as well as demining in the area of Zolote-2/Karbonit.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations,[1] including about 80 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 70 explosions).

On the night of 4-5 October, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north or Donetsk) recorded six undetermined explosions and 30 projectiles in flight (mostly east to west and from north-westerly to south-easterly directions), all 1-5km south-south-east, south, and south-south-west.

On 5 October, positioned in areas north-west of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions and about 30 shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 1-4km north, south-south-east, south-west, west, and north-west.

On the evening and night of 4-5 October, the SMM camera in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) recorded two undetermined explosions, about 170 projectiles in flight (mostly from north to south and from south to north) and six bursts, all 3-5km at easterly directions. The following day, while in Svitlodarsk, the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions 4-8km at south-westerly directions.

On the evening and night of 4-5 October, the SMM camera 1.5km north-east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) recorded three undetermined explosions, about 175 projectiles in flight (mostly from north to south), two bursts, a muzzle flash and an illumination flare in vertical flight, all 2-4km at easterly directions.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 120 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (41 explosions).

On the evening and night of 4-5 October, the SMM camera in Kriakivka (government-controlled, 38km north-west of Luhansk) recorded five undetermined explosions, about 270 projectiles in flight (mostly from west-north-west to east-south-east) and 19 muzzle flashes, all 2-5km at south-westerly directions.

On the early evening of 5 October, while in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 51 undetermined explosions 10-15km north and north-north-west.

The SMM followed up on reports of a casualty in Kadiivka. At the Kadiivka Hospital, medical staff told the SMM that a man (39 years old) had been admitted to the hospital on 3 October at 08:00 with injuries caused by an explosion that occurred earlier the same morning at an outdoor communal refuge on Manakova Street in Kadiivka. According to medical staff, the man is homeless and refused to be hospitalised for his injuries, which included injuries to both hands, an amputation of two fingertips on his right hand and an amputation of one fingertip on his left hand. At the communal refuge on Manakova Street, four local residents (two male and two female, around 70 years old) told the SMM that on the morning of 3 October at around 07:15 they had heard an explosion and had then discovered the injured man for whom they called an ambulance.   

The SMM continued to monitor and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted, but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

On the evening of 4 October, the SMM camera positioned at the Prince Ihor monument south-east of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk) recorded four undetermined explosions 1-3km north-west (unable to determine whether inside or outside the disengagement area). Shortly after the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska recorded one undetermined explosion 3-5km south-east (unable to determine whether inside or outside the disengagement area).

On 5 October, the SMM observed 15 members of the armed formations (eight visibly armed) near a position of the armed formations on the south side of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, inside the disengagement area, shoot a white signal flare toward government-controlled areas, which they said was an indication of the armed formations’ readiness to disengage. No flare launched in government-controlled areas was observed.

On the evening of 4 October, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 3-5km south-east and south, both assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On the evening of 4 October the SMM camera in Zolote recorded three projectiles in vertical flight 1-2km east-south-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

While positioned near the Petrivske disengagement area on 5 October, the SMM observed a calm situation.

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

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 4 October an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted seven surface-to-air missile systems (9K37) near Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk). On 5 October the SMM observed a tank (T-64) parked on the side of the road about 2km south-west of Berestok (63km north of Donetsk), a flatbed truck transporting a tank (T-72) near Druzhkivka (72km north of Donetsk) and eight surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa) being unloaded at a train station in Khlibodarivka (65km south-west of Donetsk).

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. At sites in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, the SMM observed eight multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) and a tank (T-64) and noted that 23 MLRS (BM-21), two surface-to-air missile systems (9K35), one self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika 122mm) and a tank (T-64) continued to be missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles (ACVs)[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 4 October an SMM long-range UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BTR-4) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk), an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (undetermined variant) near Pobeda (27km west of Donetsk), an ACV (type undetermined) near Novomykhailivka (28km south-west of Donetsk), eight ACVs (type undetermined) near Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk), two ACVs (type undetermined) near Hranitne (60km south of Donetsk), two ACVs (type undetermined) near Vodiane (94km south of Donetsk) and four APCs (BTR variants) near Chermalyk (77km south of Donetsk). On 5 October the SMM saw an IFV (BTR-4) near Novobakhmutivka and an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Petrivka (27km north of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas, on 4 October, an SMM long-range UAV spotted an ACV (type undetermined) near Bila Kamianka (51km south-west of Donetsk) and five ACVs (type undetermined) near houses in the Kirpoty neighbourhood of eastern Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 92km south of Donetsk).

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to power lines between Raivka (non-government-controlled, 16km north-west of Luhansk) and Dovhe (non-government-controlled, 22km north-west of Luhansk), the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne (government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk), electrical infrastructure between Verkhnotoretske (government-controlled, 23km north-east of Donetsk) and Betmanove (non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Donetsk), the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring adherence to the ceasefire. It also continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining in the area of Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk).

The SMM visited a border area outside of government control. At a border crossing point near Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol) for about 20 minutes, the SMM saw three cars (one with Russian Federation licence plates and two with “DPR” plates), two cargo trucks (both with Ukrainian licence plates, one covered and one uncovered) entering Ukraine and three cars (one with Ukrainian licence plates and two with “DPR” plates) leaving Ukraine.

On 4 October, the SMM observed a protest at Lanzheron Beach in Odessa. (See SMM Daily Report 24 September 2018.) About 10-15 people (mostly men in their twenties and thirties) known to the SMM as members of National Corps, Automaidan, Right Sector, Street Front and Sokil were present. The SMM saw one of them knock on the fence surrounding the construction site and, when no one opened the gate, post a large copy of a document on the fence. Several activists spray-painted slogans on the fence, including “Illegal Construction.” The SMM observed that at least six police officers were present as well as media. The situation was calm when the SMM departed.

