Central Europe

Exploring ways to further strengthen capabilities for document checks at border controls in South-Eastern Europe was the focus of an online meeting held on 29 April 2021 as a follow-up to the 2019 Co-ordination Conference on Preventing Document Fraud — co-operation in South Eastern Europe. The meeting was jointly organized by the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department and the Frontex Center of Excellence for Combating Document Fraud.

The meeting participants comprised 30 representatives from international and regional organizations, as well as competent national authorities from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. They discussed the strategic role of document checks, both for borders control and the identity chain.

In his opening remarks, Dennis Cosgrove, Head of the OSCE Border Security and Management Unit, highlighted the importance of efficient detection of forged documents to counter the illegal movement of terrorists, criminals and traffickers of all kinds, as well as the new forms of forged documents connected with COVID-19 and future vaccine passports. He stressed the benefits of co-operation and joint efforts to increase synergies among international, regional and national stakeholders and to maximize the benefits of training and support for South-Eastern European countries.

Claudio Kavrecic, Head of the Frontex Centre of Excellence for Combatting Document Fraud, emphasized the importance of linking strategy to operations at the border in document and identity control and the mutual benefits of co-operation in tackling document fraud worldwide.

“International organizations must have a common vision for the way forward in implementing a strategic approach, comparing existing capabilities and bringing up to the required level to fight document fraud,” said Szabolcs Horvath, Team Leader of the Frontex Centre of Excellence for Combating Document Fraud.

During the meeting, participants also familiarized themselves with a draft document that sets out a list of minimum recommended capabilities in document checks at borders. The document is a tool developed in part by drawing on the conclusions of the 2019 Conference. The document is a joint product of the organizations that participated in the 2019 Conference: International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), INTERPOL, International Organization for Migration (IOM), FRONTEX, OSCE, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe Secretariat (PCC SEE), with the support of Migration Asylum Refugee Regional Initiative (MARRI) and Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC)

While developing the document, the participating organizations called for South-Eastern European countries to contribute to the draft document, assessing its applicability to their national context and considering existing capabilities.

The OSCE’s POLIS platform, a workspace specifically designed for sharing information and collaborating on documents in a protected environment, was also presented during the meeting. It will be used by the participants and competent authorities to collaborate on and contribute to the draft document.

Marina Živaljević

Congratulating Montenegrin journalists on World Press Day 2021, Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Acting Head of Mission, said that this year’s theme, Information as a Public Good, emphasizes the need for information to be accurate, verified and timely.

“Journalists must have the freedom and security to perform their work,” said Leirtroe. She added that the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how important it is for trustworthy media to work freely, and provide a “window into the world” to counter the isolation brought on by the pandemic.

“World Press day is a time to reflect and remind ourselves of the immeasurable contribution made by all the media around the world since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Leirtroe.

“The Mission will continue to support the media and institutions in their efforts create a safe environment in which journalists can perform their ever important role professionally and ethically,” said Leirtroe.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 30 April and 3 May, the SMM recorded 287 ceasefire violations, including 45 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 95 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 30 April and 3 May, the Mission recorded 166 ceasefire violations, including 14 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 66 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on 2 May in non-government-controlled Oleksandrivka, Donetsk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It spotted people inside the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations inside the latter area.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM visited four border crossing points in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and monitored border areas outside government control in Donetsk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at and near border crossing points outside government control in Luhansk region and at a checkpoint of the armed formations in southern Donetsk region. Its mini-UAVs again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*
• The Mission monitored two gatherings dedicated to the events of 2 May 2014 in Odessa.
• The SMM monitored the security situation in south-east Kherson region.

485327

On 4 May, Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), met with Ambassador Jaume Serra Serra to discuss the media freedom situation in the Principality of Andorra and in the broader OSCE region.

