Central Europe

CHISINAU, 21 May 2021 - The Special Representative of the Swedish OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Thomas Mayr-Harting, will visit the Republic of Moldova from 23 to 25 May to review the current state of affairs in the Transdniestrian Settlement Process and, together with the Sides, identify concrete steps to advance the settlement.

In Chisinau, Mayr-Harting is scheduled to meet with the Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Aureliu Ciocoi, and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Olga Cebotari, as well as leaders of political parties. He will also meet with the resident ambassadors of the 5+2 mediators and observers.

In Tiraspol, the Special Representative will meet the Transdniestrian leader, Vadim Krasnoselsky and the Transdniestrian Chief Negotiator, Vitaly Ignatiev.

On 25 May 2021, Special Representative Mayr-Harting will give a press briefing at 14:00 at the location of the OSCE Mission to Moldova in Chisinau, 75 Alexei Mateevici Street (the event will be organized outdoors in the inner courtyard).

Media representatives are invited to attend the press briefing in person and are requested to observe social distancing guidelines and wear facemasks, as per instructions issued by the Moldovan authorities.

For more information, please contact the Press Office of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, at +373 22 887 887 (landline), e-mail: MtMpress@osce.org.

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

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 815 ceasefire violations, including 13 explosions. 774 of these ceasefire violations were assessed as a live-fire exercise near non-government-controlled Sofiivka (formerly Karlo-Marksove). In the previous reporting period, it recorded 118 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded one ceasefire violation; an undetermined explosion. In the previous reporting period, it also recorded one ceasefire violation in the region.
• The SMM followed up on reports of a woman injured due to the detonation of an unidentified explosive object in a non-government-controlled area of Zaitseve, Donetsk region.
• An explosion occurred close to an SMM patrol near government-controlled Avdiivka, 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 maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including again at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Olenivka, Donetsk region. Its unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced instances of GPS signal interference.*

487300 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

Learning how to identify and stop imposters at a border crossing was the focus of an online OSCE training course held on 19 and 20 May 2021. Over 200 participants from 29 OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation took part in the course. They comprised members of the OSCE Border Security and Management National Focal Points (NFP) Network and selected representatives of border and customs services.

The course was organized by the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and was the second online training course on “Identification of Impostors at Border Crossing Points”. Experts of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Interior led the course, which aimed at enhancing the abilities of front-line officers to identify potential criminals travelling under a false identity.

“Activities in the field of document and identity fraud are one of the most significant tools to counter illegal movement of terrorists, criminals and traffickers of all kinds. It is important to be ready to respond to major challenges, such as impostors and attacks using morphed face images, and be able to identify new types of forgeries, including those connected to COVID-19 related documents,” said Dennis Cosgrove, Head of the OSCE Border Security and Management Unit, in his opening remarks.

“Impostors represent one of the main challenges in the field of identity fraud. Despite improved travel documents and security features, stricter controls on documents’ issuance, and strengthened security checks at cross-border check points, identity fraud is on the rise. Criminals are constantly diversifying forging methods as they look for ways to assume false identities without detection,” Cosgrove said.

The training course featured interactive elements, including memory tests and exercises on facial appearance and comparison, as well as lectures and practical modules on anatomical features and examination techniques of facial components.

The course served as a forum for exchanging information on the latest trends related to morphing (a special effect in motion pictures and animations that changes (or morphs) one image or shape into another through a seamless transition) and the use of fraudulent COVID-19 tests and vaccine certificates for travel purposes.

Real examples and cases encountered by participants while performing their duties were presented and discussed during the activities.

This training course is part of a series of activities on the detection of forged travel documents and imposters organized by the OSCE Border Security and Management Unit in different countries that started in 2015.

Ninety youth leaders and volunteers to their communities from all over Uzbekistan participated on 20 May 2021 in an OSCE Day, held in a hybrid format, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the children's organization Kamalak. The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan organized the event in co-operation with the Child’s Rights Ombudsperson and the Youth Union.