The SMM 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 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 SMM Daily Report 5 October 2018). 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 checkpoint north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), three armed members of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage southward to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), citing “orders not to allow the SMM through.”
• At a checkpoint in Yuzhna-Lomuvatka (non-government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations again denied it passage to the village, citing demining in the area.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The SMM was prevented from accessing parts of the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, with the exception of the main road, due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.[3]
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC. [3]
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A member of the armed formations informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed.
• The SMM was prevented from traveling south on the bridge near Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk) due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that no demining had taken place in the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC. [3]

[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] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[3] The SMM informed Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC. Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC withdrew from the JCCC as of 18 December 2017.

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This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage to civilian properties caused by shelling and gunfire in Chermalyk. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and near the Zolote disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as near Zaichenko and near Izvaryne and Sievernyi, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed multiple launch rocket systems in violation of the agreed withdrawal lines near Khrustalnyi. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and maintenance of critical water and electrical infrastructure in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, repairs to the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne, as well as demining in the area of Zolote-2/Karbonit. In Kyiv, the Mission monitored the security situation in and around the Parliament building during proceedings in relation to legislation concerning local governance of areas outside of government control in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations,[1] including about 70 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (60 explosions).

On the evening of 3 October, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard seven explosions and eight bursts, all 3-7km at south-south-west, south-west and west. On the evening and night of 3-4 October, the SMM camera in Svitlodarsk recorded two undetermined explosions, about 130 projectiles in flight (mostly from north to south and from south to north) and six bursts, all 3-4km east-north-east and east. The following day, while in Svitlodarsk, the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions 4-8km south-south-west and south-west.

On the evening and night of 3-4 October, the SMM camera 1.5km north-east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) recorded an undetermined explosion, 86 projectiles in flight (mostly from north to south), a burst and a muzzle flash, all 2-4km at easterly directions.

During the day on 4 October, positioned on the north-western edge of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions and 18 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 0.5-1km north-west and north.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including, however, fewer explosions (41), compared with the previous reporting period (about 105 explosions).

On the evening and night of 3-4 October, the SMM camera in Kriakivka (government-controlled, 38km north-west of Luhansk) recorded ten undetermined explosions, about 110 projectiles in flight (mostly from west-north-west to east-south-east), two bursts and 16 muzzle flashes, all 2-5km at south-westerly directions.

The SMM followed up on reports of damage caused by shelling and gunfire. On 3 October, at 37 Lenina Street in Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol), the Mission saw debris consisting of wood and roof tiles piled up in a yard. It also saw that the roof of a barn had been recently repaired. A woman (in her seventies), who said she lived in a house at the same address, told the SMM that the roof of the barn had been hit during shelling in the afternoon on 28 September and had since been repaired. The Mission assessed the debris pattern to be consistent with damage caused by an explosion of a rocket propelled grenade; however, it could not determine the direction of fire.

At 39 Lenina Street, the SMM saw two bullet holes in the east-south-east-facing wall of a house. The Mission saw a bullet lodged in one of the holes which it assessed as a probable 5.45mm round fired from an easterly direction. The SMM assessed the damage as not fresh. A woman (in her sixties), who said she lived at the address, told the SMM that her house had been hit by small-arms fire on multiple occasions and that the damage observed by the Mission had been caused in early September 2018.

About 200m north-west of 39 Lenina Street, the SMM saw two large pieces of metal that had been torn off from a south-south-west facing fence. The Mission saw pockmarks on the fence and that parts of the fence’s concrete base had been chipped off. It also saw shrapnel damage to a tree 5m north-north-east of the fence. The SMM assessed the damage as fresh and caused by a round of an undetermined weapon fired from a south-westerly direction. Less than 500m east of the above-mentioned impact sites, the Mission observed a recently extended 400m trench (see below).

The SMM continued to monitor and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted, but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

On the evening of 3 October, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded an explosion assessed as an impact of an undetermined weapon, a projectile in flight and a muzzle flash, all 1-2km east (all assessed as outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 4 October, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard an explosion assessed as an impact of an undetermined weapon and an undetermined explosion 3-4km south-south-west (both assessed inside the disengagement area), as well as an explosion assessed as an impact of an undetermined weapon 1-2km south-south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area). On the same day, positioned south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard two explosions assessed as impacts of rounds of undetermined weapons 1-3km north-north-west assessed as outside the disengagement area. Positioned at the forward position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces about 300m north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, for about ten minutes, the Mission saw a blue light flashing every few seconds about 800m south. A member of the armed formations in Luhansk city told the Mission that the armed formations used laser equipment.

On the same day, positioned near the Petrivske disengagement area, the SMM observed a calm situation.

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 in a non-government-controlled area, on 3 October, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted 22 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in a government-controlled area, the SMM saw 12 surface-to-air missile systems (9K37) stationary on flatbeds at a railway station in Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in non-government-controlled areas, on 3 October, an SMM long-rage UAV spotted two tanks (T-64) and a self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Zelenyi Hai (49km south-west of Luhansk), four anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm), 16 self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and 32 towed howitzers (ten D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm; 15 2A65 Msta-B 152mm and seven 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) near Khrustalnyi.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun[2] and other indications of military presence in the security zone. In non-government-controlled areas, on 3 October, an SMM long-range UAV spotted six infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-1) and two probable armoured personnel carriers (APC) (undetermined variants) near Komuna (56km north-east of Donetsk), an APC (BTR variant) in Novoselivka (16km west of Luhansk), an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on a truck near Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk) and an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) in Luhansk city. On 4 October, the SMM saw an APC (BTR-70) near Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol) and an APC (BTR-80) near Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, 33km north-east of Mariupol).