Ribeiro and Serra Serra exchanged views on the media landscape in Andorra and the challenges brought on by the pandemic. They discussed issues pertinent to the legislation in the area of freedom of the media and freedom of expression. Taking note that no cases have been submitted before the Andorran courts against journalists or other media actors, Ribeiro noted that decriminalization of defamation in Andorra would be a significant step in further upholding the right to free expression. Ribeiro and Serra agreed to continue dialogue and co-operation to promote pluralistic media and access to information.

485297

Twenty-seven officers and managers of various border security and law enforcement agencies from fifteen countries across the OSCE region completed the second module of the one-year Border Security and Management for Senior Leadership course on 29 April 2021. Due to the pandemic and the restrictions on travel, the traditional face-to-face phase of the second module was held via video teleconferencing.

The OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC) conducted the course in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF).

Participants represented Armenia, France, Greece, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Tajikistan, and Ukraine, as well as three of the OSCE’s Partners for Co-operation: Afghanistan, Egypt, and Jordan.

The second module offered a comprehensive teaching curriculum to enhance competence and upgrade leadership and management skills of mid-to-senior level border officers. “Two weeks of video conferencing instead of face-to-face learning proved to be quite successful due to the discipline and engagement of the participants, as well as the commitment of the BMSC and DCAF expert teams,” said Nevenka Tomovic, Border Security Programme Expert for Education and Training at the DCAF and the leading expert of module two.

Vitaut Rudnik, an organizational development and management expert and instructor of the module, noted that it is very interesting “to adapt traditional teaching methods to the new format and apply innovative strategies to keep the participants diligently involved in the learning process.”

Key topics addressed during the online session included management, leadership, integrity, managerial decisions in a crisis, project management, and planning. Sirarpi Ohanyan, Lieutenant, Inspector of the Customs Service of the Republic of Armenia and course participant said that the sessions dealing with psychological and organizational aspects of border management were of particular interest to her.

Following the conclusion of Module 2, participants are now undergoing post-module tasks and embarking on the final stage of the one-year course, which concentrates on identifying current and emerging trends in border security management.

The course is accredited by the Estonian Quality Assessment Council for Higher Education (EKKA) and equals an internationally recognized one-year postgraduate diploma course.

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 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. During this reporting period, the vaccination process provided by the host country medical system continues on a voluntary basis. By now, 73 per cent of OM staff have received the first jab of the vaccine, and 59 per cent have received both.

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 8,256 to 8,551 per day at both BCPs compared to last week. During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 989 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 13 last week; five persons crossed into the Russian Federation while two persons crossed into Ukraine. 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, 12 families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while 14 families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when seven families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and five families were 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 a slight decrease in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (350 compared to 355 observed during the previous week). There were 167 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 183 bound for Ukraine.

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

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.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a slight decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (707 compared to 728 during the previous reporting week); 370 at the Gukovo BCP and 337 at the Donetsk BCP, 342 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation, and 365 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 an increase in the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (49 compared to 42 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 increased from 97 to 123. Of the total number of trucks scanned, all 123 trucks (100 per cent) were bound for Ukraine.

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 decrease in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (133 compared to 176 observed during the previous week); 75 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 58 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 30 occasions; the OTs assessed that 16 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining 14 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.

On 27 April at 23:00, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a white minivan and a white truck with “LPR” plates entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking at the customs control area. Both vehicles had the sign “LPR Post” displayed on the sides (in Russian). After undergoing border control procedures, the vehicles left for Ukraine.

On 28 April at 08:05, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance entering the BCP from Ukraine and parking at the customs control area. The OT noticed a driver and six individuals on board. After undergoing border control procedures, the ambulance crossed into the Russian Federation at 09:15.

On 28 April at 20:35, the OT at the Gukovo BCP observed a police vehicle type “UAZ Patriot” entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking next to the main building. The OT noticed three police officers entering the building. At 20:45, the police officers, escorting an elderly person, returned to the vehicle and left for the Russian Federation.  

