OSCE

539846 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

Twenty-seven representatives from the OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs), of which fourteen are directors learned how to achieve organizational sustainability through engagement in social entrepreneurship income generation at a training course in Dushanbe. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized the course, which took place from 13 to 17 Mach 2023.

Participants learned about the basics of social enterprise business planning and its stages; conducting the SWOT analysis of a social enterprise; determining the production programme of the planned activity, and preparing marketing and financial plans for a social enterprise.  Other main topics covered at the event were business plan analysis; organizational plan; management of risks, and determining the social impact of the project.

Natalya Faizieva, a representative from the WRC “ASTI” in Khujand said: “For me, this is an opportunity to learn more about social entrepreneurship. As a result of the training, I hope that our organization will be able to develop a social business plan and engage in income generation activities to continue supporting socially vulnerable groups of the population.”

“I consider this OSCE initiative as a solution to sustainably support the community members in rural areas. All the topics that were covered during the course are necessary to increase the level of knowledge of the participants and will further be used as a guide for the implementation of social entrepreneurship ideas in residential areas,” noted Mohsimo Abdushahidova, Director of WRC “Zanoni Sharq” (Oriental Women) in Penjikent.

“In practical classes, we were acquainted with the new concept of social entrepreneurship and developed a business plan for a social enterprise,” said Asadullo Nematov, a representative from the WRC “Rohnamo” (Guide) in the Lyaksh district. He added that the gained knowledge would help them in the process of developing a social enterprise in their district.

The Programme Office provides comprehensive support to victims of domestic violence in the regions through a network of 14 OSCE-established WRCs in close partnership with local authorities. The current activity is being implemented within the project "Supporting and Strengthening the Women’s Resource Centres in Tajikistan" of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe funded by the United States of America, Finland, Norway, Germany, and Andorra.

539840

With the growing security risks in crypto and real-world economies, the OSCE organized from 20 to 25 March in Chisinau its first national training courses for Moldova on money laundering related to virtual assets.

“Money laundering through virtual assets is a growing regional security risk. As crypto-economies and real-world financial markets become more and more interconnected, state authorities have to intervene more often to stay ahead of risks like money laundering. And Moldova is no exception with its developing crypto and crypto-mining industry,” said Kurban Babayev, Associate Anti-corruption Officer in the OSCE’s Office of the Co-ordinator for Economic and Environmental affairs.

Course participants comprised officials from state financial supervisory agencies and law enforcement. They learned about assessment, investigation and supervision methods, risks associated with cryptocurrencies, criminal schemes, as well as tools for tracing different coins and tokens. They also reviewed case studies, compliance of virtual assets service providers (VASP), and tools for online supervision and investigations.

The training course is part of an OSCE-led extra-budgetary project on innovative policy solutions to mitigate money-laundering risks of virtual assets. The project is designed to support the governments of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine in building national authorities’ capacities to mitigate criminal risks related to virtual assets and cryptocurrencies. The project is funded by the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland.

539681 Željka Šulc

Sarajevo, 23 March 2023 – As current Chair of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), and in partnership with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 22 March in Vienna, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) organized a side event Strengthening Regional Co-operation on Parliamentary Oversight of Defence and Security in Southeast Europe.

Building on OSCE’s record of engagement on good governance and parliamentary oversight of the security and defence sectors in OSCE participating States, the high-level event helped chart the course toward revitalizing regional co-operation and exchange among parliamentary bodies overseeing the work of military, police, paramilitary and the intelligence services.

Ambassador Siniša Bencun, Permanent Representative of BiH to the UN, OSCE and other international organizations in Vienna highlighted that "in South-Eastern Europe (SEE), despite tensions, we maintain both political and technical dialogue”, adding “the turbulent past is still remembered, but we recognize that dialogue is the only right way forward. This is why we predominantly dedicated our chairing of the OSCE FSC to SEE, by selecting topic of relevance for the region, including the Sub-regional Arms Control Agreement and parliamentary oversight of the defence and security sector”.

In outlining the foremost results of regional co-operation in the field of parliamentary oversight of security and defence, Željko Grubešić, Expert Advisor of the Joint Committee on Defence and Security of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina noted that such co-operation has “developed professional relationships, established networks, and enabled familiarization with diverse practices and experiences“.

