Central Europe

KYIV, 21 July 2021 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

“On the eve of the first anniversary of the agreement regarding additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire I would like to recall that, for several months, there has been considerable stabilization of the ceasefire along the line of contact as a result of this agreement. This is a proof that a comprehensive cessation of fire can be achieved provided that the sides demonstrate the necessary political will.

However, I have to note that the security situation continued to deteriorate over the recent months: in particular, the territory around the disengagement area near Zolote is turning into a hotspot. In addition, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission continues to record an increase in the use of heavy weapons.

Once again, the participants in the Security Working Group focused their attention primarily on wider conceptual issues. Repetition of well-known positions does not allow us to reach practical solutions.

Pending procedural issues again prevented the Political Working Group from holding a formal session. During the informal consultations, it was not possible to find a constructive solution and resume the work by overcoming political disagreements and to fulfil the tasks given by the TCG.

Participants in the Humanitarian Working Group exchanged updated lists of persons they are looking for. Besides, they discussed the "procedural clearance" of those already released. Once again, no progress was achieved regarding the full operation of new crossing points in Zolote and Shchastia of the Luhansk region. The last part of the discussion was devoted to the topic of missing persons.

The Economic Working Group discussed a wide range of themes: water supplies, pension payments as well as IAEA inspection in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Special attention was again paid to environmental issues. In particular, it was possible to advance discussions as regards the establishment of an expert group to investigate the situation in the flooded mines along the line of contact.

As Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, I chaired my last meeting today. I would like to express an enormous gratitude to the Working Group Co-ordinators as well as to all of my colleagues in the TCG. Also, I would like to thank my entire staff for their great contribution to our common work. 

My successor, Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, will take up his post on 1 August. I wish him a productive and successful tenure.”

493507

The OSCE held an expert roundtable discussion on the role of independent National Rapporteurs or equivalent mechanisms in enhancing States’ anti-trafficking responses on 21 July 2021.  The event was organized in partnership with the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

Experts from all across the OSCE area were invited to share their experiences and discuss the role of independent National Rapporteurs in enhancing States’ anti-trafficking responses.

The event highlighted how National Anti-trafficking Rapporteurs are one of the three main pillars of a strong, transparent and efficient State anti-trafficking architecture, together with multi-agency Task Forces and National Co-ordinators. Participants underscored the importance of establishing a National Rapporteur or equivalent mechanism to ensure data collection, as well as research and analysis of the trafficking situation and hidden trends in a State. Reports from the National Rapporteur or equivalent mechanism should be used to revise, adapt and re-target national anti-trafficking practices and policies and improve legislation and operations. Existence of such a mechanism was identified as a key means to improve the effectiveness of an anti-trafficking policy and practice.

OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Valiant Richey and UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Dame Sara Thornton opened the meeting and led the discussions. Participants included Siobhán Mullally, UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Tomoya Obokata, UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, and National Rapporteurs from across the OSCE area.

“I recommend that States establish an independent National Rapporteur or an equivalent mechanism as part of their anti-trafficking framework and ensure clear delineation and complementarity of the roles and responsibilities with the National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators,” said Valiant Richey. The activities of a National Rapporteur should be appropriately resourced and can be instrumental in revising and improving States’ anti-trafficking frameworks and operations.”

Dame Sara Thornton said: “In my role as Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, I have a UK-wide remit to encourage good practice in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of modern slavery and human trafficking offences, as set out in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The independent nature of the role is central to the efficacy of the office, and I always endeavour to listen carefully and to take an evidence- and data-based approach. This event provided a significant opportunity to foster international engagement, discuss common challenges and promulgate good practice as we work towards a common goal.”