In government-controlled areas, on 4 October, the SMM saw two armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) near Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), one near Artema (26km north of Luhansk) and two near Orikhove-Donetske (44km north-west of Luhansk). On 3 October, an SMM mini-UAV spotted about 400m of trenches (not visible in imagery from 22 September) extending from the existing positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Chermalyk.

The SMM saw a group of at least eight people wearing the logo of an international demining organization and conducting work near areas marked for mine clearance on the western side of the road from Lomakyne (government-controlled, 15km north-east of Mariupol) to Mariupol (government-controlled, 102km south of Donetsk).

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to power lines between Raivka (non-government-controlled, 16km north-west of Luhansk) and Dovhe (non-government-controlled, 22km north-west of Luhansk), the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne (government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk), electrical infrastructure between Verkhnotoretske (government-controlled, 23km north-east of Donetsk) and Betmanove (non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Donetsk), the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and water wells near Slovianoserbsk (non-government-controlled, 28km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring adherence to the ceasefire. It also continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining in the area of Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk).

The SMM visited two border areas outside of government control. While at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk) for about ten minutes, the Mission saw 38 cars (21 with Ukrainian and 14 with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as two with “LPR” and one with “DPR” plates), a bus with Ukrainian licence plates, 18 trucks (nine with Ukrainian and one with Belarusian licence plates, as well as seven with “LPR” and one with “DPR” plates) and seven pedestrians (five men and two women, aged 40-60) queuing to exit Ukraine. A member of the armed formation told the SMM to leave the area.*

While at a pedestrian border crossing point near Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk) for about five minutes, the SMM saw four pedestrians (one man and three women, aged 50-60) exiting Ukraine and two pedestrians (men, in their fifties) entering Ukraine. A member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

In Kyiv, the SMM saw that the square in front of the Parliament building was cordoned off by approximately 200 police and National Guard officers. Inside the building, the SMM monitored a plenary session during which Members of Parliament voted for extension of the law “On the Special Order of Local Self-Government in Certain Districts of Donetsk and Luhansk Regions” until 31 December 2019.

The SMM followed up on reports of a Ukrainian State Border Guard Service officer suffering an eye injury on 3 October at the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk). On 4 October, medical staff at a hospital in Dnipro told the Mission that a male officer had been admitted with an injury of the cornea of his eye. Medical staff added that the eye injury had been caused by an unidentified laser source and that with a series of medical treatments it was expected the officer would make a full recovery.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv 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 (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 checkpoint north of Zaichenko, an armed member of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage westward to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and southward to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), citing “orders not to allow the SMM through”. The Mission saw civilian cars passing through the checkpoint in both directions.
• At a border crossing point near Sievernyi, an armed member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area, saying that “the SMM’s visit was not announced in advance”.
• At a pedestrian border crossing point near Izvaryne, an armed member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area, saying that “the SMM’s visit was not announced in advance”.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The SMM was prevented from accessing parts of the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, with the exception of the main road, due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.[3]
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC. [3]
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A member of the armed formations informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed.

Other impediments:

• The SMM temporarily lost communication with its long-range UAV due to signal interference[4] while flying in a non-government-controlled area between Lisne (46km south-west of Luhansk) and Rodakove (22km west of Luhansk). The SMM landed the UAV safely.
• On two separate occasions, the SMM temporarily lost communication with its mini-UAV due to signal interference[5] near Lebedynske (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Mariupol). The SMM landed the UAV safely.
• Staff at a school in Luhansk city refused to provide the SMM information without prior approval from senior members of the armed formations.

[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] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[3] The SMM informed Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC. Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC withdrew from the JCCC as of 18 December 2017.

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

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

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SARAJEVO, 5 October 2018 – The international observers monitoring the 7 October general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 8 October, in Sarajevo.

The international observation mission is a common endeavour involving the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE), the European Parliament (EP) and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA).

The statement will be delivered by Mavroudis Voridis, the Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission, Dame Cheryl Gillan, Head of the PACE delegation, Pia Kauma, Head of the OSCE PA delegation, Frank Engel, Head of the EP delegation, Rasa Juknevičienė, Head of the NATO PA delegation, and Ambassador Peter Tejler, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission.

The International Election Observation Mission comprises some 320 observers from 43 countries, including 250 long-term and short-term observers deployed by ODIHR, 30 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, 18 from PACE, 9 from the EP and 8 from the NATO PA.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina operate separately and under their own specific mandates.

Journalists are invited to attend the news conference on Monday, 8 October, at 15:00, in the Banja Luka Room of the Novotel Sarajevo Bristol Hotel, Fra Filipa Lastrića 2, Sarajevo.

Live stream of the press conference will be available at:

www.facebook.com/osce.odihr and www.oscepa.org.

For further information contact:

Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR, +387 67 130 1572 or +48 609 522 266, thomas.rymer@odihr.pl

Iryna Sabashuk, OSCE PA, +387 62 361 066 or +45 60 10 81 73, iryna@oscepa.dk

Chemavon Chahbazian, PACE, +387 62 032 847 or +33 (0) 6 50 68 76 55, chemavon.chahbazian@coe.int

Tim Boden, EP, +387 60 302 0657 or +32 498 3414, timothy.boden@europarl.europa.eu

Ruxandra Popa, NATO PA, +32 484 690 848, rpopa@nato-pa.int

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PODGORICA, 5 October 2018 – More than 50 participants from police, border and customs services, and the Ministries of Justice and Culture from South-east Europe and the Caucasus completed a five-day workshop in Podgorica today on combating illicit cross-border trafficking in cultural property.

The workshop, the third held as part of an OSCE project on this issue, was organized by the Italian OSCE Chairmanship in co-ordination with the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro. It follows similar workshops held in the past in Vicenza, Italy for the Mediterranean region and in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for the Central Asian region.