On 28 April at 13:51, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a group of six brand-new ambulances type “GAZelle Next” without licence plates entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking at the customs control area. All vehicles had the inscription “Urgent Medical Help” (in Russian) on the side. The group was accompanied by an ambulance with “LPR” plates, bearing an inscription “Sanitary” on the side. After undergoing border and customs control procedures, including an X-ray check, the ambulances left for Ukraine at 17:10.

On 30 April at 10:53, the OT at the Gukovo BCP observed an ambulance with Russian Federation licence plates arriving from the Russian Federation and parking behind the main building. At 11:20, the ambulance drove back to the Russian Federation. The OT was unable to notice any other details from its position.

The truck with “LPR” plates carrying jet engines (the main part of the engine, similar to the Klimov VK-1 and the Rolls-Royce Nene jet engines), observed by the OT at the Gukovo BCP on 25 April and reported in the last Weekly Update is still parked at the BCP’s customs control area facing in the direction of the Russian Federation. On 28 April, during a repeated customs control procedure, the cargo compartment of the truck was fully opened, and the OT was able to notice four jet engines loaded on the cargo area of the truck, instead of two, as reported previously.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 30 March 2021 to 4 May 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).

VIENNA/STOCKHOLM, 4 May 2021 — With society more interconnected through technology than ever before, multilateral engagement is key to building confidence and trust to ensure an open and secure cyberspace, participants agreed during the opening session of the OSCE-wide Cyber/ICT Security Conference held online today.

“Due to the global nature of cyberspace, attention is increasingly turning to multilateral organizations, including the OSCE, to promote dialogue for maintaining an open, secure and reliable internet. With its confidence-building measures, the OSCE is a frontrunner in building trust in cyberspace,” said Ambassador Ulrika Funered, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OSCE, during her opening remarks

This year’s annual OSCE-wide Cyber/ICT Security Conference is organized by Sweden’s 2021 OSCE Chairpersonship with the support of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Co-ordination Cell. The Cyber/ICT Security Conference has brought together around 150 policymakers and experts from across the OSCE region.

The Conference is also co-hosted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) and it will form part of the 2021 Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development, where OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed and others will participate.

The Conference will explore the opportunities and challenges presented by information communication technologies (ICTs) in conflict prevention in cyberspace and how to reduce risks of conflict stemming from the use of ICTs. Panelists and participants will also share their experiences from across countries, organizations and sectors, with a particular focus on the OSCE and its 16 cyber/ICT security Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs).

Reflecting on the reliance on ICTs during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alena Kupchyna, Co-ordinator of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, said, “With this accelerated digitalization of our society, we are increasingly looking to multilateral organizations to facilitate a stable and secure cyberspace.” She outlined how the OSCE supports national, regional and international efforts in cyber/ICT security and what part CBMs play in promoting the safe and secure use of ICTs as well as their contribution to the responsible use of cyberspace.

The Conference features three sessions that will provide participants with an opportunity to learn about how OSCE field operations are working on cyber/ICT security (session 2); how CBMs and lessons learned from the OSCE can be used in the Middle East (session 1); and the role of social media in peacebuilding (session 3). Session 1 on preventing conflict and building trust in cyberspace in the Middle East, and session 3 on new frontiers in peacebuilding and the role of social media, are also part of the 2021 Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development organized by the SIPRI and Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

485231 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

A four-day training course for lawyers from the OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs) and local authorities was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe from 27 to 30 April in Dushanbe. The event brought together 23 participants from the Sughd, Khatlon, Rasht Valley regions, and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan.

Specialized trainers/attorneys with many years of hands-on domestic violence law experience delivered the course.

During the course participants were familiarized with the legislative framework in the field of prevention of domestic violence, international and national mechanisms, identification of domestic violence and skills of working with victims of domestic violence. Other topic covered was redirecting mechanisms and mechanisms of recovering materials and moral compensation to victims of domestic violence in criminal and administrative cases. Participants had a hand-on exercises and group works which helped them to discuss issues and find solutions.