“An accountable security system is one that upholds human rights and the rule of law, underpins the legitimacy of political authority, and ensures societal stability. While parliamentary oversight and democratic control anchors state security, it ultimately enables human security and wellbeing.” said Dr. Susan Penksa, Head of Department of Security Co-operation of the OSCE Mission to BiH. ”I would like to thank the FSC Chair for valuable support and commend the strong commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to regional trust-building and security cooperation.” she added.

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

Thirty-eight OSCE participating States invoked the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism on 23 March 2023 to examine “threats to the fulfilment of the provisions of the human dimension posed by human rights violations and abuses in the Republic of Belarus”.

The Moscow Mechanism, last invoked on 28 July 2022 in relation to the Russian Federation, provides the opportunity for OSCE participating States to send missions of experts to assist in the resolution of a particular question or problem relating to the human dimension of the OSCE. Further information is available here.

The Moscow Mechanism was last used in relation to Belarus in September 2020, when it was invoked by 17 OSCE participating States.

Any information relevant to this Moscow Mechanism can be sent to the following email address: moscowmechanism-belarus2023@odihr.pl. The information will then be forwarded to the expert mission, once established.

The 38 participating States that have invoked the Moscow Mechanism in this case are: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.

539657 Željka Šulc

Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, and Ambassador Michael J. Murphy, U.S. Ambassador to BiH, handed over ICT equipment to anti-corruption bodies from Republika Srpska, the Federation of BiH, Brčko District BiH and nine cantons.

The donation is worth around 126,000 EUR and includes laptop and desktop computers, smartphones, printers, scanners, as well as software - all of which will enable anti-corruption bodies in BiH to employ modern and innovative ICT tools in their day-to-day activities, in line with the highest international standards.

The OSCE Mission to BiH has recognized the potential of anti-corruption teams and offices as early as 2017 and has since invested significant efforts to promote the professionalization and aid capacity building of these bodies. With this donation, the OSCE Mission to BiH wishes to reaffirm its support for efficient anti-corruption mechanisms and help anti-corruption bodies carry out their mandates effectively.

“Anti-corruption teams and offices, as impartial and unbiased entities in preventing and reporting on corrupt activities, are indispensable for corruption prevention,” said Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “The digitalization of corruption prevention is a global trend. Digital tools, such as online asset declaration databases and anti-corruption reporting platforms, are essential mechanisms for corruption prevention as they increase transparency and accountability and reduce opportunities for fraud and conflicts of interests.”

Corruption is a complex issue that requires sustained efforts from all stakeholders. “The United States has funded the excellent team at the OSCE to help you stand up the Anti-Corruption Teams and Offices.  They have been working with every canton in the Federation and with the Republika Srpska to ensure the laws and frameworks are in place for you to do your job, and they have provided equipment to get you started.  These are the first steps,” said Ambassador Murphy to members of the Anti-Corruption Teams and Offices. “The United States will be there for all the Anti-Corruption Offices which have the courage to stand up and fight on behalf of citizens.  For those that are still teams, we will be there when you transition into full-fledged offices.  When you need to expand your mandate and intensify your activities, we will be there.” 

This activity is part of the wider efforts invested in corruption prevention and it is a part of the project “Informed Citizens and Efficient Mechanisms to Prevent and Fight Corruption”, funded by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and implemented by the OSCE Mission to BiH.

VIENNA, 23 March 2023 — OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will travel to Tirana on 24 March for meetings with high-level officials, parliamentarians, OSCE staff, and other stakeholders in Albania.

The Secretary General will meet with Albania’s President Bajram Begaj, Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka and Speaker of the Parliament Assembly Lindita Nikolla. She will also have an exchange with members of the Albanian parliamentary assembly, including representatives of the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians, as well as representatives of civil society.

She will also hold meetings with the Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Guido De Sanctis, and his team.

On 24 March 2023 at 11:20, Secretary General Schmid and Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Xhaçka will hold an in-person press briefing at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

539522 Željka Šulc

BANJA LUKA, 22 March 2023 - Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, visited Banja Luka today where he held meetings with several local counterparts.

Ambassador Aggeler’s visit provided a valuable opportunity to support representatives of the media, human rights activists and their legal representatives. During the visit, he offered the Mission’s assistance in ensuring their safety and noted that the Mission will do all it can to support fundamental freedoms in RS In light of recent attacks in the city, this is especially important.

