OSCE

526690 Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ton van den Brandt

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, conducted her first official visit to North Macedonia from 12 -14 September 2022.

During her visit, Ribeiro met with several governmental authorities, including the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Mr. Dimitar Kovačevski, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Bujar Osmani and Speaker of Parliament Mr. Talat Xhaferi. Ribeiro also met with the Minister of Information Society and Administration Mr. Admirim Aliti, Minister of Interior Mr. Oliver Spasovski, and the State Public Prosecutor Mr. Ljubomir Joveski.

Furthermore, the Representative had an exchange with the media regulator, the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (AAAVMS), the public service broadcaster, the Macedonian Radio Television (MRT), and several journalists and civil society representatives. Ribeiro also met with the EU Ambassador to North Macedonia.

Ribeiro addressed with her counterparts, among other issues, the safety conditions of journalists, with a particular focus on online safety of female journalists; the need for timely adoption of pending legislative amendments to media laws and the criminal code; the ensuring of access to public information; the editorial independence and financial sustainability of the public service broadcaster and the media regulatory authority.

Among the main concerns raised by media representatives were working conditions of journalists, namely, low wages, lack of proper contracts and social security benefits; diminishing trust in media; online harassment and abuse; and a steady increase in lawsuits aimed to silence and discourage critical reporting.

Ribeiro underlined the important role of the government in ensuring an enabling working environment for the media, both in the law and in practice, and expressed her readiness to provide necessary assistance and support to North Macedonia in line with her mandate.

Further, the Representative and her counterparts acknowledged that media freedom is key for peace and security and sustainability of democracy in the OSCE region, and agreed to further engage in this field during North Macedonia’s 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship-in-Office.

526642 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

Issues of improving investment climate and strengthening of regulatory basis in the export management area were addressed during an OSCE- online seminar in Ashgabat on 21 and 22 September 2022.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized this event to present best practices of the OSCE participating States in achieving better integration into global economy and trade through improving the investment climate and strengthening regulatory framework in the export management area.

The seminar brought together representatives from the Mejlis (Lower Chamber) of the Milli Gengesh (National Council) of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, state and commercial banks and other relevant stakeholders.

Two international experts from Georgia and Kazakhstan and presented innovative solutions to increase foreign direct investment, systemic measures to promote regional and international co-operation through export facilitation, discussed the role of direct investment in the economy and investment attraction issues in the energy sector with a focus on the extractive industries.

“The OSCE attaches great importance to addressing a growing need to sustain and further promote economic connectivity, including through facilitating trade, accelerating economic development and growth, attracting targeted foreign direct and domestic investments, growing and diversifying value-added exports and ultimately building a regionally diversified economy,” said Ivana Markovic-Boskovic, Economic and Environmental Officer of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“It gains even greater importance in the circumstances of a global pandemic, as well as economic post-recovery period, when it is crucially important to support the national economy and the businesses to make the most of their potential,” added Markovic-Boskovic.

Experts also highlighted the importance of strengthening strategic export control measures, increasing competitiveness and role of small and medium enterprises in export capacity building.

526594 Aisuluu Duishebaeva is a women-enterpreneur developing first lavender farm in the Central Asian region. Kunduz Rysbek

A woman-entrepreneur developing first lavender farm in Kyrgyzstan

Imagine beautiful lavender fields, the majestic smell in the air, and purple blooms as far as the eye can see. Imagine these fields not in Provence, France, but in Issyk-Kul province of Kyrgyzstan. Sounds surreal, but it is true – Kyrgyzstan officially has the first lavender farm in the country and in the Central Asian region as a whole.  

Lavender is not something that a Kyrgyzstani farmer would usually grow in the backyard. Potatoes, wheat and onion are among the main agricultural crops grown in the country. However, Aisuluu Duishebaeva thought differently.

Aisuluu Duishebaeva, 38, used to work for various international organizations based in the capital city Bishkek, mostly on projects related to agricultural development in Kyrgyzstan. Through the years, she obtained relevant experience and expertise in organic agriculture and soon decided to move forth on her own.