Komronbek Gulov, a representative of the Commission on the Rights of the Child under the Khuroson District Executive Body found useful that during the course he was able to receive concrete advice on the issues and gaps existing at the district level.

“The training provided new knowledge on the issues of alimony and taking children out of Tajikistan without the other parent’s consent. A group work was organized on specific cases which are very common in our work,” said Khurshedakhon Muminzoda, WRC lawyer from the Association of Scientific and Technical Intelligentsia of Tajikistan in Khujand adding that she will be able to apply this knowledge in practice.

The OSCE Programme Office will continue to support the Government of Tajikistan in implementing the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence. The Programme Office provides a comprehensive support to victims of domestic violence in the regions through a network of 14 OSCE-established WRCs in close partnership with local authorities.

The current activity is being implemented within the WRCs project of the OSCE Programme Office funded by Norway, the United States of America, Finland, the European Union, Andorra and Germany.

COPENHAGEN, 3 May 2021 – Leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly expressed concern today over the decision of the Russian Federation to implement travel restrictions against the President of the European Parliament and seven other European Union officials. The new sanctions ban EP President David Sassoli and Jacques Maire, a member of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe where he serves on the PACE Presidential Committee, as well as several others, from entering Russian territory.

In a joint statement, OSCE PA President Peter Lord Bowness (United Kingdom), and the Chair, Vice-Chair and Rapporteur of the OSCE PA’s General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions – Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus), Michael Georg Link (Germany) and Kari Henriksen (Norway), respectively – said the following:

“The travel bans by the Russian Federation on the President of the European Parliament and other high-ranking officials, while apparently intended as retaliation against similar sanctions on Russians, do not serve the interests of multilateral co-operation and dialogue. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been consistent over the years in criticizing the use of sanctions against parliamentarians and diplomats, and indeed some of the most articulate critics of these sorts of restrictions have been the Russians themselves. We urge Moscow to reconsider these sanctions on the EU, which can only have the effect of further raising tensions, complicating efforts to build dialogue and inhibiting mutual understanding.”

In 2016, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted the resolution “Unrestricted Access of Members OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Attending Official OSCE Events and Other Parliamentary Activities” at the 25th Annual Session in Tbilisi. The resolution, introduced by the Russian Delegation, stated that “travel restrictions resulting from sanctions regimes for representatives of participating States impede dialogue and co-operation in the context of multilateral forums, including inter-parliamentary forums.” It also recognized that “sanctions against parliamentarians are not an appropriate means by which to induce participating States to change their foreign and/or domestic policy, since they make dialogue, exchange, and confidence-building even more difficult in periods of tension and confrontation.”

OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella reiterated that in times of tension, it is important to keep open all lines of communication and dialogue. “What is needed today is more dialogue and multilateral engagement, not shutting doors and closing borders to diplomacy,” Montella said. “The sanctions against these high-level EU officials, including the European Parliament President, appear to do precisely that and for that reason they are counterproductive. I urge our partners in the Russian Federation to reconsider this move.”

In the spirit of dialogue, Bowness, Hadjiyianni, Link, Henriksen and Montella also urged a general rethinking of sanctions against parliamentarians from entering OSCE participating States, particularly when such travel bans affect the ability to hold inclusive inter-parliamentary forums.

VIENNA, 3 May 2021 – On World Press Freedom Day 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, launched today a Communiqué on the freedom of journalists and media outlets to perform their journalistic duties abroad.

The Communiqué elaborates on the longstanding commitments of all OSCE participating States to let media coming from, or having (financial) ties to parties in, other OSCE participating States do their work freely and safely. The communiqué also provides a set of recommendations on this issue.