At the Republika Srpska National Assembly, Ambassador Aggeler discussed the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code (CC) with political party caucuses, recommending that the RS authorities refrain from their adoption. He also underlined that the OSCE Mission to BiH strongly opposes the adoption of any legislation limiting the civic space in light of the announced Foreign Agents Law.

During these meetings, Ambassador Aggeler noted that the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media encourages all participating States to fully decriminalize defamation. “The attempts to criminalize defamation in one part of BiH have a negative effect on the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and limits space for an effective civil society,” he added. Elaborating on current RS legislation governing the protection from defamation, he noted that it is perfectly suitable to address potential defamation and insults without the need for a specific legal remedy.

539435 Željka Šulc

More than 40 representatives of the BiH Border Police, BiH State Investigation and Protection Agency, Service for Foreigners' Affairs and BiH Prosecutor’s Office attended a three-day, multi-sectoral training course on the differences between trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants, which concluded on 22 March 2023 in Sarajevo. The course was organized by the OSCE Mission to BiH, in co-ordination with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The course aimed to increase participants’ practical and theoretical knowledge of the elements of crimes related to trafficking in human beings, and to build their capacity to differentiate between trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants.  

“Combatting trafficking in human beings – a heinous form of modern slavery – is a key priority of our Mission,” said Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “Fundamental human rights must be at the centre of all efforts to combat human trafficking and manage mixed migration flows, control borders effectively, prosecute traffickers and smugglers, and provide compensation and support to victims of trafficking.”

While Bosnia and Herzegovina is a source, destination, and transit country for the trafficking of women, men, and children as well as the smuggling of migrants, these challenges are a transnational issue. Samir Rizvo, State Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration, stressed that trafficking in human beings together with smuggling of migrants undermine the rule of law and contribute to other forms of transnational organized crime. “At this seminar, prosecution and law enforcement officials, including members of the border police, enhanced their skills to differentiate between smuggling and trafficking in human beings and apply a social path in the identification of victims of trafficking,” said Rizvo.

At the training, GIZ briefly presented their project on preventing and combatting trafficking in human beings in the Western Balkans (PaCT). One goal of the project, which is focused on advising public authorities and civil society, is the establishment of necessary conditions to increase the resilience of victims and improve the protection of potential victims. “The project promotes co-operation and co-ordination between local and the central authorities in this field. Therefore, in my opinion, this training can assist in strengthening co-operation and co-ordination between all relevant actors in our country,” said Tatjana Junuzagić, Coordinator of the PaCT Project for BiH.

This training was implemented as part of the OSCE Mission to BiH’s wider efforts to support the fight against trafficking in human beings in BiH by strengthening the capacity of relevant institutions to detect, investigate and process such crimes.

539405 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

The OSCE and Spain’s Guardia Civil launched a specialized canine team instructor course for eight Ukrainian specialists at the Guardia Civil’s Dog Training Centre (CADEPE) on 21 March 2023.

The group of officers from Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service (SBGS) and State Customs Service (SCS) will undergo a specialized training course for canine team instructors. This initiative will strengthen the capacities of Ukraine’s border management authorities to prevent and combat the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW), ammunition and explosives.

“Acknowledging the important role of the canine component in countering illicit firearms trafficking, as well as other forms of transnational organized crime, this joint action is a contribution to enhancing security in the OSCE region,” highlighted Alexander Savelyev, OSCE Project Manager at the official opening ceremony.

Built on European standards and best practices, the comprehensive four-month training programme aims to improve canine training methodologies of the SBGS and the SCS in product scent detection, with a focus on weapons, ammunition and explosives.

“The course programme is designed to address specific training needs of both agencies identified through a series of joint consultations and exchange visits to Ukraine and Spain, facilitated by OSCE during 2021-2022,” said Lieutenant Colonel Guillermo Reyes, Head of CADEPE.

The risks of illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives is significantly aggravated in the contexts of Russian military aggression against Ukraine and can threaten European security. Countering illicit trafficking requires a holistic approach and immediate joint actions to prevent weapons, ammunition and explosives from getting in the wrong hands.

“Ukrainian border agencies do their utmost in combating illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives. We are grateful to the OSCE and Guardia Civil for their assistance and consider this course as an important step in advancing Ukraine’s canine capabilities,” underlined participant Serhii Liubynetskiy. .

Thus initiative is a part of the “In support of strengthening capacities of Ukrainian authorities in preventing and combating illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives in all its aspects” project, funded by the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Slovakia. Lithuania and Poland also support the project through in-kind contributions.