“Details matter. Many farmers lack knowledge about safer and more efficient crop processing,” says Aisuluu. For instance, traditionally farmers apply fertilizers on crops when insects already hatched from eggs and are grown, which damages the crops and have little effect on the grown insects, “At that time, the treatment becomes useless, and the chemicals remain in the soil, in the water and air”, claims Aisuluu. However, if fertilizers are applied at early stages of seeds growth, which is in early Spring in Kyrgyzstan, then the insects are still in cocoon, and thus the treatment easily kills the pests and does little harm to the soil and crops. Such early-on treatment also requires less fertilizers, which would help farmers save money and time.       

Her previous career experience also helped Aisuluu learn that pure essential oils can be grown in mountainous areas, that is, in areas with no developed industrial infrastructure. Kyrgyzstan, from this point of view, was ideally suited for the experiment: a high-mountainous country, with clean air, and high unemployment in rural areas, especially among women and people with disabilities. Furthermore, in comparison with other crops, pure essential oils are expensive on world markets and thus could potentially bring in good income.

Interestingly, niche pharmaceutical companies across the globe always seek organic pure essential oils, because 80% of perfumes are made from them. “Unfortunately, today the global perfumes market is flooded with synthetic oils, which is why the fragrances fade quickly, and the smell is spoiled, especially when mixed with human sweat,” shares Aisuluu.

It was January 2020 when Aisuluu purchased a farmland in Issyk-Kul province and decided to start her own lavender farm. Needless to say that no one, herself included, expected that what seemed like a regular flu would turn into a global infection, closing borders between states and locking people at home. COVID-19 changed Aisuluu’s life, but did not affect her determination.

Having spent three months in lockdown in Bishkek, Aisuluu finally was allowed to travel to her farmland in the summer of 2020. She had missed the first and second crop planting seasons, and there were no seeds to plant yet, because the lavender seedlings she ordered from Bulgaria in February 2020 arrived to Kyrgyzstan only in November same year, that is when there was snow on the ground. 

Yet, this situation taught the young farmer how to manage crises in business. Aisuluu allocated certain plots of the land for organic berries and vegetables, and soon started supplying them to eco shops in Bishkek – a practice she still does to date. This helped generate some income, which sustained Aisuluu until next lavender seedlings planting season.

“When I arrived on the farmland there was nothing, a dry and windy wasteland. I did not have any place to stay, so I lived in my car for three months in the summer 2020, until we managed to build a small farmhouse,” remembers Aisuluu with a smile on her face.

The lavender she grows is of exceptionally high quality, because it is 100% organic, both the process and the product. Aisuluu plants the lavender seedlings by hand, does weeding by hand, never applies any fertilizers, and handpicks the bushes herself. All this is done to avoid the use of any chemicals, kerosene and machinery, which destroys the quality of lavender.    

Today, Aisuluu successfully exports pure lavender and Damascus rose essential oils to a high-end perfume company in Japan that creates custom fragrances for each client. This demonstrates the exceptionally high quality of Aisuluu’s products. Soon the exports will flow westward, to Germany. But the road to exports was full of barriers, “No one helped but my brother, and when I learned that I won a business grant from the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek it took me some time to process and start believing it,” shares the young entrepreneur.   

Last year in 2021 in collaboration with the PEAK programme that helps with development of startups and small and medium-sized enterprises, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek awarded an in-kind grant to Aisuluu Duishebaeva in the form of a fruit dryer machine and a distiller, the total cost of which was 8000 EUR. These new equipment helped Aisuluu expand production possibilities of pure essential oils, as she explains, “One can use a distiller only for one crop species, in other words I cannot use same distiller for obtaining essential oils from Damascus rose and then the lavender, it would spoil the purity of both oils. Therefore, getting a new distiller from the OSCE was a game changer for my business.”     

In the future, Aisuluu plans to increase the volume of lavender cultivation. On average, the villages of Kyrgyzstan allocate 10-15 acres of land per household. Unfortunately, parts of this available land remain unused, and families simply construct outbuildings there. “When I succeed, I believe I can prove to local communities, especially rural women, that allocating some 2-3 acres of household land to growing lavender can be as profitable as it is unique”, says Aisuluu her eyes shining with enthusiasm. “Imagine bringing together 1000 households, that is at least 1000 rural women in Kyrgyzstan, and teaching them, working with them, providing new incomes and opportunities – this is something I strive for,” dreams Aisuluu, “exactly this would also help my business grow lavender oil volumes and place my homeland as one of lavender oil exporter countries on the global map.”   