“Driven by more and more evidence on the global level that the illegal looting of cultural goods and artefacts, and destruction of common historical heritage are used by criminal groups and terrorist organizations to generate tremendous profits, we have to engage in awareness-raising activities and assist professionals from different agencies in discussing the available tools and new methods to jointly fight this phenomenon,” said Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Maryse Daviet.

The workshop highlighted the international legal framework and best practices in criminal justice responses to trafficking in cultural property. Experts presented the available IT systems and databases to support the fight against this phenomenon. They emphasized the importance of international co-operation and information exchange as efficient counter-measures, equally important to the monitoring and protection of archaeological sites, as well as controls in museums.

“Combating the illicit cross-border trafficking in cultural property is one of the priorities of 2018 Italian OSCE Chairmanship,” said Counsellor Isa Ghivarelli, representing the Chairmanship. “South-East Europe and the South Caucasus are rich in history and increasingly exposed to destruction and looting. Furthermore they lie directly on the route where artefacts from other regions, including crisis and war-affected areas are trafficked. This phenomenon requires a direct and co-ordinated response from different stakeholders across borders. This workshop was designed precisely to determine the efficient responses to this phenomenon and to counteract organized crime and terrorism by cutting a significant funding source. The ideas generated during the workshop will help us to better tailor future activities to the needs of the different stakeholders.”

Experts from various agencies and bodies participated in the workshop. They included representatives of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime; the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation; the United States Homeland Security Investigations; Italy’s Carabinieri Command for the protection of cultural heritage; the International Partnerships, Trade Operations and Law Enforcement Coordination Department of Canada; INTERPOL; EUROPOL; UNESCO; the British Museum; the International Council of Museums; and the Regional Diving Centre in Bjela, Montenegro.

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BISHKEK, 5 October 2018 – Enhancing security dialogue in Central Asia, countering new challenges and threats in border areas, promoting Mediterranean co-operation and strengthening citizens’ engagement in building secure societies have been among the topics of debate at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 17th Autumn Meeting in Bishkek this week.

Some 300 delegates including 160 parliamentarians from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation have participated in the meeting, hosted by the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Speakers at the event included President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic Dastanbek Dzhumabekov, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Abdyldaev, representatives of OSCE field operations in Central Asia, and a representative of the Chairmanship of the OSCE Contact Group with the Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation.

In his closing remarks today, OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (Georgia) highlighted the main themes and outcomes of the debates in Bishkek.

“We have analyzed how confidence-building and regional co-operation can help us counter new challenges and threats in border areas, such as trafficking in human beings along migration routes, tackling the trafficking of illicit drugs, or preventing the spread of terrorism,” he said. “We have discussed how the Mediterranean and Central Asia can learn from each other to address migration, trade, and environmental challenges.”

He also pointed out the importance of engaging citizens to provide a comprehensive answer to all these challenges. “As we return to our national parliaments, we must turn these ideas into concrete plans,” he said. “We must carry on holding our governments accountable and pushing them to live up to their commitments.”

Introducing the first session of the Parliamentary Conference, dealing with promoting regional co-operation, OSCE PA Vice-President Kari Henriksen (Norway) noted that responding to common transnational threats such as terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, illegal migration, trafficking in human beings, and cyber threats have had the effect of strengthening ties between the Central Asian countries.

“This increased co-operation has materialized in the form of a number of bilateral agreements on confidence-building measures at borders with a view to boosting regional security and stability,” she said. “The OSCE is particularly well positioned to address the challenges and threats associated with border areas and to strengthen regional co-operation thanks to its comprehensive security concept.”

Members of Kyrgyzstan’s Delegation underscored these points, noting that cross-border co-operation is key to many different issues and that building regional co-operation will help build security for the whole OSCE area. Enhancing trust and confidence and promoting regional economic development will also provide a basis to counter extremists, they said, noting that the OSCE PA is a key forum to build confidence and co-operation in the OSCE area.

In his opening remarks to the Mediterranean Forum Thursday, OSCE PA Special Representative on Mediterranean Affairs Pascal Allizard (France) discussed priority issues for the region, including combating human smugglers and traffickers, the fight against radicalization and violent extremism, and migration management. He drew attention to the exploitation of migrant workers and noted that much work remains to be done in responding to the crisis of migrants and refugees.

“As we can see, the migration crisis in Europe is not yet over,” he said, “and we cannot say with certainty whether the ‘worst’ has passed or is yet to come. What I do know, however, is that it is not an ordinary crisis, one that we can expect to settle with half measures.”

He stressed that an effective response to the crisis must include efforts to address these conditions, while ensuring that the reception of refugees and asylum seekers be done under the best conditions.

Other topics discussed by delegates at the Mediterranean Forum, held under the theme of “Geopolitics of Central Asia and the Mediterranean: Addressing Migration, Trade and Environmental Challenges,” included counter-terrorism, climate change, promoting stability in Syria, Libya and Iraq in order to reduce human suffering and stem the flow of refugees, as well as the importance of promoting a just resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Chairing today’s session devoted to promoting citizens’ engagement in building secure societies, Hedy Fry (Canada) noted that as the OSCE PA’s Special Representative on Gender Issues, she is acutely aware of the gap in representation of women in public life. Similar challenges exist for minority populations, she said, including the Roma populations in many European countries. She urged full participation for all segments of society.

“When you have everyone in a country all able to move towards the same goals in the same fashion, you have a secure nation,” Fry said. “When you exclude minorities from equal participation and access they will rise up and you will have insecurity. Society must be based on the core principle of citizen participation.” Her remarks also focused on increasing young people’s participation in political life, noting that 18-24 year-olds are the least likely to vote in Canada.

Discussion in the session touched on issues such as free communication and movement, fighting corruption, the work of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, combating violence and discrimination against women, increasing youth and minority participation in public life, and promoting open government initiatives.