539372 Turning climate-related risks into opportunities for co-operation: a new OSCE-adelphi report on Shar/Šara Mountains and Korab Massif area

Forests play a variety of important roles in the fight against climate change. In the rich forest ecosystem of the Shar/Šara Mountains and Korab Massif area, the main climate-related security risks are linked to forest governance, according to a report published today by the OSCE and adelphi, a Berlin-based think tank, to mark International Day of Forests.

The Shar/Šara Mountains and Korab Massif area in South-Eastern Europe comprises four protected areas: Korab-Koritnik, Mavrovo, Shar Mountain, and Sharri/Šara. More than 100,000 people depend on these forest resources for their livelihoods. But deforestation, illegal logging and forest fires are threatening the area’s biodiversity and people’s livelihood security, which are being put at further risk by the impact of climate change.

“‘It’s about people’ is our motto for this year as we chair the OSCE, the world’s largest security organization, and addressing the impact of climate change is among our priorities,” said Ambassador Igor Djundev of North Macedonia on behalf of the country’s 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship. “Co-operation is essential to tackling climate change, and the OSCE’s work in Shar/Šara Mountains and Korab Massif area demonstrates the benefits of such co-operation.”

The report, Co-operation in the Shar/Šara Mountains and Korab Massif area: Scoping study on addressing shared climate-related security challenges and strengthening resilience, is one part of the OSCE’s active effort to support its participating States in implementing the 2021 OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on climate change.

“Climate change is a risk multiplier. It does not exist in isolation from insecurity and instability. The OSCE provides a platform for political dialogue and co-operation to address these multiple risks,” said Igli Hasani, Co-ordinator of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. “The work in the Shar/Šara Mountains and Korab Massif area represents one of the first examples of tackling climate and security challenges in a shared biodiversity hotspot. We are grateful to all our project stakeholders, our donors as well as the OSCE Presence in Albania, OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Skopje for making this happen”

The scoping study behind the report was designed to examine possible security risks related to climate change in the Shar/Šara Mountains and Korab Massif area and identify ways to address them. The study was carried out through a consultation process that brought together park management authorities, governmental agencies, municipalities, and local NGOs to discuss climate-related security risks and to develop a joint vision for this mountain region.

“Forest governance and local livelihoods are among the key areas where joint activities are needed to address climate-related security risks in the four protected areas,” said Beatrice Mosello, Senior Advisor at adelphi. “To this end, the consultation process we conducted highlighted the importance of establishing co-operation structures, as well as raising public awareness and strengthening the capacities of civil society on nature conservation and climate change adaptation in the Shar/ Šara Mountains and Korab Massif area.”

This report is prepared within the framework of the OSCE extra-budgetary project Strengthening responses to security risks from climate change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia, which is implemented in partnership with adelphi and funded by Andorra, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United States.

PODGORICA, 20 March 2023 – Montenegro’s presidential election was competitive, with candidates able to campaign freely and fundamental freedoms for all citizens respected, but the candidate registration was not inclusive and longstanding shortcomings in the legal framework and campaign finance regulations remained unaddressed, international observers said in a statement today.

The joint observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and the European Parliament (EP) found that while the legal framework forms an adequate basis for democratic elections, numerous gaps and ambiguities in areas from election legislation to campaign finances undermine its effectiveness and demonstrate the need for comprehensive reform.  

“It was good to see a competitive election take place in a peaceful atmosphere,” said Tamás Meszerics, head of the ODIHR election observation mission. “But still there are numerous loopholes and ambiguities in the law. This allows the authorities to make arbitrary decisions and contestants to circumvent the rules. These are issues that need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

The election took place against the background of an ongoing institutional crisis and a political impasse, leading to the announcement of early parliamentary elections just three days before the presidential vote. While the election administration managed the electoral preparations efficiently and generally met legal deadlines, most members of the State Election Commission voted along political lines on key decisions including candidate eligibility, undermining public trust. The lack of a functioning Constitutional Court in the run-up to the election left a number of key issues without judicial review.

“Whatever the outcome of the election is, the newly elected president will have to work loyally together with the parliament to ensure that all state institutions function smoothly,” said Joe O’Reilly, head of the PACE delegation. “The political decision makers need to undertake a series of reforms, beginning with the electoral law. It is also vital to ensure the functionality of the Constitutional Court, which is the electoral authority of final appeal.”