Participants had the opportunity to learn about the OSCE, enhance their knowledge about its executive structures and understand the work undertaken by the Organization in Uzbekistan. The interactive sessions provided an opportunity for a lively exchange of thoughts and ideas on the role of youth in promoting a culture of peace, tolerance and equality.

Mathieu Lemoine, Human Dimension Senior Project Officer, in his opening remarks noted that the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan recognizes the advancements in expanding and further increasing the effectiveness of youth reforms in Uzbekistan. “Today’s event introduces participants to the OSCE and its activities in Uzbekistan, giving them the chance to learn how the Organization works, what problems it aims to solve, and also providing the opportunity to try to approach some of the common problems, like true development practitioners”.

The event is part of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan’s activities aimed at involving young people in promoting peace and security and protecting the rights of youth, as per the 2014 Basel Ministerial Council Declaration on Youth and the 2018 OSCE Declaration on the Role of Youth in Contributing to Peace and Security Efforts.

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On 20 May 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, concluded an official two-day visit to Germany.

Ribeiro met several German governmental authorities, including Michael Roth, State Minister for Europe; Miguel Berger, State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office; Christian Kastrop, State Secretary of Justice and Consumer Protection; Ambassador Susanne Schuetz; Thomas Bagger, Director of Foreign Policy in the Office of the Federal President; and Bernhard Kotsch, Director-General Federal Intelligence Service and Coordination of Federal Intelligence Services.

Ribeiro also met with Members of Parliament Doris Barnett and Michael Link; with Christian Mihr, Director of Reporter Ohne Grenzen and several of his colleagues; and with Thomas Geithner of the police force of Saxony.

Ribeiro and her counterparts discussed several topics, including the impact on the work of journalists of the Law on the Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst; BND), the law that German Federal Parliament passed in April this year after the First Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court had ordered the adaption of an earlier version of the bill. They also spoke about disinformation, the regulation of online platforms and the impact of Artificial Intelligence on media freedom.

The changes and challenges regarding the media landscape in Germany and in the OSCE region and the increasing violence against media, including during public gatherings, were also discussed. During a meeting with a representative of the police force of Saxony, Ribeiro learned about the special protection team (Medienschutzteam) that this police force has organized to protect media workers when reporting on public gatherings.

Ribeiro and her counterparts agreed that good co-operation between (parties in) participating States and her Office is of fundamental importance to improving media freedom in the OSCE region.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 118 ceasefire violations, including 92 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 196 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded one ceasefire violation; an undetermined explosion. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 37 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line in Donetsk region, and in a government-controlled area of Luhansk region.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the maintenance and 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 Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM followed up on reports of an incident at a church in Zabolottia, in Rivne region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Bezimenne and Zaichenko, southern Donetsk region. Its UAVs again experienced instances of GPS signal interference.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

On the morning of 20 May, an SMM patrol travelling from non-government-controlled Donetsk city, consisting of two vehicles, one trailer and four mission members, arrived at the checkpoint of the armed formations near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) to conduct an exchange of trailers with a second SMM patrol arriving from government-controlled areas.

At 10:47, while at the checkpoint, a member of the armed formations approached the patrol and requested the SMM’s vehicles’ registration documents. The patrol refused the request and remained stationary at the checkpoint.

At 11:40, the patrol again attempted to cross the checkpoint, but was denied once more for the same reason.

At 12:10, the patrol attempted for a third time to cross the checkpoint, but members of the armed formations declined to engage with the patrol.

At 12:30, the patrol left the checkpoint and returned to Donetsk city.

Since 1 March 2021, the Mission has faced similar denials in non-government-controlled Donetsk region seven times: four times at the same checkpoint of the armed formations near Olenivka, on 1 March, 15 March, 17 and 26 April; and three times at the checkpoint near Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk), on 31 March, 2 April and 8 April (see SMM Spot Reports 1/2021, 3/2021, 4/2021, 5/2021, 7/2021, 9/2021, and 12/2021).

On all occasions, the SMM undertook efforts to facilitate the patrol’s crossing that would enable the exchange of trailers, but the vehicles were not allowed to pass.