Highlights from the discussion will be compiled in a report and will serve as a basis for policy recommendations to OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 40 ceasefire violations, including 12 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 86 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded two ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded four ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM observed recent damage to a civilian property in Olenivka, Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repairs of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk region and at a railway station outside government control near the border with the Russian Federation in Luhansk region.*

VIENNA, 21 July 2021 — Under the motto, ‘rebuilding trust and confidence through implementation of politico-military commitments’, the Armenian FSC Chairmanship has sought to implement and protect OSCE commitments to prevent further erosion of European Security, said Armen Papikyan, the Chair of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), during his remarks at the last FSC meeting under the Armenian FSC Chairmanship.

“We assumed the Chairmanship following a year when peace and security were challenged in the OSCE area of responsibility,” Papikyan said.  “Over the past three months we made significant efforts to promote the Forum as a key platform for a meaningful, genuine and open dialogue by discussing issues of major concern.”  

He provided an overview of the activities organized by Armenia since it took over the FSC Chairmanship in April. These included nine security dialogues that addressed a range of topics including compliance with international humanitarian law, United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1540 and 1325, the challenges of new generation warfare, arms control and disarmament, transparency in military exercises, small arms and light weapons and stockpiles of conventional ammunition, and preventing and combating terrorism in all forms.

Outlining challenges faced during the FSC Chairmanship, Papikyan described a “fragmentation” of the OSCE area and European security and “a disproportional attention towards different conflict and crisis situations in the OSCE area”. He also noted the erosive effect of an increase in disagreements among participating States on the conventional arms control regime and confidence- and security-building measures. “Deliberations in the FSC during the Armenian Chairmanship showed that these factors continued to challenge the security and stability in the OSCE area,” he added.

He commended the participating States of the Forum for reaching consensus on key issues during the Armenian FSC Chairmanship. He also recognized their engaging discussions during the Tenth Annual Discussion on the Implementation of the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, which was organized by the Armenian FSC Chair.

Sharing a vision for rebuilding trust and confidence in the future, Papikyan called for a “genuine dialogue in the spirit of Helsinki”, for renewing respect for shared OSCE principles and commitments and for reinvigorating co-operation.

“No matter how important OSCE political military commitments and obligations may look on paper, they cannot ensure security and confidence without the political will of the participating States,” he said. “Current security crises demand not words but actions. Commitments are a means to an end and not an end in itself. They are the reflection of the political will of participating States to address security challenges.”

Papikyan closed the session by thanking the Swedish 2021 OSCE Chairpersonship, the FSC Troika and OSCE staff for their support and reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to work closely with Austria as the incoming FSC Chairmanship.

On 16 July 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, concluded an official three-day visit to Ukraine.

Ribeiro met several Ukrainian governmental authorities, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba; Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova; and Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy Taras Shevchenko.

Ribeiro also met with Olha Herasymiuk, Chairperson of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting and several of her colleagues; with Head of the Supervisory Board of the Public Broadcasting Company Svitlana Ostapa, and Chairperson of the Public Broadcasting Company Mykola Chernotitsky; and with journalists and representatives of non-governmental organizations. The Representative also met with Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine Steen Nørlov, and Deputy Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission Benjamin Moreau.

Ribeiro and her counterparts discussed, among other things, issues related to the safety of journalists, including in non-government-controlled areas; the government’s efforts aimed at countering disinformation and propaganda; the development of, and challenges faced by, the public broadcasting company; the regulatory framework for broadcast media; and prospects for advancing media self-regulation.

Ribeiro expressed her readiness to provide necessary assistance and support to Ukraine in line with her mandate, relevant international standards and OSCE commitments on media freedom and freedom of expression.

The Representative also participated in a high-level panel discussion ‘Building Resilience to Information Influence: Freedom of Speech as a Component of Information Security’, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (see full speech). She spoke at the opening of the event together with the First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Emine Dzhaparova.

In separate meetings, Ribeiro met with members of diplomatic missions of participating States in Ukraine, which are part of informal OSCE Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists, as well as with a group of Belarusian journalists, who had to relocate to Ukraine due to fear of persecution in their own country.