In requesting citizenship and residence information for some potential candidates and denying registration on this basis, the election administration was discriminatory and went beyond legal procedures. At the same time, the law requiring at least two years of permanent residence in Montenegro before election day to be allowed to vote is missing clear criteria, while recent legal changes allow for arbitrary decisions that could disenfranchise eligible voters.

While the tone of the campaign in the run-up to the election was mostly neutral, some inflammatory speech was observed, and there were isolated incidents of violence and harassment as well as concerns over the potential use of state resources. The only woman candidate is under police protection and received threats over social networks during the campaign. Overall, women remain underrepresented political life.  While there were some cases of disturbance around polling stations and the secrecy of the vote was not always protected, election day was calm and procedures were largely followed.

“The civic spirit of Montenegrin voters has clearly emerged during these elections. Everywhere we observed on election day we were welcomed with warmth,” said Tonino Picula, head of the EP delegation. “Polling station workers managed the process well in an overall calm atmosphere. This behaviour is an example that shows the way forward for the elected representatives of citizens, away from divisions and towards a common understanding of a better future for the country and for the socioeconomic wellbeing of all citizens.”

There is a diverse media scene in Montenegro. However, political polarisation and the limited advertising market make media outlets vulnerable to internal and external influence from both business and political interests. The public broadcaster’s main channel provided almost no news coverage, making an informed choice more difficult for voters. While private TV channels provided extensive coverage ahead of the election, three out of the four private channels monitored by the observation mission displayed clear bias in their coverage. There were also widespread concerns over the potential impact of foreign TV programing on the campaign.

The international election observation to the first round of the presidential election in Montenegro totalled 187 observers from 41 countries, made up of 149 ODIHR experts, long-term, and short-term observers, 24 from PACE, and 14 from the EP.

For more information, please contact:

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

Bogdan Torcătoriu, PACE: +382 63230913 or Bogdan.TORCATORIU@coe.int

Gonzalo de Mendoza Asensi, EP: + 32 460 76 44 16 or gonzalo.demendoza@europarl.europa.eu

ASTANA, 20 March 2023 – The 19 March early parliamentary elections were held in the context of reforms introduced to bring Kazakhstan closer to holding elections in line with international standards and OSCE commitments, as legal amendments addressed several previous recommendations and provided increased choice for voters. However, limits on the exercise of fundamental freedoms remain, and some political groups continued to be prevented from participation as parties in elections. Further changes to the legal framework are needed to provide a sufficient basis for conducting democratic elections, the international observers said in a statement released today.

While the elections introduced elements of competitiveness to the political arena, diverse administrative obstacles negatively affected the equality of campaign opportunities for some self-nominated candidates, and the practice of deregistration created uncertainty for candidates over their continued participation in the contest.

“Democracy is a process that requires constant attention and dedication. We have noted some welcome improvements, including related to election laws, but Kazakhstan will only achieve the stated political goal of democratic development if far reaching reforms continue,” said Irene Charalambides, OSCE Special Co-ordinator and Leader of the short-term observers. “In particular, greater attention to protecting everyone’s fundamental freedoms is needed. Most notably, the restrictive media space and limited campaign coverage did not match candidates’ efforts to engage in a more dynamic contest.”

Overall, contestants campaigned actively and freely. Party platforms and messages addressed a wide range of social and economic issues but were generally supportive of the president’s reform agenda. The campaign was more dynamic and generated higher engagement in the majoritarian contests in the main cities, as well as online, with some self-nominated candidates offering alternative programmes. Most television channels monitored provided equitable, but only superficial coverage of the campaign activities of political parties in one joint news item. This, combined with the limited news, investigative and analytical coverage did not facilitate voters’ ability to make an informed choice.

“The increased competition, particularly with self-nominated candidates, is a significant development. However, legal and practical hurdles continue to detract from a fully open race among equals,” said Reinhold Lopatka, Leader of the delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. “In the future, the publication of results for each polling station will be important for improved transparency and public confidence.”

Prior ODIHR recommendations related to fundamental freedoms of peaceful assembly, of expression and of the media have yet to be implemented. Undue administrative hurdles, broad discretionary powers during the party registration process and a lack of judicial remedy all remain of concern. Freedom of expression and the media, guaranteed by the Constitution, are undermined by a restrictive legal framework, which deters independent critical reporting and contributes to widespread self-censorship.