Recent years have shown a worrying number of cases where media coming from, or having (financial) ties, abroad were hindered in doing their work. These obstructive governmental practices vary from the placing extra administrative requirements on journalists with ties to parties in another country and creating unfavourable – and sometimes even hostile – environment towards these media, to imposing far-fetching (economic) sanctions, or even outright blocking or banning of such media workers and outlets. Though different in operation, these restrictive measures have the same detrimental effect: shrinking of media pluralism and security in the OSCE region and disruption of co-operation and friendly relations between nations.

“Media freedom is dependent on a vibrant and competitive media landscape, with a variety of voices. This includes freedom to perform journalistic duties abroad – something that is also considered crucial for strengthening a climate of trust and co-operation within the OSCE region,” said Ribeiro. “Since journalists and media outlets play a pivotal role in providing information that we all depend on in our democratic societies, it is paramount that they should be able to report, collect and disseminate information regardless of frontiers.”

The Communiqué can be found here.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 95 ceasefire violations, including 47 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 82 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 66 ceasefire violations, including ten explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 36 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It spotted people inside the disengagement area near Zolote during day time.
• The SMM observed anti-tank mines near government-controlled Marinka and non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske, Khreshchatytske, Syhnalne (assessed as recently laid), and Oleksandrivka, Donetsk region.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM 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 region.
• The SMM visited two border crossing points outside government control and monitored areas close to the border with the Russian Federation in Donetsk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted. The SMM’s long-range UAV again experienced dual GPS signal interference at its base in government-controlled Stepanivka on 30 April. On 1 May, the UAV was able to complete its planned flight*.

STOCKHOLM, 1 May 2021 — OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, held phone conversations with Ruslan Kazakbaev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan and Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan. CiO Linde raised the latest developments on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border and expressed concern about the escalation of violence. She expressed her condolences for the loss of lives on both sides and concern for those injured.

Recalling her recent visit to the region, she underlined the importance of regional co-operation and stability in Central Asia and encouraged a renewed political effort to reach sustainable solutions.

“I welcomed the agreement of a ceasefire between the parties, and the political will to resolve the issue with peaceful and diplomatic means respecting for international law” CiO Linde said.

“I call on Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to do their outmost to de-escalate and stabilize the situation and to refrain from further violence”, she also said.

Going forward, CiO Linde underlined the importance of rebuilding trust. This includes preventing spread of hate speech and divisive interethnic rhetoric, efforts to rebuild trust and guaranteeing the protection and safety civilians. She underlined the need for respect for international law.

CiO Linde reiterated the readiness of the OSCE to support the two parties’ efforts to maintain a ceasefire and stabilize the situation in the border region and to work for long-term recovery, in the interests of people on both sides of the border.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 82 ceasefire violations, including 27 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 15 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 36 ceasefire violations, including six explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 22 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Oleksandrivka, Donetsk region.
• A man was injured due to an explosion while on a tractor near government-controlled Hnutove, Donetsk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM observed anti-tank mines, some seen for the first time and assessed as not recently laid, near government-controlled Shyrokyne and non-government-controlled Sakhanka, Donetsk region.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM 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 Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including in non-government-controlled Oleksandrivka, Donetsk region. Its mini-UAVs again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*
• The SMM monitored the security situation in south-east Kherson region.

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

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met online today with representatives of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) and editors of several independent media outlets to discuss the current state of freedom of expression and media freedom in Belarus.

Ribeiro met with BAJ members Andrei Bastunets (Chairperson), Oleg Ageev, Boris Goretskiy and Olga Khvoin. She also met with Marina Zolotova from the media portal Tut.by; Irina Levshina from BelaPAN news agency; Aleksy Dzikawicki with Belsat TV channel; Irina Novik from the news portal, Hrodna.life; Vladimir Yanukevich with Intex-Press newspaper; and Alexey Kozliuk from Human Constanta, a human rights organization.