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

VIENNA, 21 July 2021 — OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro expressed today her profound concern about the reported usage of surveillance-software against journalists. She called upon all participating States to refrain from using such tools and techniques against media workers and to protect journalists from the use of such software against them by third parties.

According to a recent exposé by a global consortium of media publications — including The Washington Post, The Guardian and Le Monde — surveillance software has been widely used to infiltrate communication devices of journalists and other media workers. “The use of such tools against journalists is incompatible with the principles we agreed upon in the OSCE region,” Ribeiro said. “It has a profoundly chilling effect on the work of journalists and stifles media freedom.”

The Representative referred to the 2018 Ministerial Council Decision on the Safety of Journalists, where the participating States agreed to “refrain from employing unlawful or arbitrary surveillance techniques, noting that such acts infringe on the journalists’ enjoyment of human rights, and could put them at potential risk of violence and threats to their safety”.

Ribeiro added that the use of spyware endangers the principle that journalists must be able to protect their sources in order to carry out safely their important democratic function. “Already in 1989, in their Third Follow-up Meeting to the Helsinki Conference, the participating States recognized the importance of respecting the journalistic principle of professional confidentiality.”

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.

VIENNA, 20 July 2021 — Canada and Hungary, as the two Depositaries of the Treaty on Open Skies, signed in Helsinki on 24 March 1992, have convened a Conference of States Parties in accordance with Article XV Paragraph 3 of the Treaty. The organization of this Conference became necessary following the receipt of the notification of intent to withdraw from the Treaty by the Russian Federation on 18 June 2021.  

Due to the restrictions introduced to mitigate the COVID-19 situation worldwide, the Conference was organized as a video-teleconference. The online event brought together 183 representatives and experts of the 33 States Parties from the different ministries of foreign affairs, ministries of defence, arms control organizations and Vienna-based delegations.

As stipulated by the Treaty, the Conference was intended to provide States Parties with the opportunity to share views on the effect of the withdrawal of the Russian Federation on the Treaty. The Delegations discussed, inter alia, the overall impact on operational functionality of the Treaty, the impact on the allocation of observation quotas and on financial arrangements within the Treaty, and other potential effects on the Treaty.

The discussion was extensive with 28 States Parties to the Treaty offering a broad range of views on several key topics pertaining to the effect of the decision by the Russian Federation to withdraw from the Treaty.

493384 Nuriya Sherzodova

The OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC) completed its 29th Staff Course for Women Leaders on 19 July 2021. The course was convened via video teleconferencing.

Twenty-three mid-to-senior level female officers from border security agencies, such as narcotics control, border police, customs, took part in the course. Participants represented Belarus, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Spain, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, and Ukraine.

“We invited only female officers as an effort to balance the gender equality in the security sector, especially in the border management institutions,” said Valeriu Chiveri, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, who highlighted the importance of the course.

The four-week course included seven modules that presented the OSCE’s approach to efficient border security and management and covered topics including border security and management models, transnational threats, risk assessment, cybersecurity, trafficking in human beings, trade facilitation integrity, and anti-corruption. The course also provided multinational and inter-agency networking opportunities for the participants. 

Preyanuch Leuhatong, Director of the Narcotics Control Board in the Foreign Affairs Bureau of Thailand, and a graduate of the course, said that she found the acquired knowledge particularly useful for her leadership role, and plans to apply the skill she gained in risk management and cybersecurity to her organization.

A roundtable discussion on border security and management during the COVID-19 pandemic was also organized as part of the curriculum. In addition, the participants complemented the course by conducting presentations on experiences and best practices of their countries and agencies in countering various cross-border threats.

The BMSC launched its pilot Staff Course for Women Leaders in May 2014 and continues offering the all-women course once a year.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 86 ceasefire violations, including eight explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 275 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded four ceasefire violations, including two explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 11 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM saw recent damage to two apartments, of which one inhabited, in non-government-controlled Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and four corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations in Donetsk region.*

SUMMARY

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week. 