Also today, the OSCE PA’s Standing Committee met and heard reports from President Tsereteli, Secretary General Roberto Montella, Chair of the Sub-Committee on the Rules of Procedure and Working Practices Peter Bowness, Treasurer Doris Barnett, and Special Representatives. Members also discussed ongoing and upcoming activities including election observation missions and future meetings of the Assembly.

Photos from the meeting are on Flickr. Videos are being posted on YouTube as they become available. More information is available here. 

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VIENNA, 5 October 2018 – Representatives of the 57 OSCE participating States, civil society and international organizations will meet in Vienna on Monday for the two-day conference “Human Rights and Education: promoting human rights, peaceful coexistence and security in the OSCE region through education”.

This meeting, organized by the Italian OSCE Chairmanship, with the support of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), will seek to promote policy making efforts to mainstream human rights education and address full access to education.

The Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting will also offer a platform to explore initiatives and programmes meant to facilitate and support policy making, as well as opportunities to leverage new technologies for advancing human rights education and promoting the right to education.

Kaari Mattila, Secretary-General of the Finnish League for Human Rights, will deliver the keynote address at the event.

Journalists are invited to attend the opening of the conference from 15:00 to 16:00 on 8 October in the Neuer Saal of the Hofburg Conference Centre. To register, please send an e-mail confirming your attendance to press@osce.org by 12:00 noon, 8 October.

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398729 Participants of the training seminar are discussing effective methods of interaction with the media, Koschi village (near Astana), Kazakhstan, 1 October 2018. Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Astana

An OSCE-supported five-day media relations training seminar for prosecutors  concluded on 5 October 2018 in the village of Koschi (near Astana), Kazakhstan.

The seminar covered topics such as effective communication strategies between prosecutors and the media, and best practices in interaction with journalists and the general public through various channels and in different contexts. The event also included a session dedicated to the use of new media tools and social networks, as well as practical exercises on proper drafting of press releases and press briefings.

Some twenty-five prosecutors from across Kazakhstan took part in the event. They learned to prepare for public interviews and press conferences, enhance their public speaking skills, organize communication campaigns and handle conflict situations.

The event, co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the General Prosecutor’s Office’s Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies is part of the Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to enhance co-operation between law enforcement agencies and the media.

398747 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Astana

An OSCE Programme Office in Astana-supported seminar on the protection of freedom of expression and policies to counter hate speech on the Internet, co-organized with the NGO Legal Media Centre, took place on 5 October 2018 in Uralsk, Kazakhstan.

Some twenty journalists, representatives of civil society and university students discussed the relationship between media and hate speech policies as well as ways to enhance co-operation between government, civil society and media organizations. Together with national experts from Kazakhstan, participants examined a number of electronic resources and print media examples to analyse the vocabulary journalists use. These real-life case studies offered the participants an insight into the damaging effects of stereotypes in the media.

The event aimed to equip journalists with the tools to counter hate speech in the media and on the Internet, including mechanisms to reduce the potential harm from a malicious Internet environment and destructive behaviour such as trolling, cyber-bullying and hate speech.

The seminar was a follow-up to similar events held in Kostanay and Karaganda earlier this year.

The event is part of the Office’s activities aimed at promoting media freedom and freedom of expression in line with OSCE principles and commitments.

PODGORICA, 5 October 2018 – The OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the OSCE Mission to Skopje, in co-operation with the Media Association of South East Europe, will host the conference Media Sustainability and Successful Media Business Models on 9 and 10 October 2018, beginning at 09:30, at Hotel Centre Ville in Podgorica.

The conference will focus on business challenges and the sustainability of traditional media; best practices for cutting losses in media outlets; networking and investing in media capacities, as well as on regulatory practices related to media. It will also highlight the growing influence of new media and social networks and their role in advertising programmatic media content.

This event aims to encourage discussion, explore diverse experiences in the field and provide media outlets with an overview of possible solutions to some of the most important financial media challenges, contributing to media sustainability.

Relevant stakeholders from Montenegro and the region, including representatives of media outlets and media institutions, international organisations and diplomatic missions, as well as EU experts will attend the conference.

Keynote speakers on 9 October, 09:30

• Duško Marković, President of the Government of Montenegro,
• Harlem Desir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media,
• Ambassador Maryse Daviet, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro,
• Ambassador Clemens Koja, Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje,
• Željko Ivanović, President of the Assembly of the Media Association of South East Europe (MASE)

Keynote speaker on 10 October, 10:00

• Aleksandar Bogdanović, Montenegrin Minister of Culture

Media wishing to attend are requested to send an e-mail to Marina.Zivaljevic@osce.org by 8 October, 15:00.

The full agenda can be accessed here. 

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This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued to follow up on reports of injuries caused by an explosion in Donetsk city. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as near Yuzhna-Lomuvatka.* The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs and maintenance to power lines in Raivka, the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne, the Krasnohorivka gas distribution station, as well as to enable demining in the area of Zolote-2/Karbonit.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations,[1] including 60 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 175 explosions).

On the evening and night of 2-3 October, the SMM camera 1.5km north-east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) recorded an undetermined explosion, ten muzzle flashes and about 130 projectiles in flight (mostly from west-south-west to east-north-east and from north to south), all 1-5km at directions ranging from north-east to south-east.

On the evening of 2 October, while in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 23 undetermined explosions 4-5km south-south-west. During the day on 3 October, while at the same location, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 3-4km south-south-west. The same day, positioned on the north-west edge of Horlivka, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and about 15 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun of small-arms-fire, all 1-3km south-west and west.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 105), compared with the previous reporting period (about 50 explosions).

On the evening and night of 2-3 October, the SMM camera in Kriakivka (government-controlled, 38km north-west of Luhansk) recorded about 70 undetermined explosions, two muzzle flashes and 14 projectiles in flight from west-north-east to east-south-east, all 2-5km south-south-west and south-west.