At the same time, Aisuluu stressed that focusing on improving quality of her essential oils comes first, while growing production volumes is secondary, "My utmost goal is not to constantly increase in production volumes, but to add value, thereby adding value to the land I was born and live in, to my community, and to new women-owned businesses across Kyrgyzstan."  

Since 2017  the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek has been supporting the development of SMEs across Kyrgyzstan. Notably, to date the Programme Office helped establish and continues to support the operation of Entrepreneurship Support Centres in Batken, Osh, Djalal-Abad, Talas and Issyk-Kul provinces. In 2020-2021 on the basis of the two ESCs in Batken and Issyk-Kul provinces, the Programme Office has developed a women’s entrepreneurship support project, which has won the 2022 OSCE Gender Champion Award in the Best Initiative category. The Programme Office’s team remains committed to supporting sustainable development of women and men’s SMEs in the provinces of the host state.

On 22 September 2022, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Law Faculty of the Sarajevo University launched the second Media Law School – this time focussed on freedom of expression on social networks.

On 22 September 2022, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Law Faculty of the Sarajevo University launched the second Media Law School – this time focussed on freedom of expression on social networks.

The four-day event in Neum is providing 18 law students from Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Bihać, Tuzla, Zenica, and Mostar with a unique opportunity to learn about online freedoms, the self-regulation of online and social media and the responsibilities of the state under articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

“Freedom of expression is fully protected and guaranteed under the domestic legal framework. However, the processing of potential violations still represents a challenge for the BiH judiciary. BiH lacks a comprehensive framework that would bring the online protection of this right up to contemporary international standards,” said Miloš Bogičević, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Human Rights Section.

In addition to attending lectures, students will work on hypothetical cases and participate in a moot court competition. The Media Law School is also a valuable opportunity for young people from across the country to meet, network, and learn together.

This accredited learning programme, which awards participants with 3 ECTS credits, forms part of a wider co-operation agreement between the Sarajevo Law Faculty and the OSCE Mission to BiH, signed earlier this year.

VIENNA, 21 September 2022 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, expressed her concern today over the new conditions La Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (LFP), the Spanish football authority, has introduced for the broadcasting of football matches for the 2022-2023 season.

According to reports, the conditions come down to a ban on journalists to ask uncomfortable questions to footballers and managers. In case speakers, narrators, commentators and editors fail to comply with the obligation to report in a positive way, the conditions grant the LFP authority to ask the platforms with the broadcasting rights not to “reoffend” and to request the withdrawal of “non-complying” journalists.

“The new conditions unreasonably limit media freedom and the public’s right to information. This is unfortunately becoming a growing practice in the world of football. It conveys a message that certain powerful groups in society can impose their own rules on the media and de facto force journalists to communicate only information that favors their interests. It is important to remember that State authorities have positive obligations to protect freedom of the media and access to information of public interest,” Ribeiro said.

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.

526465 Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 21 September 2022 - Following a series of youth essay and art competitions organized by the OSCE and United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2020 and 2021 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the country’s commitment to Agenda2030, the two organizations have gathered a selection of essays and artwork in a publication presenting young peoples’ reflections on peace in BiH. The publication, entitled The Peace Young People Wish to Build in BiH, was presented today in Sarajevo on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, and was followed by a conversation with young authors.

“The stories that young people have shared in this booklet offer a vision for a peaceful, prosperous and equitable future for Bosnia and Herzegovina. I encourage everyone, and especially colleagues in the media and those working on youth policies, to read what these talented young people have written, and engage with the authors so we can all help them to achieve this vision”, said dr. Ingrid Macdonald, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  

“The words and pictures presented here are truly inspirational. They capture the spirit of a country free of political divisiveness. A place where mutual empathy, respect and understanding are the common currency, and where the legacy of the past is not denied, but overcome,” said Dr. Susan Penksa, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH.  “The compelling youth visions of a prosperous and peaceful BiH should motivate elected leaders and candidates for office to focus their efforts on ensuring that BiH is a country where everyone is treated equally and where the values of trust, integrity and mutual respect are held high,” she added.