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international Mission members, including the Chief Observer (CO) and a First Responder.[1] The Mission is supported administratively by a staff member and the Chief of Fund Administration based in Vienna.

Update on COVID-19 measures

Activities have been impacted by COVID-19 and measures undertaken by the OM to ensure the safety and duty of care of its Mission members and compliance with measures set by the host country authorities. The Mission is continuing to keep the situation under review, in close contact with the OSCE Secretariat and the Chairpersonship. Following the host country’s recommendations, the observers are adhering to social distancing. Due to the preventive measures taken by the central and regional authorities, the OM is faced with certain difficulties, but is still able to continue to fulfil its mandate without any limitations in its observation and reporting activities. The vaccination process provided by the host country medical system continues on a voluntary basis. To date, 80 per cent of OM staff have now been vaccinated. The OM is fully staffed and operational.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border

The profile of persons crossing the border can be categorized as follows:

1. Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage.
2. Persons in military-style outfits.
3. Families (often including elderly persons and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits increased from 9,693 to 10,337 per day at both BCPs compared to last week. During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to the Russian Federation, with an average net flow of 335 per day for both BCPs. The Donetsk BCP continued to experience much more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.

Responding to the COVID-19 situation, the host country closed its borders for the majority of foreigners starting from 18 March 2020. Among the exceptions of persons allowed to cross the border (which entered into force on 19 March) are Ukrainian citizens and stateless persons holding passports or identification documents proving permanent residence in certain areas of Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine. In addition, reportedly, due to the threat of the spread of COVID-19, starting from 10 April 2020, the organized passenger transport commuting between the non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region of Ukraine and the Russian Federation was temporarily suspended and restored from 25 June.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border was seven, compared to five last week; two persons crossed into Ukraine while five persons crossed into the Russian Federation. These individuals crossed the border on foot.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

The OTs continued to report on families, sometimes with elderly persons and/or children, crossing the border at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, three families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while two families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when 12 families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation, while 15 families was observed crossing into Ukraine.

Bus connections                                         

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increase in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (449 compared to 440 observed during the previous week). There were 227 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 222 bound for Ukraine.

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

Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” route or destination was noted: Sevastopol.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increase in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (804 compared to 751 during the previous reporting week); 466 at the Gukovo BCP and 338 at the Donetsk BCP, 442 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation, and 362 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, on a daily basis, the OTs also noted trucks registered in Belarus, Lithuania, the Russian Federation, and trucks with “LPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (45 compared to 54 during the previous reporting week). These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks had hazard signs, indicating that they were transporting propane or a mix of propane and butane. All trucks underwent systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which could include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavorable observation position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks.

Compared to the previous week, the total number of X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP slightly decreased from 184 to 174. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 172 trucks (99 per cent) were bound for Ukraine and the remaining two (one per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a slightly increase in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (146 compared to 142 observed during the previous week); 84 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 62 into Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains on the railway tracks located approximately 150m south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 34 occasions; the OTs assessed that 18 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining 16 trains were travelling to Ukraine (more details are provided in the sections “trends and figures at a glance” below).

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

Other observations

The majority of vehicles crossing the border had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region or Russian Federation licence plates. A significant number of vehicles with “LPR” plates were also observed crossing the border in both directions on a daily basis. The OTs also observed vehicles with Georgian and Lithuanian licence plates, and a vehicle with” DPR” plates.

On 13 July at 09:08, the OT at the Gukovo BCP observed a green helicopter type Mi-8/Mi-17, flying from the north-east in a south-easterly direction at an altitude of approximately 200m. The helicopter remained inside the airspace of the Russian Federation the entire time it was visible to the OT.

On 13 July at 23:34, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed one minivan and one medium size truck with “LPR” plates and an inscription “LPR Post”(in Russian) entering the BCP from the Russian Federation. After undergoing border control procedures, the vehicles left the BCP for Ukraine at 01:14.