“Recently, the registration requirements for political parties were eased, partly addressing a previous ODIHR recommendation,” said Eoghan Murphy, Head of the election observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. “Still, the fact that there are those who continue to be prevented from participating in elections as political parties remains of concern and is not in line with international standards for democratic elections. On election day, which was calm, with voting organized in a smooth manner, significant procedural irregularities were observed during the counting and tabulation process.”

The electoral preparations were administered efficiently, and the Central Election Commission held regular live-streamed sessions and published its decisions promptly. However, the fact that outcomes were discussed in advance of formal sessions detracted from the transparency of the decision-making process. Several welcome initiatives to facilitate access for persons with disabilities to the electoral process were implemented. The observers noted concerns about the impartiality and independence of the work of lower-level election commissions, based on the perception of a prevalence of members of Amanat in their composition.

While voting was organized in a smooth manner overall, significant procedural irregularities were observed during counting and tabulation and important safeguards were often disregarded, undermining the transparency of the process. Observers consistently noted discrepancies between the number of voters casting their ballots and the officially reported preliminary turnout figures.

Women remain underrepresented, and measures to promote women’s participation in public and political life are limited. Women made up 29 per cent of the candidates in the proportional contest and 20 per cent in the majoritarian ones. Gender issues did not notably feature in the campaign and, while a number of well-known women stood as self-nominated candidates, party attempts to promote prominent women candidates were limited.

Overall, the accreditation of citizen and international observers was inclusive. although meaningful observation was not always ensured, due to restrictions during the counting and tabulation processes.

539258 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

Sixteen demining specialists from Central Asian countries completed a three-week regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal course (EOD level 3) on 17 March 2023 in Dushanbe. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized the event in co-operation with Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the United States Army Central.

The course participants represented Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan’s Ministries of Defence; Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence; the National Guard of Tajikistan; Tajikistan’s Border Troops and the Ministry of Interior.

The activity aimed to develop the competencies and enhance the qualifications of military personnel from Central Asia to perform their duties and tasks as qualified EOD Level 3 Operators when carrying out EOD operations according to International Mine Action Standards.

Other main topics covered in the course were EOD safeties; land service ammunition; rendering safe procedures and tools; EOD protective works; chemical and biological agents; demolition range management and disposal of explosive ordnance as well as EOD reporting and full mission profile.

Representing Tajikistan’s MOD, Major General Sayorabek Bachabekzoda, Head of the Engineering Department, said:  “Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defence highly appreciates the contribution of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe in supporting the Regional Explosive Hazards Training Centre of the MOD with EOD equipment and in training the regional specialists on EOD courses since the level of the threat of terrorism and the threat posed by explosive hazards have not decreased in the region yet.”

Major General Muhabbat Ibrohimzoda, Director of Tajikistan’s National Mine Action Centre, stressed the importance of the EOD courses in the context of regional security.

Captain Muhammad Umair, U.S. Air Force Bilateral Affairs Officer from the Office of Military Co-operation at the United States Embassy in Dushanbe said: “I hope that you found the training directly applicable to your dangerous jobs and something that will keep you safe as you are continuing to keep Central Asia mine free. We are stronger when we work together.  Together, we can enhance regional security and work towards a brighter future.”

The course will sustain the training capacity within the Ministries of Defence of Central Asia to train its staff on explosive hazards and operational management resources. It will allow the Ministries to continue internal capacity development and skills transfer in their departments in Central Asia and other OSCE participating States, as per national and international standards.

VIENNA, 17 March 2023 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, strongly condemned today the judgements in the cases against editor-in-chief Maryna Zolatava and director general Ludmila Chekina, of TUT.BY, one of the largest and most prominent Belarusian media portals.

According to reports, on 17 March, the Minsk City Court sentenced, in a session behind closed doors, Zolatava and Chekina to 12 years in prison. The authorities reportedly had pressed multiple charges against them, and both have been in custody since May 2021.

These verdicts follow a long list of the latest imprisonments and arrests of media workers, including these of Valeryia Kastsiuhova, political observer and editor of the website Nashe Mneniye. sentenced to 10 years; Andrzej Poczobut, journalist, sentenced to 8 years; Darya Losik, wife of jailed RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik, sentenced to 2 years; Dzmitryy Luksha, journalist, sentenced to 4 years; Larysa Shchyrakova, former journalist, in pre-trial detention; Siarhei Stankevich and Aleh Rubchenia, editor-in-chief and deputy editor-in-chief respectively of Infa-Kurier newspaper, under arrest.