The Mission again notes that such denials at checkpoints of the armed formations not only restrict the SMM’s freedom of movement across the contact line, but also prevent the SMM’s logistical operations, which are essential for the implementation of its tasks.

The OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 1117 specifies that the SMM shall have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. Unrestricted and unconditional access to all areas is essential to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of the security situation, as well as other mandated tasks. The mandate also tasks the Mission to report on any restrictions of its freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate.

From 19 to  21 May 2021, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) will conduct a third training course for 28 female representatives of local authorities from the Bukhara, Navoiy, Khorezm regions and the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

The course will focus on improving advocacy and leadership skills, gender issues and root causes, and an introduction to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Increasing the knowledge on women’s human rights at local, regional and national levels, as well as State obligations to combat discrimination were also discussed. This seminar is the third in a series of training courses, which are conducted in all regions of Uzbekistan.

Malika Kadirkhanova, Chairperson of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality of the Senate opened the seminar stressed that: “One of the priorities of the country is strengthening women’s managerial roles and increasing the role of women in society”.

Hans-Ullrich Ihm, Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, in his opening remarks said that the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the OSCE Institutions are ready to provide Uzbekistan with all the necessary support in its efforts to implement the National Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality in the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2020–2030. “Encouraging the active participation of women in leadership and decision-making is another of our priorities. We already provide capacity-building and mentoring programmes to support women entering politics.” 

This training course is part of a longstanding commitment of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan to assist the country in promoting women`s advancement in social, political and economic life within the society.  The series is part of the extra-budgetary project “Support to Women’s Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, financially supported by the Governments of Finland and Norway.

487132 Marina Živaljević

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro congratulates the citizens of Montenegro on 15th anniversary of Independence Day on 21 May.

“The Mission continues to re-affirm partnerships and co-operation with Montenegrin institutions, and while the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the way we work, it has not prevented the Mission from providing support to its partners,” said Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Acting Head of Mission.

Leirtroe said that the Mission’s commitment in supporting Montenegro remains constant. “Through adapting to an online co-operation, the Mission is providing support to Parliament, the State Election Commission, the Police Directorate, the media and civil society organizations. We continue to provide assistance to institute reforms, and in further strengthening democratic development in line with the OSCE’s commitments and principles,” said Leirtroe.

KYIV, 19 May 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 were held through video conferencing:

“The ceasefire violations remain on a high level. The increased use of heavy weapons deployed in violation of the withdrawal lines also causes serious concern. Moreover, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) has recorded ceasefire violations in close vicinity and inside disengagement areas.

Continued restrictions to the freedom of movement of the OSCE SMM and targeting its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are negatively affecting the implementation of the Mission's mandate.

Such trends do not contribute to confidence building between the sides.

Compliance with the ceasefire was in the focus of the discussions of the Security Working Group and the TCG. Participants in the meeting once again reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire. However, disagreement over the functioning of the coordination mechanism remained.

Procedural issues continued to dominate the discussions of the Political Working Group, preventing discussion on development of an action plan in full compliance with the Minsk agreements as tasked by the TCG.

The Humanitarian Working Group focused on removing obstacles to the simultaneous opening of new crossing points near Zolote and Shchastia of the Luhansk region. The discussions in the Working Group also focused on the mutual release and exchange of conflict-related detainees.

The Economic Working Group primarily considered water supply issues in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine (CADLR), particularly with regard to the territories serviced by the public utility enterprise 'Voda Donbassa'. In addition, the environmental topics, as well as pension payments and renewal of economic relations across the contact line were discussed. During the meeting, the question of protecting the property of Ukrainian citizens was also given consideration.” 