The SMM continued to follow up on reports of injuries caused by an explosion in non-government-controlled Donetsk city on 29 September. (See SMM Daily Report 3 October 2018.) At Kalinina Hospital in Donetsk, on 3 October, medical staff told the SMM that a man (aged 32) had been admitted to the hospital on 29 September with injuries caused by an explosion on the premises of the “communist party” and had been released the same day.

The SMM continued to monitor and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted, but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

On the evening of 2 October, positioned on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard three bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-4km south-south-west, assessed as inside the disengagement area.

The same evening, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded an undetermined explosion 3-5km east, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

During the day on 3 October, positioned on the north-eastern edge of Katerynivka (government-controlled, 64km west of Luhansk), inside the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard five explosions assessed as artillery rounds 8-15km south-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

During the day on 3 October, positioned near the Petrivske disengagement area, the SMM observed a calm situation.

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 in non-government-controlled areas, on 1 October, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of three tanks (undetermined variants) in a training area 1km north of Svobodne (73km south of Donetsk). On 2 October, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted 14 towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm), 13 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) in a training area near Buhaivka (37km south-west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 2 October, an SMM long-range UAV spotted four surface-to-air missile systems (9K37) at the railway station in Rubizhne (84km north-west of Luhansk), and an SMM mid-range UAV spotted five tanks (T-72) north of Druzhne (63km south of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in non-government-controlled areas, on 1 October, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of 27 tanks (undetermined variant) and four surface-to-air-missile systems (undetermined variants) in a training area near Buhaivka, 11 tanks in a training area near Shymshynivka (27km south-west of Luhansk), 30 tanks (undetermined variants) in a training area near Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk), 18 tanks (undetermined variants) in a training area near Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk) and 43 tanks (undetermined variants) in a training area near Manuilivka (65km east of Donetsk). On 2 October, an SMM long-range UAV spotted 17 tanks (undetermined variants) near Buhaivka and 31 tanks (T-72) near Kruhlyk.

In a non-government-controlled area, on 1 October, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of nine pieces of self-propelled artillery (undetermined variants) and 20 pieces of towed artillery (undetermined variants) in a training area near Buhaivka, as well as 32 pieces of towed artillery (undetermined variants) in a training area near Myrne.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft gun[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 2 October, an SMM long-range UAV spotted an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) north-west of Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk) and an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) near Hladosove (51km north-east of Donetsk). On 3 October, the SMM saw two IFVs (a BMP-1 and a BMP-2) near Troitske (69km west of Luhansk).

In a non-government-controlled area, on 3 October, an SMM mini-UAV spotted two IFVs (BMP-1) in Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk).

The SMM observed the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and mine hazard signs. In Uzhivka (formerly Leninske, non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed the tailfin of a 120mm mortar round embedded in the road at the eastern entrance to the village.

In Tavrycheske (non-government-controlled, 35km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM noted that a previously observed tailfin of a 120mm mortar round was no longer present. Earlier, the SMM had told members of armed formations in the village that it had observed UXO (see SMM Daily Report 20 September 2018), and on 3 October, two armed members of the armed formations informed the SMM that the tailfin had been removed.

Along road E58 about 4km north-west of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), the SMM observed two wooden sticks with red and white ribbons tied around them, assessed as improvised mine hazard signs.

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to power lines between Raivka (non-government-controlled, 16km north-west of Luhansk) and Dovhe (non-government-controlled, 22km north-west of Luhansk), to the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne (government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk) and 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). The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS, including through monitoring adherence to the ceasefire.

The SMM also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining in the area of Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk).

Near Mykhailivka (government-controlled, 37km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw about 50 people (mostly men, aged 35-50) walking back and forth across the road, blocking it. Some of them told the SMM that they worked at the nearby Kotliarevska coal mine and were protesting because of “unpaid salaries and other benefits”. The SMM observed a police vehicle parked nearby. The gathering had dispersed by late afternoon.

The SMM 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, 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 SMM Daily Report 2 October 2018). 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:

• A member of the armed formations prevented the SMM from passing through a checkpoint near Yuzhna-Lomuvatka (non-government controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), citing demining activities.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The SMM was prevented from accessing parts of the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, with the exception of the main road, due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.[3]
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.4
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A member of the armed formations informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed.

Other impediments:

• The SMM temporarily lost communication with its long-range UAV due to signal interference while flying in a non-government-controlled area between Zelenopillia (73km south of Luhansk) and Bobrykove (71km south of Luhansk).

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

[2] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[3] The SMM informed Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC. Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC withdrew from the JCCC as of 18 December 2017.

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VIENNA, 4 October 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his deep concern today about a decision by Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, that calls for sanctions against two Ukrainian television channels, which would eventually terminate their activities. 

“I would like to reiterate that freedom of expression and freedom of the media are fundamental commitments of the OSCE participating States, which should be respected and fulfilled,” said Désir. “Any restrictions imposed on these rights, including in the name of protecting national security or countering propaganda, should be strictly limited in scope, proportional, and provide for adequate safeguards against abuse through an independent court system. I am deeply concerned about any future decision of terminating or potentially blocking the regular functioning of media in Ukraine.”

The Verkhovna Rada today adopted a resolution proposing that the National Security Council of Ukraine introduce personal and economic sanctions against seven legal entities, which own and control the Ukrainian television channels 112 and NewsOne. The resolution, among other things, broadly suggests cancelling or suspending the broadcast licences granted to these legal entities, banning their use of radio frequencies, and restricting or terminating the provision of telecommunication services and the use of telecommunication networks by these legal entities.

The Representative recalled that the best and most effective mechanism to neutralize the impact of propaganda is the existence of an open, diverse and dynamic media environment.