On 13 July at 23:37, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed one minivan and a car, escorted by a vehicle with an inscription “Militia” (in Russian), entering the BCP from the Russian Federation. At 01:14 the vehicles left for Ukraine.  The OT was unable to notice any other details from its position.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 15 June 2021 to 20 July 2021, please see the attachment here.

[1]First responders are OSCE staff or Mission members deployed for a short period of time.

[2]Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles that correspond to driving licence C1).

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 16 and 18 July, the SMM recorded 608 ceasefire violations, including 64 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 286 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 16 and 18 July, the Mission recorded 133 ceasefire violations, including 21 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 53 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM saw damage to an inhabited apartment in non-government-controlled in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, Luhansk region and to five inhabited houses in government-controlled New York, Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Zolote, as well as ceasefire violations near all three disengagement areas.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and four corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission visited two border crossing points outside government control in Luhansk region.
• The Mission observed no change in the security situation in east and south-east Kherson region.
• The SMM monitored a gathering in Lviv commemorating Maidan-related events in 2014.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in southern Donetsk region. Two SMM cameras experienced visual interference, assessed as caused by beams of laser light, for about two hours. Its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*

493357 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The 17 March parliamentary elections in the Netherlands took place under a legal framework that was temporarily changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This introduced early voting and expanded the use of proxy and postal voting. While the elections were well managed, some longstanding issues remain unaddressed, such as the absence of limits on donations from private individuals and legal entities, including those from abroad, and the high threshold for anonymous donations. The lack of judicial review of the election results was also of concern. These are some of the main conclusions of the final report on the elections published today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). 

The report offers 10 recommendations to improve the conduct of elections in the Netherlands and to support efforts to bring them further in line with OSCE commitments, as well as other international obligations and standards for democratic elections. 

Key recommendations include: 

• Exploring alternative voting methods that are closer in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections; 

• Introducing additional voting methods for voters in prison and other places of detention,  enabling them to vote personally and by secret ballot; 

• Introducing compulsory registration of all campaign contributions, including in-kind donations, reasonable donation limits, and regulating donations from foreign donors; 

• Entrusting the supervision of political finance to an independent oversight body with clearly defined powers; 

• Considering providing an opportunity to appeal against election results in court as the final authority. 

ODIHR deployed an Election Expert Team on 6 March 2021 to observe the parliamentary elections in the Netherlands. All 57 countries across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations. 

STOCKHOLM, 19 July 2021 — The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde announced today the appointment of Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen from Finland as the OSCE Chairperson’s Special Representative in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group. Ambassador Kinnunen will take up his new position upon the departure of Ambassador Heidi Grau, who currently holds the position and will leave her duties on 31 July.

Chairperson-in-Office Linde thanked Ambassador Grau for her dedication and important work to reach concrete achievements towards the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.

“I am confident that Ambassador Kinnunen will continue the excellent work carried out by his predecessor, Ambassador Grau, who has facilitated the meetings of the Trilateral Contact Group with outstanding diplomatic and mediation skills,” Linde said.

Contributing to conflict resolution in the OSCE region is at the top of the Swedish Chairpersonship’s agenda, said Linde. “As Chair, Sweden recognizes the vital efforts of the Special Representative and the Trilateral Contact Group with respect to the situation in and around Ukraine and will seek to contribute to a sustainable political solution in line with the OSCE’s principles and commitments, with full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”

She stressed that Sweden will continue to support the role of the Special Representative during the year as Chair and thereafter as a member of the OSCE Troika.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 286 ceasefire violations, including 36 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 115 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 53 ceasefire violations, including 17 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 95 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM saw recent damage to a civilian property and to a power transformer, as well as recent craters, in government-controlled Taramchuk, Donetsk region, and recent damage to a tractor in non-government-controlled Molodizhne, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and four corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted. Its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*

TIRANA, 16 July 2021 – The OSCE Presence in Albania will partner with the Italian National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC) to strengthen professional capacities of the Albanian Supreme State Audit Institution (ALSAI) in conducting public procurement audits andenhancing their quality. A first meeting to define the needs of the Institution and develop atraining programme took place online today on 16 July 2021.