21 September has been marked as the International Day of Peace since 1981, when it was established by the United Nations General Assembly. The young authors and activists gathered at the event noted that the peace in BiH should never be taken for granted. All has to be done to make BiH a better place no youth will ever want to leave. 

The Peace Young People Wish to Build in BiH publication is available at the following link: The Peace Young People Wish to Build in Bosnia and Herzegovina | OSCE.

526441

On 21 September 2022, the OSCE Mission to BiH and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the FBiH Centre for the Education of Judges and Prosecutors, launched a two-day training for judicial officials and members of law enforcement on the protection of human rights in counter-terrorism investigations.

An ODIHR human rights and counter-terrorism expert and a former police officer from Northern Ireland will deliver the course for fellow experts from the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, the State Investigation and Protection Agency, the Court of BiH, and the BiH Ministry of Security.

Drawing on the OSCE/ODIHR manual, Human Rights in Counter-Terrorism Investigations, the training will provide participants with an opportunity to examine human rights considerations and safeguards related to intelligence and information gathering and analysis, special investigation techniques, arrest and detention, searches, and interview techniques.

The OSCE views security as anchored in respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, and the preservation of peace requires the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. “Respect for human rights is essential in terms of the prevention of terrorism, as human rights violations can drive terrorism; deepen alienation, isolation, and exclusion; and lead individuals to violent radicalization. Respect for human rights also increases the effectiveness of counter-terrorism investigations,” said Rebecca Agule, Head of the Rule of Law Section at the OSCE Mission to BiH.

This training is part of the wider efforts of the OSCE Mission to BiH to support institutions in BiH to strengthen the rule of law, including by ensuring respect for human rights and improving the investigation of terrorism.

526435

On 19 and 20 September, the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN), supported by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), held online training sessions on the management of seized and confiscated vehicles. The training focused on both national and cross-border aspects of managing these vehicles.

This two-day training was the culmination of a series of “vehicle management clinics” held during July and August, where participants shared good practices, challenges and case studies from their jurisdictions.

This information was used to tailor the two-day training, where topics discussed included: difficulties during the valuation phase of vehicles and various valuation modalities; transportation costs associated with cross border vehicle recovery; how to avoid depreciation costs; social re-use and more. In total, 25 representatives of asset management agencies from 13 jurisdictions took part in the training.

OSCE supports BAMIN through the extra-budgetary project “Strengthening the fight against transnational organized crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use”, with the financial support of the United States Department of State. The Network currently comprises of 18 jurisdictions, with four additional jurisdictions interested to join.

COPENHAGEN/WARSAW/VIENNA, 20 September 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt and Matteo Mecacci, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, condemned the plans to hold “referenda” on Ukraine’s occupied territories.

Any elections or referenda on the territory of Ukraine can only be announced and conducted by legitimate authorities in compliance with national legislation and international standards. Therefore the planned “referenda” will be illegal.

As the war following the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine continues, any so-called “referenda” planned by or with the support of the forces illegally exercising de facto control in the occupied territories of Ukraine would be in contravention of international standards and obligations under international humanitarian law, and their outcome will therefore have no legal force.

526387 Jeff Bieley Edita Buçaj

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo supported the Office of Good Governance in presenting on 19 September 2022 the new Strategy for Advancing the Rights of the Roma and Ashkali Communities.

The Strategy 2022-2026 focuses on five priority areas: education, employment and social welfare, health, housing and discrimination. It provides a new opportunity to safeguard the rights of Roma and Ashkali communities in Kosovo and ensure equal treatment without discrimination.

“This Strategy and its accompanying Action Plan for 2022-2024 show the government’s firm commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable communities in Kosovo society,” said Ambassador Michael Davenport at the launch event . 

“The Strategy is a guiding document which will help not only government, but also municipalities, civil society organisations and the media to play their part in advancing community rights, combating discrimination and creating opportunities, especially for women and youth. Everyone can play their part in ensuring effective implementation.”