If propaganda amounts to incitement to hatred and violence, proper and proportionate measures may be applied using available judicial and human rights instruments.

“I call on the Ukrainian authorities to refrain from taking disproportionately restrictive measures toward the media without following the proper judicial procedures, which would adversely impact the free flow and access to information, and impede the expression of diversity of opinions,” said Désir.

The Representative has intervened on the issue of sanctions deployed against media outlets on a number of occasions in the past. His statement is available at: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/382522.

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.

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

International rule of law standards related to the use of e-justice mechanisms were the topic of a seminar organized on 4 October 2018 in Minsk for participants from across Belarus.

The seminar was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Institute for Re-training and Continuing Education of Judges and Personnel of Prosecutor’s Offices, Courts and Justice Institutions (IRCE) at the Belarusian State University.  It was the third in a series of seminars on rule of law issues co-organized as part of the two-year, European Union-funded project “Promoting Democratization and Human Rights in Belarus”.

The training event involved 34 participants (20 women and 14 men), most of them economic court judges. They learned about the various ways in which digital information and communication technologies are being used in the administration of justice in various OSCE participating States, as well as the related international standards.

“There is a wide diversity of practice across the OSCE region when it comes to e-justice. It is important to ensure that e-justice mechanisms safeguard the rights to a fair trial and effective remedy, and that they protect and promote adequate access to justice for all,” said Ghenadie Barba, Chief of the Rule of Law Unit at ODIHR.

Snezhana Leshchanka, the Institute’s Deputy Director for Science and Methodology, said: “The seminar has provided IRCE trainees with deep knowledge in the field of e-justice within the framework of their qualification upgrading, which will contribute to the effectiveness of court practice in the country.”

“For the European Union, e-justice is a key element for effective justice and therefore crucial to safeguarding the rule of law,” said Berend de Groot, Head of Co-operation of the EU Delegation to Belarus, in his opening remarks.

In addition to the training of some 200 legal professionals during thematic seminars, the project’s rule of law activities will also include exchange visits on rule of law and other justice-related issues.

VIENNA, 7 October 2018 – On the 12th anniversary of the killing of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, recalled the need to guarantee journalists’ safety, and insisted that the Russian authorities intensify their efforts to end impunity for crimes committed against journalists.

“Politkvoskaya’s murder remains a grim reminder that journalists’ safety needs to be adequately addressed in the Russian Federation,” Désir said. “Despite the progress and assurances that have been made so far by the authorities on this case, I urge Russia to complete a full investigation, to ensure full accountability for those who commissioned the crime.”

Politkovskaya was shot and killed in Moscow on 7 October 2006. In 2003, she received the OSCE Prize for Journalism and Democracy for her courageous professional work in support of “human rights and freedom of the media”.

The Representative noted the decision of the European Court of Human Rights, on 17 July 2018, which ruled that the length of the investigation, along with the “absence of tangible results”, indicated that the investigation has been ineffective.

“Failing to end impunity for crimes committed against journalists is a stain on the media freedom situation in any country, and it must urgently be stamped out,” Désir said.“I reiterate my calls on the Russian authorities to fully investigate all other deaths of journalists and to hold the perpetrators and instigators of these crimes to account.”

In June 2014, sentences were handed down to five individuals for the murder of Polikovskaya, a development which was welcomed by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (see www.osce.org/fom/119640). However, the investigation was unable to name those who commissioned the crime.   

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.

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I welcome today’s decision by the Verkhovna Rada to prolong the effect of the law on the special status of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions until the end of 2019. ‎This is a clear confirmation of Ukraine's commitment to the Minsk Agreements, a positive step in support of the peaceful settlement of the conflict in the east of the country. I am grateful to the Members of Parliament for this timely and important decision.

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398639 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Practical measures that can advance parliamentary openness were discussed during an event co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 4 October 2018 in Bishkek, on the margins of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Autumn Meeting.

The event, organized in co-operation with the parliament of Kyrgyzstan and the Open Parliament e-Network (OPeN), was attended by some 40 women and men representing the Parliamentary Assembly. The participants highlighted some of the steps taken by national parliaments within the OSCE region to advance their levels of transparency and accountability, and in designing specific open parliament strategies in the framework of the Open Government Partnership platform, which brings together governments and civil society leaders in an effort to make governments more inclusive, responsive and accountable.

“Parliaments are best placed to serve their communities when they promote transparent and inclusive processes which are able to strengthen people’s trust in legislative and decision-making procedures,” said Marcin Walecki, Head of ODIHR’s Democratization Department.

The issues discussed included the need to advocate for greater access to parliamentary information, which can be achieved through an increased collaborative dialogue between national parliaments and civil society organizations involved in parliamentary monitoring.

Sophio Katsarava, member of the Georgian parliament, said: “To strengthen the capacity of citizens to participate in parliamentary processes, parliaments should actively engage with civil society organizations in order to co-create sustainable action plans towards full parliamentary openness.”

VIENNA, 4 October 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the arrests of four suspects in Kolarovo and Komarno on 27 and 28 September, and the statement by Slovakia’s General Prosecutor that they are getting closer to fully resolving the double murder of the investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnirova.

“I commend the progress in the investigation and praise the work of the police and prosecutor after the arrest of four suspects in the appalling murder of Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova,” said Désir. “This is another important step and the investigation must persevere until all those involved, especially those who ordered this murder, face justice.”

Following police raids and subsequent arrests of four people, the General Prosecutor of the Slovak Republic Jaromír Čižnár made a statement on 1 October stating that they have ‘very strong’ proof concerning suspects in the murder of Jan Kuciak.

Kuciak was an investigative reporter who contributed to the news portal aktuality.sk.

The OSCE Representative met with Slovakia’s Prime Minister and Minister of Interior just after the murders to urge the authorities to pursue a full, transparent and swift investigation. The OSCE RFOM has monitored the case and made several public statements: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/373699; https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/374116; https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/397850.