“The cruel verdicts against Maryna Zolatava and Ludmila Chekina, and other recent detainments of media workers are another illustration of the continued wide-scale persecution of journalists and independent voices in Belarus,” Ribeiro said. “I renew my call on the authorities to reverse this detrimental trend, to release all imprisoned media workers and abide by their OSCE media freedom commitments and other international standards.”

According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, currently, 36 media workers are detained in Belarus for their journalistic work.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.

539147 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

From 13 to 17 March, the OSCE conducted a five-day needs assessment visit to Moldova on the country’s law enforcement structures. This visit, in response to the security challenges in the region, took place in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Moldova.

The war against Ukraine has directly affected Moldova’s public and security sectors, with the authorities facing increasing challenges in addressing the influx of people and goods coming into, or transiting through, the country.

During the visit, OSCE officials met with the Head of the General Police Inspectorate (GPI) and representatives of the General Inspectorate of Border Police (GIBP) as well as several directorates and subdivisions pertaining to analytical analysis, operational management, public order and security, criminal investigation, canine support and anti-corruption. In addition to assessing the capacities of these directorates, the meetings involved field visits to a regional police inspectorate, a visit to the special police brigade “Fulger”, and practical demonstrations of police work.

"It is very important for the police to be a well-trained force, capable of being close to citizens and performing its duties efficiently, and this can be achieved by increasing the level of professionalism of police employees. I am grateful to our international partners such as the OSCE for showing interest and being always responsive and open to our requests,” said Viorel Cernăuțeanu, Head of the General Police Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova.

“The purpose of our visit is to take stock of the needs of the law enforcement system in Moldova and the OSCE’s ability to meet them. The more detailed and thorough information we can gather, the better we can prepare an assessment report to inform  our project aimed at strengthening the capacity of the law enforcement agencies in Moldova to fight transnational organized crime,” said Noah Lilienfein, Adviser on Fight Against Organized Crime at the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department.

The OSCE representatives received information on the current legislative framework, technical aspects, infrastructure, human resources, finances, and an overview the needs and challenges facing the GPI and the GIBP. The Transnational Threats Department will also explore components of airport security to be included in the project and mainstream a gender perspective in all project activities.

The findings of the mission will support tailoring the activities under of the "Support to the Law Enforcement Agencies in Moldova in Response to the Security Challenges in the Region" project. Incorporating the needs of the beneficiaries on the ground will help strengthen their capacity to fight transnational organized crime in Moldova and support law enforcement institutions to address the security challenges created by the war against Ukraine.

539135 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe completed a capacity-building training course on avalanche safety for 20 representatives of Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence on 17 March 2023. The two-week course aimed at enhancing the rescuers’ skills and capacities in the area of search and rescue operations in an avalanche area as well as the recovery of victims after an avalanche in challenging winter conditions.

The training course covered topics such as identification of snow properties, causes of avalanche formation, factors affecting the degree of avalanche danger, methods for determining the degree of avalanche danger, search and rescue operations in an avalanche area, and first aid for an avalanche victim.  

Theoretical sessions were held in the training facility of the Committee in the Varzob district and practical sessions were conducted in the avalanche danger zones at the Ushtur and Maikhura passes of the Varzob district. Local experts from the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the Committee delivered the course.

“On behalf of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, I would like to express my appreciation to all the participants for their active participation and valuable contributions to the avalanche safety course. Your commitment and enthusiasm ensured the success of our training,” said Ilgar Ibrahimli, Senior Executive Officer at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe. “I extend my sincere gratitude to the European Union for their financial support and fruitful co-operation with the Programme Office in organizing this training course for Tajik rescuers.”

The event was conducted as part of the OSCE’s project on the Stabilization of Tajikistan’s southern borders with Afghanistan, funded by the European Union. The project aims to strengthen the professional capacities of both Tajikistan’s Border Troops and the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense to tackle illicit activities in border regions and respond to natural disasters.

PODGORICA, 17 March 2023 – International election observers will hold a press conference to present their findings following the presidential election in Montenegro.