Head of the Presence, Vincenzo Del Monaco, who attended the event together with the ANAC President, Giuseppe Busia, and ALSAI Chair, Arben Shehu, said that, as an independentoversight institution, ALSAI plays a crucial role in the fight against corruption.

“As we have seen in the Albanian news these days, the risk of corruption in public procurementis high, and efforts to increase oversight of this area and follow up on recommendations toreduce risks have never been more important. These risks are being taken very seriously by theAlbanian authorities and Albania is beginning to see results emerging from its new judicialinstitutions, but more work can be done, and other institutions like ALSAI for instance arecritical links in the system to identify and report maleficence”, said Del Monaco.

ANAC President Busia expressed the Authority’s commitment to offering best practices andmodels for conducting auditing of public procurement procedures, based on the Italian Anti-Corruption Authority’s experience. “Transparency and digitalization will be the ways to preventcorruption and assure a better public administration. I am very happy of this collaboration withALSAI and I hope to develop more activities between ALSAI and ANAC”, said Busia. ALSAI Chair Shehu thanked the OSCE Presence and ANAC for the support and said he waslooking forward to the start of concrete activities for the benefit of the joint interest, fight against corruption.

The Presence’s support to the Albanian Supreme State Audit Institution is part of its widerefforts to strengthen capacities, transparency and accountability of the public procurementsystem in Albania, and ALSAI is a key link in this system.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 115 ceasefire violations, including three explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 364 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 95 ceasefire violations, including 15 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 608 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded one explosion inside the area near Zolote and multiple ceasefire violations close to it.
• The Mission saw a multiple launch rocket system in violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM visited two border crossing points outside government control in Luhansk region.
• The Mission observed no change in the security situation in east and south-east Kherson region.
• The SMM observed a gathering in Kyiv.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at four checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk region, of which two in southern Donetsk region, and at a border crossing point outside of government control in Luhansk region. Its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*

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Promoting gender equality in Turkmenistan took the focus of a six-part roundtable discussion series organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan from 7 to 16 July 2021.

Representatives of the Mejlis, relevant ministries and law-enforcement bodies, research and educational institutions, the Bar association as well as representatives from the women’s and youth unions attended the hybrid online and in-person events. The events were held in all five provinces of the country and the capital city Ashgabat.

The purpose of the discussions was to enhance participants’ knowledge of national and international gender-related commitments and to support the implementation of Turkmenistan’s new National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2021-2025.

National experts, representing relevant national institutions, led discussions on implementation of the National Action Plan and promotion of equal rights and opportunities for women to participate in and advance through all levels of society.

“As an active participant in international relations, Turkmenistan has consistently improved its legal framework with due regard to the United Nations and OSCE instruments in the area of human rights and gender equality,” said Rune Castberg, Programme Coordinator of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “In accordance with its mandate, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat works closely with the Government of Turkmenistan across the human dimension  security, which covers a wide range of issues, including combating trafficking in human beings, human rights protection, gender equality, rule of law and also provides expert assistance in the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality.”

The events were organized within the framework of the OSCE project, “Supporting the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality 2021-2025”.

492814 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

Best practices in risk management related to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) was the focus of an OSCE seminar from 13 to 14 July 2021 in Ashgabat. Representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, its Financial Monitoring Service, the Central Bank, the Supreme Court, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Bar Association, law enforcement agencies and other state institutions, as well as the representatives of the private sector attended the seminar.

The purpose of the event, organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, was to facilitate the exchange of experience and lessons learnt in implementing national and international strategic documents in the AML/CFT area. Participants also discussed the results of the AML/CFT National Risk Assessment Report 2018-2020 and practical steps in implementation of the national Risk Management Action Plan 2021-2022 (RMAP).