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.

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398582 Participants of the OSCE workshop on e-commerce concluded in Chisinau, 4 October 2018. Communication and Media Relations Section

A four-day national workshop on trade facilitation for e-commerce bringing together more than 50 representatives from public authorities of Moldova and relevant businesses concluded on 4 October 2018 in Chisinau.

The workshop was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in response to needs identified by the Moldovan authorities in the area of export facilitation and to security and revenue challenges associated with a growing volume of e-commerce and small, low-value consignments.

Senior representatives from the Customs Service, the Post of Moldova, the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, the National Bank of Moldova, the National Agency of Road Transport, the Consumer Protection Agency, the Economic Council to the Prime Minister/National Trade Facilitation Committee, the National Investment Agency, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, private businesses, as well as the EU High Level Adviser to Moldovan Customs,  discussed potential solutions for customs, postal operators and private stakeholders for the application of international standards in e‑commerce processes. They discussed the facilitation of cross-border e-commerce and tackling associated risks for safety and security.

The workshop was facilitated by international experts from the World Customs Organization (WCO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the European Commission Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union, DHL, as well as local experts.

“I must emphasize the strategic priorities to further advance in trade facilitation and paperless trade, which are attracting investments, innovative ideas and technologies, which cannot be achieved without consolidating a conducive business environment,” said Iuliana Drăgălin, Moldovan State Secretary of the Economy and Infrastructure Ministry. “Moldova’s Government has always emphasized the importance of government-business partnerships and a multi-stakeholder approach, which brings together representatives from governments, business, international organizations and e-commerce operators.” 

Topics on the agenda included models for revenue collection, new tools for advanced electronic data exchange and data sharing among authorities, pre-arrival processing, simplifications to facilitate exports by micro and small enterprises, as well as tools to tackle safety and security aspects of e-commerce on technical and legislative levels. The workshop concluded with a summary document containing recommendations for Moldova.

Jonas Grätz, Economic Adviser at the OCEEA, said that a large number of active participants showed that interest in Moldova to explore new solutions to tackle security challenges and reap the economic benefits of growing cross-border e-commerce is great: “It is reassuring that the workshop concluded with a summary document including concrete recommendations that can be followed up upon by the authorities, the private sector, and donors.”

This activity is a part of the OSCE extra-budgetary project Promoting Connectivity in the OSCE, funded by Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Moldova is one of the beneficiary countries alongside Belarus and Kazakhstan. 

SDGs SDGs:  17 - Partnerships for the goals

VIENNA, 4 October 2018 – OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger and UN Under-Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office (UNOCT) Vladimir Voronkov today agreed to strengthen co-operation between the two organizations in addressing key challenges and supporting international efforts related to preventing and countering terrorism.

In the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Greminger and Voronkov in Vienna today, the OSCE and the UNOCT agreed, in line with their mandates, to explore and enhance co-operation on shared priority areas, including preventing violent extremism when conducive to terrorism, countering terrorist financing, border security and management, promoting rule of law-compliant responses to terrorism, countering the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes and enhancing the protection of critical infrastructure. They also agreed to strengthen efforts to work together in providing technical assistance to national authorities in these fields, upon the request of a state.

“From the outset, both organizations have worked in tandem in the field of preventing and countering terrorism. The signing of this Memorandum marks an important milestone in strengthening our co-operation and joint actions,” said Greminger. “We look forward to reinforcing our collaboration by launching and implementing joint projects for the benefit of our stakeholders.”

Voronkov emphasized that one of the top priorities of the UN is to strengthen international counter-terrorism co-operation at global, regional and national levels. Stressing that the OSCE is a vital regional partner for the UN, he said that, “We now need to focus on the practical implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding that was just signed to deliver real impact on the ground together.”

To ensure a closer working relationship, the OSCE Secretariat and the UNOCT have agreed to ensure optimum co-ordination between their work, as well as exploring joint projects to support the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, the UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, as well as principles and commitments of the OSCE.

The two organizations plan to elaborate joint activities in a forthcoming biennial action plan.

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NEW YORK, United States of America, 3 October 2018 – Regional organizations play a crucial role in preventive diplomacy and the promotion of resilient societies, concluded participants in a panel discussion hosted by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Italian Permanent Representation to the United Nations yesterday in New York.

Panellists from various regional organizations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Organization of American States and the OSCE, as well as the United Nations, gathered to answer the call of UN Secretary-General António Guterres for more work on conflict prevention.

“Preventing conflicts is the priority of our time,” said the Italian Permanent Representative,  Ambassador Mariangela Zappia, representing Italy’s 2018 OSCE Chairmanship. Opening the event, Zappia observed the need “to shift the paradigm from crisis management to conflict prevention and sustainable peace” and underlined the importance of regional co-operation under Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter.

“The nature of conflict has changed dramatically over the last few decades,” said the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Lamberto Zannier. “Today, we increasingly face acute crises and hybrid conflict characterized by internal strife at the heart of our society. History has shown the potential for danger when issues such as language policy, education and historical memory are manipulated for political gains.”

Participants agreed that more efforts should be made to prevent crises and wars, recognizing this as a priority for regional organizations and multilateral diplomacy in general. They shared experiences of how they have helped their members work towards achieving more stable and resilient societies and noted with interest the OSCE High Commissioner’s thematic work in this field.

Rosemary A. DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, welcomed the initiative, highlighting that the gathering of regional organizations in New York to discuss preventive diplomacy “represents a unique opportunity to promote a shared message of co-operation and dialogue. It is the responsibility of the United Nations and regional organizations to critically examine and tailor our tools to the world around us.”

Participants welcomed the initiative to intensify co-operation and continue exchanging experience on longer-term measures to prevent future conflicts.

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