What:

• A press conference of the international election observation mission to the presidential election in Montenegro
• The press conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)
• You can also follow the livestream on www.facebook.com/osce.odihr

Who:

• Tamás Meszerics, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission
• Joe O’Reilly, Head of the PACE delegation
• Tonino Picula, Head of the EP delegation

When:

• 14:30 local time (GMT +1) on 20 March 2023

Where:

• Lesendro Conference room, Ramada hotel, 74 Bulevar Save Kovačevića, Podgorica

Registration:

• To take part via Zoom, please register by 11:00 local time on 20 March using the following link.       

The international election observation is a joint mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and the European Parliament (EP). The observation mission totals 187 observers, made up of 149 ODIHR-deployed experts, long-term, and short-term observers, 24 from PACE, and 14 from the EP.

For more information, please contact:

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

Bogdan Torcătoriu, PACE: +382 63230913 or Bogdan.TORCATORIU@coe.int

Gonzalo de Mendoza Asensi, EP: + 32 460 76 44 16 or gonzalo.demendoza@europarl.europa.eu

ASTANA, 17 March 2023 – International observers will hold a press conference to present their preliminary conclusions following the early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan.

What:

• A press conference of the international election observation mission for the early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan
• Journalists can attend the press conference in person or via Zoom (details below)
• For all others, the press conference is open to the public, and can also be followed on livestream at www.facebook.com/osce.odihr and www.oscepa.org

Who:

• Irene Charalambides, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the OSCE short-term election observation mission
• Reinhold Lopatka, Head of the delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA)
• Eoghan Murphy, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission

When:

• 15:00 local time  (GMT +6) on 20 March 2023.

Where:

• Saryarka III, ground floor, Radisson Hotel Astana, Saryarka Ave. 4, Astana

Registration:

• No registration is necessary if you are attending the press conference in person, but questions will only be taken from journalists.
• For those journalists who wish to take part and ask questions via Zoom, please register with Thomas Rymer, ODIHR limited election observation mission spokesperson, thomas.rymer@odihr.kz, and Egor Tilpunov, media analyst, egor.tilpunov@odihr.kz, by 11:00 local time on 19 March.

539021 Jeff Bieley Edita Buçaj

The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Michael Davenport, attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Municipal Coordination Mechanism against Domestic Violence (MCMDV) in Novo Brdo/Novobërdë Municipality.

Ambassador Davenport emphasized that the establishment of the municipal coordination mechanism was a significant step forward and demonstrated the commitment of Novo Brdo/Novobërdë to a more effective joint institutional response to tackling domestic violence.

“The effective operation of the Memorandum the Co-ordination Mechanism can help to provide support and necessary services to victims of domestic violence, to provide security and to improve the efficiency of community services to prevent domestic violence from arising in the first place,” he said.

Nazlie Bala, Adviser to the Minister of Justice, said that all this work, engagement and dedication wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of international organizations. “I would like to highlight in particular the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, because I know what the Mission has done in the area for human rights, particularly in the area of domestic violence. The Mission has directly helped as a drafter of many different strategies and action plans to address domestic violence,” she said.

The signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding included representatives of the court and prosecution, Kosovo Police, relevant municipal directorates, the Victims’ Advocacy and Assistance Office, the Centre for Social Work, the local shelter for victims of domestic violence and civil society organizations.

This is the 19th Municipal Coordination Mechanism against Domestic Violence established with the support of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. These mechanisms aim to strengthen co-ordination, information sharing, and engagement of all relevant actors at the local level, and include concrete steps to improve prevention of domestic violence, and strengthen the protection, treatment, and reintegration of victims.

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With less than two months from the local government elections of 14 May, Head of the OSCE Presence Ambassador Guido De Sanctis hosted today a meeting with the Heads of Missions of OSCE participating States and international organizations in Albania to exchange information and co-ordinate assistance and positions on elections.

State Election Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi – who attended part of the meeting - briefed participants on the preparations conducted by Central Election Commission (CEC) ahead of the elections, and answered their questions. He thanked the OSCE and other international partners for their continuous support to the CEC.  

Ambassador De Sanctis spoke about the findings of the OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission report and recalled previous recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR remaining to be addressed. Considering the CEC as one of the closest and most trusted long-term partners, he assured of the continuation of the support to this institution.

Today’s event was a special meeting of the OSCE Presence-initiated International Election Working Group – a forum of representatives of the OSCE participating States and international organizations in Albania that meets periodically to exchange information and co-ordinate positions.