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 196 ceasefire violations, including 67 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 52 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 37 ceasefire violations, including eight explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 50 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM followed up on reports of a boy who died due to a mine explosion near Slovianoserbsk, Luhansk region and a man and a boy injured due to shelling in non-government-controlled Donetsk city.
• The SMM saw damage to a building and an inhabited house in Donetsk city.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as targeting three SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) near Hranitne and Oleksandrivka, Donetsk region and Dachne, Luhansk region.*
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded a ceasefire violation inside the latter area.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line in Donetsk region and in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the maintenance and 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 Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Huselshchykove, in southern Donetsk region, and at a border crossing point and a railway station near non-government-controlled Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk) in Luhansk region. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*

VIENNA, 19 May 2021 — Enhancing conflict prevention and resolution efforts through an inclusive ‘whole-of-OSCE approach’ was the topic of an online Conflict Cycle Seminar for delegations of OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation hosted on 17-19 May by the Swedish OSCE Chairpersonship, in collaboration with the OSCE Secretariat.

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision No. 3/11 on ‘Elements of the Conflict Cycle’ which has been instrumental in strengthening the Organization’s capacities for early warning, conflict prevention and resolution, crisis management, as well as post-conflict rehabilitation and peacebuilding.

The event brought together over 200 participants and covered topics from the role of women and civil society in early warning and peace processes to ways to enhance the OSCE’s capabilities to address root causes of tensions and instability, in particular through the OSCE field operations.

In the opening session, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, Deputy Minister Marcin Przydacz from the incoming Polish chairpersonship, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, Ms. Ekaterine Gamakharia, from the Cultural Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi” and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Mr. Miroslav Jenča, underlined the need to work jointly to identify how to best employ and strengthen the existing toolbox. The importance of implementing the women, peace and security agenda was addressed by all.

“To build confidence in peace efforts, we need to advance the women, peace and security agenda and ensure women a meaningful and effective engagement in all stages of conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Input from civil society helps us take better decisions”, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, opening the seminar.

OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid said: “Conflicts are rarely one-dimensional - most of them are rooted in issues like political polarization, socio-economic disparities, environmental degradation, and deficiencies in the rule of law and the security sector. To live up to OSCE principle and commitments, these root causes must be addressed comprehensively and inclusively, by building and strengthening the relevant institutional capacities, and building public trust in such institutions.”

A side event co-organized by the OSCE Chairpersonship, together with the Permanent Delegation of Finland to the OSCE and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, focused on how multilateral conflict cycle instruments can be enhanced through the inclusion of civil society actors and women peacebuilders.

“The exclusion of women from peace and transition processes means that women’s specific perspectives and priorities are not considered. Female participation needs involvement of local women and women’s rights organizations throughout the conflict cycle,” said Petra Tötterman Andorff, Secretary General of the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation.

STOCKHOLM/VIENNA, 19 May 2021 — During the Stockholm Media Freedom conference, participants addressed some of the most pressing issues facing democratic societies today. Among the topics were safety of journalists and the role of independent media in democratic processes — all with a view on how OSCE participating States can increase public trust in independent media through the implementation of OSCE commitments. The situation of female journalists was especially highlighted throughout the conference. 

The Swedish Chairpersonship and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media hosted the event, which took place on 18 and 19 May. In her opening remarks, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde highlighted worrying trends for media freedom in the OSCE region and globally, including the security situation of women in the media.

“Threats and violence against journalists are unacceptable and disproportionately target women. Ensuring the right to freedom of expression for all, regardless of gender, is a fundamental human rights issue,” she said. “It is essential to address media freedom in the larger context of human rights and comprehensive security, which are areas of immediate and legitimate concern to all OSCE participating States.” 

The conference brought together journalists, civil society organizations, government representatives and academicians from all of OSCE’s participating States. 

In her closing remarks, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro welcomed the interesting discussion during the conference on several issues regarding media freedom, including the prevailing rise in anti-media sentiment in the OSCE region.

“This anti-media sentiment worries me greatly, as it undermines one of the fundamental pillars of our societies. Especially in these uncertain times, we need the media more than ever to bring us the information we depend on. We need transparent exchange of ideas and information in a pluralistic media landscape, instead of distrust and a continuous repletion of the same news in our own small bubbles.”

The conference on “Increasing Public Trust in Independent Media through the Implementation of OSCE Commitments” was held online with live streaming from Stockholm.

Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

Innovative approaches to evidence-based lawmaking to prevent and combat violence against women was the topic of an event organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Gender Issues Programme, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on 19 May 2021.

Parliamentarians and delegates to the OSCE from participating States as well as Asian and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation exchanged good practices, lessons learned and innovations. Experts from the OSCE Secretariat and ODIHR presented OSCE tools and resources, including ODIHR’s support to law making processes and developing legal reviews of legislation on violence against women, and the OSCE Secretariat’s guide on How to Use Survey Data to Prevent and Combat Violence against Women and Girls.

Liliana Palihovici, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Gender moderated the event. OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci and Canadian MP and OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues Hedy Fry provided opening remarks.

OSCE participating States are committed to preventing and combating violence against women and girls and democratic lawmaking. Ministerial Council Decisions in 2005, 2014 and 2018 call on OSCE participating States to improve national legislation, policies and practices to combat violence, support women who experience violence and take measures to prevent it. The OSCE PA Resolution in 2018 calls on OSCE participating States to pass legislation consistent with international norms and standards that addresses domestic and sexual violence, harassment, including workplace harassment and abuse of authority.

The OSCE Project Co-Ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) organized a series of training courses for civil society representatives and members from the Association of Disabled People of Uzbekistan on topics related to the physical accessibility to courts and polling stations of persons with disabilities. The courses started online on 17 May 2021. The series will be conducted through 10 June.

More than 30 representatives of the Association of Disabled People from several regions of Uzbekistan are attending the seminars conducted in both Russian and Uzbek.

Over the course of the seminar, participants will enhance their knowledge on several issues, such as the right to a fair trial for persons with disabilities, methodology of conducting public control by civil society representatives, data collection, data analysis and report writing, with the aim to contribute to the implementation of OSCE human dimension commitments.

During his opening speech, Mathieu Lemoine, OSCE Senior Project Officer, drew attention to the increasing importance the OSCE has given to topics related to disability rights in an effort to further the inclusion of persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups in general, into the political, public, economic and social life of the country. “One of the goals of the PCUz in this sphere is to support Uzbekistan in its efforts to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; we welcome the speech of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoev, at the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council when he announced the future ratification,” said Lemoine.

The training courses are organized within the framework of the PCUz project “Support to the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Uzbekistan.”

487165 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

Twenty-nine officers of Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan (Border Troops) completed an EU-funded course on sustained field operational capacity on 18 May in the Special Border Unit in the Spitamen district. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (OSCE) in co-operation with Tajikistan’s Border Troops organized the training course.

The four-week course combined both practical and classroom-based sessions, which helped participants refine their skills on how to react to the threats emanating from outside the state borders and co-ordinate their joint operations to efficiently protect the state border. Modules included tactical patrolling, risk assessment, radio communications, patrol report writing, survival techniques specific to summer and winter, national border regulations, gender awareness and first aid related to battlefield injuries. National legislation and international human rights commitments pertaining to the rights and treatment of detainees and refugees were also discussed.

Colonel Shamsov Alovatsho, Deputy Head of the Main Department for Combat Training of Border Troops and Antoni Mis, OSCE Project Manager on Stabilization of Tajikistan’s Southern Border Region with Afghanistan, awarded participants with certificates of achievements.

At the closing ceremony, Colonel Shamsov noted that the co-operation between the OSCE and Border Troops has brought many positive results in strengthening border security and management in Tajikistan.

This training course is part of a project funded through the European Union’s Foreign Policy Instrument. The project aims to increase the professional capacity of both Tajikistan’s Border Troops and Afghan Border Services to better tackle illicit activities in border areas. The project also aims to strengthen the capacity of the Committee on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense to respond to natural disasters in border regions.

An OSCE-supported training seminar on the development and implementation of an effective Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system in Kazakhstan in line with the Espoo Convention started on 19 May 2021.

EIA is an internationally recognized instrument that helps to integrate environmental and health considerations in planning and decision-making and facilitates the process of transition to a green economy. 