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has also provided its expertise in the drafting process, focusing on the local level component of the Strategy. The Mission organized 25 meetings with 30 municipal-level interlocutors from 20 municipalities, 10 regional workshops with 22 municipalities with 114 persons participating in the consultative process, with participation of representatives from municipal level institutions, community leaders and civil society.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with the protection and promotion of human and community rights, as well as with democratization and public safety sector development. 

Enhancing Intelligence-Led Policing (ILP) to Combat Serious Security Threats and Crimes in BiH Project launched today, Sarajevo, 20 September 2022 Enhancing Intelligence-Led Policing (ILP) to Combat Serious Security Threats and Crimes in BiH Project launched today. Sarajevo, 20 September 2022 Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 20 September 2022 - Today in Sarajevo, the OSCE Mission to BiH held a high-level launch of a much-anticipated five-year project on Enhancing Intelligence-Led Policing (ILP) to Combat Serious Security Threats and Crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). OSCE representatives introduced the key project aims and activities focused on advancing the ILP model through close collaboration and partnership among BiH law enforcement agencies. The participants also established a co-ordination group on ILP and stressed the importance of the project for modernizing policing.

“The project that we are launching today will help to address the longstanding needs and priorities of BiH law enforcement agencies. This undertaking comes at a time when BiH is faced with growing organized threats to its security - including those of a hybrid nature,” said Dr Susan Penksa, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “We will be working closely with the 16 law enforcement agencies to help them reach sufficient capacity and standards for dealing effectively with these complex security threats and risks,” she added.

"We are witnessing that the world is increasingly facing serious and sophisticated security threats, with highly organized criminal groups that use sophisticated methods to commit and conceal serious crimes. Therefore, police agencies must also be continuously trained, equipped and modernized in order to be ready to respond to new security threats and challenges. That is why we expect that members of the police and intelligence structures from all levels of government in BiH in the next five years will gain the best experiences and the necessary knowledge, which they will be able to apply in their daily work, and thus improve the fight against organized crime in BiH, but also contribute to fight against serious international crime. It is extremely important that this project was created together with law enforcement agencies in BiH and that it reflects the real needs of police agencies for modernization and capacity building” said dr. Selmo Cikotić, Minister of Security of BiH.  

“Norway strongly supports the advancement and strengthening of institutions and law enforcement agencies in this country. We consider this project to be a strategic priority for BiH as it will serve as an operational baseline for setting up a coherent and sustainable intelligence-led policing model in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Olav Reinertsen, Norwegian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The generous contributions of Norway, Germany, Turkey, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Luxembourg have enabled the start of this high-impact project.

NEW YORK CITY/VIENNA, 19 September 2022 – OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will be in New York City from 19 to 23 September 2022 on the occasion of the high-level meeting and the general debate of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Her participation is an opportunity to build on co-operation with and among participating States as well as with the United Nations and other regional organizations. This year’s theme for the general debate is “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges”.

Secretary General Schmid will echo this theme in meeting with Foreign Ministers from across the OSCE region to discuss how best to tackle a broad range of challenges to security, including the war against Ukraine, border disputes, climate change and environmental degradation, human trafficking, sexual violence, and more. While in New York she will also meet with key UN officials including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov and Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women.

Schmid will also participate in a number of side events, including on human trafficking, sexual violence in conflict, and avoiding humanitarian crises through mediation. 

Prishtinë/Priština, 19 September 2022 – The prosecution of terrorism offences has proved challenging around the world, and Kosovo is no exception. Nonetheless, judicial institutions have to make sure they adjudicate these cases fairly, effectively and in full respect of human rights standards, concludes the latest thematic report published by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo today.

The report, titled Handling of Terrorism Cases by the Kosovo Criminal Justice System, analyses terrorism cases over a three-year period between 2018 and 2020. It further identifies trends in prosecution practice and provides an overview of progress in prosecuting terrorism cases, as well as highlighting areas for improvement. 