International experts from Latvia and Moldova elaborated on the role of law enforcement, other state agencies and private sectors in the RMAP implementation and inter-agency co-operation in the area. They also presented on effective practices related to the application of a risk-based approach.

The seminar was followed by a two-day discussion on the process of National Preparation to the Mutual Evaluation (MU) of Turkmenistan’s AML/CFT system by the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG). Participants were briefed on best practices for preparing for the EAG evaluation process, and they reviewed the roles and responsibilities of the governmental and non-governmental structures expected to be involved in the MU preparation, as well as the face-to-face interviewing processes.   

“The OSCE is fully committed to countering money laundering, as well as terrorist financing and related predicate crimes, putting it as a priority policy task, which is supported by adequate legal instruments, adequate financial, personnel and organizational resources and, if necessary, adequate tools in order to find practical, effective solutions,” said Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, John MacGregor. “The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, within its mandate, closely follows key developments in the AML/CFT area and takes concrete actions to support the Government of Turkmenistan in improving the prevention and suppression of money laundering and financing of terrorism,” he added.

The events were organized within the framework of the project “Strengthening adherence to good governance principles”.

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The necessity to identify and address threats to energy networks through robust and effective risk prevention and management policies has never been greater, said experts during an OSCE webinar on protecting critical energy infrastructures in the age of extreme weather held on 13 July 2021. 

“Protecting energy networks has become a top security concern for OSCE participating States, as the consequences of extreme weather and natural disasters increasingly threaten the operations of critical infrastructure across the globe,” said Daniel Kroos, Senior Programme Officer of Energy Security and moderator of the event. “The extreme weather events of the last decades, including the deadly heatwaves that hit several OSCE States in the last weeks, have shown that countries with very different climate conditions, energy systems and levels of development are similarly exposed to the impact of climate change.”

Some 50 national experts representing ministries, transmissions operators, energy companies and civil society across the OSCE region joined this awareness-raising webinar, organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.

The event brought together speakers from the World Meteorological Organization, Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, the University of Tokyo, the European Commission and the Center for Security Studies (KEMEA) in Athens.

Participants shared lessons learned from extreme weather events in different regions and discussed how weather data can be made available to grid operators in a timely and effective manner to prepare for short- and long-term weather extremes. They also explored topics related to energy production and power markets, such as infrastructure models and risk mitigation strategies.  

In recent years, the OSCE has worked on facilitating working-level exchanges between electricity regulators, transmissions operators and other energy professionals working on critical infrastructure. This includes the launch in 2019 of the OSCE Virtual Competency and Training Centre on the Protection of Critical Energy Networks. In autumn 2021, the Centre will release a series of five training and education modules.  

KYIV, 15 July 2021 — OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro expressed her profound sadness over the passing of prominent Dutch investigative reporter, Peter R. de Vries.

“I extend my sincere condolences to Mr. de Vries’ family, friends and colleagues, and assure them of my sympathy and support,” said the Representative.

According to a statement from his family published today by the media network RTL, which he had regularly worked for, de Vries died today after being shot in Amsterdam last week. Shortly after the shooting, two suspects were arrested, including a possible gunman. Peter R. de Vries was known for his lifetime career of investigative crime journalism and had helped the police solve a number of high-profile cases.

“This is a tragic event and a huge loss for journalism and for the wider community of investigative reporters in Europe. Journalists should never have to pay with their life for doing their work,” said Ribeiro. “I urge the Netherlands authorities to bring to justice those responsible and to clearly determine the motivation behind this terrible attack as quickly as possible.”

“The killing of a journalist is an attack on freedom of expression, freedom of access to information and, ultimately, on democracy. There can be no impunity for such heinous crimes. Those who are guilty of planning and executing the shooting of Mr. de Vries have to be held accountable,” she said.

Ribeiro reiterated her deep concern over the increasing trend of serious threats and physical attacks against journalists around the OSCE region, which has forced many of them to work under police protection. “I call once again on all OSCE participating States to support and enable a free, varied and safe media environment.”

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.