The four-week online seminar, divided into two-day training courses every week, will be conducted through 16 June and involve representatives from the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources, regional ecology departments from across the country and NGOs. Topics will include theoretical aspects of the EIA and practical case studies, where participants will be able to analyze specific cases vis-à-vis their compliance with the Espoo Convention.

Some 60 participants attended the 19 and 20 May sessions, which were aimed to increase knowledge of national stakeholders about the procedures and benefits of effective implementation of an EIA.

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan organized the event in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission of Europe (UNECE) and the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE).  The event supports the Office’s long-term efforts to promote green growth and sustainable development principles to strengthen environmental security.

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An OSCE-supported half-day online training webinar on the protection of businesses and investors concluded on 14 May 2021 in Nur-Sultan.

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan organized the event in partnership with the Anti-corruption Agency of Kazakhstan and the National entrepreneurs chamber Atameken.

Some 20 representatives of the National entrepreneurs’ chamber Atameken, the Anti-corruption Agency, and private entrepreneurs attended the event and focussed on practical solutions to protect businesses and investors.

Participants discussed best anti-corruption practices in the commercial sector and the important role of the state in suppressing illegal interference in private business.

An OECD anti-corruption expert told the audience about the indicators that assess the effectiveness of the country's anti-corruption measures and gave a number of practical recommendations to identify bottlenecks and eliminate shortcomings.

An expert from the National entrepreneurs’ chamber Atameken shared the latest developments related to the Protecting Business and Investments project, which aims to strengthen a favorable investment climate, and increase business and investors’ confidence in government agencies through anti-corruption support of entrepreneurs.

The training webinar is part of the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to promote good governance by focussing on anti-corruption activities in Kazakhstan.

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Strengthening the involvement of civil society organizations in the social re-use of assets confiscated from organized crime was the focus of two OSCE training courses held, respectively, in Albania on 28 and 29 April 2021 and in North Macedonia on 17 and 18 May 2021.

The two-day courses were organized by the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), with LIBERA, a civil society organization. The courses gathered representatives from eleven civil society organizations from Albania and eight from North Macedonia.

Participants learned how returning confiscated assets to communities can contribute to restoring confidence in the rule of law and hinder organized crime and corruption from thriving. They also explored ways that these assets can benefit societies through different forms of re-use, such as social enterprises, shelters for victims, agricultural co-operative companies, and social spaces for youth, among others. They also discussed the importance of raising civil society organizations’ awareness and building their capacities to closely collaborate with governments to effectively implement social re-use practices.

The training courses were supported through a TNTD/OCEEA 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,” which is funded by the United States Department of State, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.

YEREVAN, 19 May 2021 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 20 June early parliamentary elections in Armenia, following an invitation from the national authorities.

The mission is led by Eoghan Murphy and consists of 11 international experts from nine OSCE countries, who will be based in Yerevan.  In addition, ODIHR has requested to send 24 long-term observers, to be deployed throughout the country from 26 May.

The mission will assess to what extent the elections are held in line with international obligations and standards for democratic elections, including the commitments agreed to by all OSCE countries, as well as with national legislation. Observers will look closely at the legal framework and its implementation, and will follow campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, including voter registration, and the resolution of election disputes. Media monitoring will also form an integral part of the observation.

ODIHR also plans to request 250 short-term observers from OSCE participating States to follow events on election day. However, this remains dependent on developments in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, including health concerns, travel and border restrictions across the OSCE region, and related regulations within Armenia.

Meetings with representatives of the state authorities, political parties, as well as with representatives from the judiciary, civil society and the media will take place throughout the observation. On election day itself, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with a delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA).

An interim report will be published to update the public and the media during the course of the observation. The day after the elections, a statement of preliminary findings will be presented at a press conference. A final report summing up the observation of the entire electoral process will be published approximately two months after the election process has ended.

Further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in Armenia is available here: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/armenia 

Media contacts:

Ivan Godársky, media analyst: ivan.godarsky@odihr.am and +37491 062084

or

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson, at katya.andrusz@odihr.pl and +48 609 522 266