Acknowledging the recent progress and high commitment of Kosovo institutions and legal practitioners to prevent and prosecute terrorism, the report notes positive trends in case management and prosecution. However, some concerns were identified regarding the prosecution of the financing of terrorism, the quality of indictments and verdicts, and the use of pre-trial detention. The report concludes with recommendations to key institutions in Kosovo dealing with terrorism related cases to bring current legislation in line with EU and international legal standards, and to strengthen the capacity of all justice system and law enforcement actors in responding to these cases.

“Terrorism is an ever-evolving threat to security that demands robust investigation, prosecution and adjudication.  We must be vigilant in response to these challenges, but our response must also respect human rights and the rule of law,” said Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

“I hope that this report will inform the work of judges, prosecutors and lawyers who work on these cases and enable them to continue to develop their capacities to manage these cases to the highest possible standards. […] The report is a starting point and I look forward to furthering opportunities to discuss the findings.  I will conclude by reiterating that the Mission is ready to support the Kosovo institutions in implementing the recommendations of the Report.” 

The full report is available here: https://www.osce.org/mission-in-kosovo/526212

WARSAW/VIENNA, 19 September 2022 – OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid unequivocally condemn the sentencing of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) mission members Maxim Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov to 13 years in prison as a result of so-called “legal proceedings” and call for the immediate release of all three OSCE mission members in detention.

“Our colleagues remain OSCE staff members and had been performing official duties as mandated by all 57 participating States,” Schmid said. “I call for their immediate and unconditional release, along with our other colleague who is also being detained.”

“Our Mission members have been held unjustifiably for more than five months in unknown conditions for nothing but pure political theatre. It is inhumane and repugnant,” said Chairman Rau. 

The OSCE remains in close contact with relevant stakeholders, including other international organizations, to facilitate the release of detained SMM staff. The OSCE’s duty of care towards all of its employees continues during and after the closure of the SMM. The OSCE has and will continue to take steps to pursue all available channels to secure the privileges and immunities of current and former OSCE officials.

526194 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

An OSCE-organized training course on open source intelligence in criminal investigations took place in Ashgabat from 13 to 16 September 2022. The aim of the course was to share experiences in combating drug trafficking using modern open source tools, including social media and other internet resources

The course brought together officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Institute of the MIA and its training centre, State Border Service, State Customs Service and its training centre and the General Prosecutor’s Office.

Two international instructors from the Turkish International Academy against Drugs and Organized Crime facilitated the course, held in a blended format. The programme of the course covered introduction to crime intelligence analysis, information security and evaluation of information sources, as well as introduction to social media and search engines, and social media research practices. During the course, participants also exchanged views on alternative research methods for identifying suspicious criminal activity.

“Unquestionably, illicit drugs and new psychoactive substances are considered one of the most serious problems for communities, as well as a severe threat to health and safety of people and their social wellbeing,” said William Leaf, Political Officer of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “They disrupt public order, fuel violent crime and destabilize national economies.”

“Moreover, profits made from the illicit drug trafficking are widely used to finance international terrorist networks and transnational crime, destroying peace, stability and security in the world,” added Leaf.

WARSAW/VIENNA, 16 September 2022 – OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid welcomed the ceasefire reached between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, following reports of armed clashes and casualties on the border between the two countries.

“The recent clashes at the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are deeply troubling,” said Rau. “We express our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families. We appeal to both sides to refrain from using force, commit to exclusively peaceful means to resolve pending issues, and prevent any further escalations.”

“I welcome the immediate efforts towards constructive dialogue between the two sides, encourage them to respect the ceasefire agreed on 16 September, and continue the negotiations on border delimitation and demarcation,” said Schmid. “The OSCE stands ready to assist, if requested, and I will remain in close contact with both sides.”

WARSAW, 16 September 2022 – Media representatives are invited to the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference organized by the Polish OSCE Chairmanship with the support of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The conference will provide a platform for international organizations, governments and civil society to meet and discuss human rights challenges within their own countries and across the 57 states that make up the OSCE region.

The keynote speaker will be Toomas Hendrik Ilves, former president of Estonia from 2006 until 2016, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Hoover Institution/Stanford University and Member of Munich Security Conference Advisory Board.

What:

• Over 1.000 representatives of OSCE participating State governments and civil society from across the OSCE region will spend two weeks debating the most pressing human rights challenges.

When:

• 26 September to 7 October 2022;
• The opening session will begin at 2:00 p.m. on 26 September 2022.

Where:

• Sofitel Victoria Warsaw Królewska St. 11, 00-065, Warsaw;
• If you cannot attend in person, the livestream will be available in English and Russian on the event website.

How:

• Advance accreditation is obligatory to access the conference venue;
• Press accreditation forms will be accepted until midnight, Friday 23 September 2022;
• Please register for your press accreditation here;
• Please bring valid press credentials for registration onsite.

More information:

• The full agenda can be found on the Conference website here, follow #WarsawHDC;
• Photography and filming will be allowed during the opening session. Photography and filming will also be permitted during side events throughout the conference, subject to the prior consent of the Organizers;
• You can contact Bartosz Kempiński bartosz.kempinski@msz.gov.pl from the Polish OSCE Chairmanship for more information.

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 16 September 2022 – The OSCE Mission will present on Monday in Prishtinë/Priština a report on the way the Kosovo justice system treats terrorism cases.

The report Handling of Terrorism Cases by the Kosovo Criminal Justice System provides an analysis of terrorism cases from 2018 to 2020, and is based on the Mission’s trial monitoring data, information from the courts and in-depth interviews with stakeholders.

The aim is to support legal practitioners to maintain the highest standards of professionalism in this challenging area of law and policy. To this end, the report identifies good practices, as well as areas of concern in legislation, procedure and practice and concludes with a series of recommendations.

During the event, participants will have an opportunity to hear presentations from one of the report’s authors, Kirsty Brimelow King’s Counsel (England and Wales), and reflections from panelists. This will be followed by a discussion and question and answer session regarding the report’s findings.

Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu, Internal Affairs Minister Xhelal Svecla, Kosovo Judicial Council Chairperson Albert Zogaj, and Special Prosecutor Afrim Shefkiu will deliver opening remarks, along with Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

Media representatives are cordially invited to attend the event on Monday, 19 September 2022, at the Swiss Diamond Hotel in Prishtinë/Priština, starting at 14:00. 

526044 Marina Živaljević

From 9 to 12 September, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro facilitated a visit of the Chairperson of State Election Commission, Nikola Mugoša, to Sweden where he observed the 2022 Swedish parliamentary, regional and municipal elections. The Chairperson also visited the Swedish Parliament, the Election Authority, Stockholm City Hall and polling stations.

Mr. Mugoša met with representatives of election management bodies from Sweden and Norway, as well as a representative of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance as part of the Swedish Election Authority’s International Visitors’ Programme.

“This visit was an important opportunity to observe the Swedish electoral system that has deeply in-rooted democratic values and enjoys a high level of public confidence.  It was an invaluable experience,” said the Chairperson of the Election Commission Mugoša.

He thanked the OSCE Mission for its support in strengthening the Commission’s capacities and providing opportunities to acquire new skills and exchange experiences with election administrations from other countries and institutions.

The visit was part of the Mission’s s work with the State Election Commission to enhance its capacity to administer elections in line with OSCE commitments and principles.

VIENNA, 15 September 2022 — The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, today denounced the lengthy prison sentence handed down to investigative journalist Denis Ivashin in Belarus.

According to reports, on 14 September, in a closed-door trial, the Grodno Regional Court sentenced investigative journalist Denis Ivashin to 13 years and 1 month in a high security penal colony on charges of ‘state treason’ and ‘interference in the activities of staff of the internal affairs bodies’. The journalist was also levied with a considerable fine.

“I am appalled by the court’s shocking verdict against Denis Ivashin – yet another blow to the country’s OSCE commitments on free expression and media freedom,” Ribeiro said. “The authorities should drop the charges, release the journalist, and stop prosecuting media workers as a deliberate way of sowing fear and silencing free voices.”

Ivashin, a contributor to Novy Chas newspaper, has been detained since March 2021, reportedly for his investigative articles on law enforcement officials.

On several occasions Ribeiro has called on the Belarusian authorities to release all imprisoned, arrested or detained media workers.

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.