The Representative expressed her serious concern regarding the negative implications of the ongoing political developments in the country on the work of media outlets and the continued persecutions and harassment of media actors and professionals. She also noted the worrisome legal developments in the country and their potential to negatively affect freedom of expression and free flow of information, both offline and online.

Ribeiro thanked the participants for their courage and continued dedication to media freedom principles, despite the various challenges to journalists’ safety in Belarus in recent months.

The Representative previously expressed her concern about the deterioration of media freedom in Belarus on 16 February and 18 February 2021.

Richard Wheeler

Two back-to-back online training seminars on criminal law and criminological characteristics of computer crimes, methodology for detecting and investigating criminal offenses committed using information and communication technologies (ICT) concluded on 30 April 2021 in Nur-Sultan.

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan organized the events in co-operation with the Law Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s office/Hub to Counter Global Threats.

Some 25 law enforcement officials from across Kazakhstan took part in the seminars. International experts from Belarus familiarized participants with computer crimes concept, their causes and conditions, international legal regulation on combating these crimes, criminological characteristics of a high-tech criminal, and the main features of the criminological characteristics of the personality of a hacker. They also covered criminological characteristics of computer crimes committed using ICTs, their criminal and legal qualification, and international legal classification of these crimes.

These training events are part of the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to build the law enforcement officers’ capacity to counter cybercrimes in Kazakhstan.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 15 ceasefire violations, all explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 217 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 22 ceasefire violations, including eight explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 148 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM observed anti-tank mines, most seen for the first time and assessed as not recently laid, in non-government-controlled Yasne and government-controlled Nevelske and Avdiivka, all in Donetsk region.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable repairs, maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM 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 Mission visited two border crossing points outside government control in Donetsk region and monitored areas close to the border in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in government-controlled Taramchuk in Donetsk region and at a railway station in non-government-controlled Voznesenivka in Luhansk region. Its mini- and mid-range unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*

On 28 and 29 April 2021, the first national cyber drill exercise “Digital Kyrgyzstan 2021” was held in Bishkek. The event was organized by the Coordination Center for Cybersecurity of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic (CCCS SCNS) with support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and the International Telecommunication Union. 

The purpose of this exercise was to provide participants with practical skills to carry out activities in identifying cyber threats, responding to cyber incidents, and strengthening the capacity of responsible authorities in safe data exchange. International experts working in the field of cybersecurity were invited to conduct practical exercises. The International Telecommunication Union, Group-IB company, and Kaspersky Lab provided cyber platforms, a virtual environment used for cyber training exercises.

Participants  were welcomed by Zhanybek Zhorobaev, Director of the CCCS SCNS, who noted the importance of the first national cyber drill exercise which is in line with strategic priorities laid out in the national Concept of Digital Transformation “Digital Kyrgyzstan 2019–2023” (“Sanarip Kyrgyzstan 2019–2023”) and Cybersecurity Strategy of the Kyrgyz Repu blic for 2019–2023.

Pierre von Arx, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, welcomed participants, highlighting the OSCE’s role in supporting participating States in addressing new threats and challenges in view of  the COVID-19 pandemic with many aspects of life moving online, from teleworking to the provision of state and educational services.

Noting that this new reality revealed the necessity to address new challenges and needs related to cybersecurity, von Arx said: “The international community has the duty to respond to these new dynamics and address the most pressing threats stemming from cyberspace to secure the stability of our societies. The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek remains committed to further supporting Kyrgyzstan in this area.”

The cyber drill aims to raise awareness about existing cyber threats and create pre-requisites for co-ordinated efforts of responsible ICT specialists across state bodies, banks, universities, and other stakeholders operating in the field of information security. The drill also provided a platform for discussing and developing practical mechanisms for interactions with the CCC SCNS. The event contributes to creating a favorable environment for further implementation of projects on digitalization and strengthening the public-private partnership in developing and shaping inclusive and safe Internet policy in Kyrgyzstan.  

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Over 30 participants took part in the sixth meeting of the Permanent Conference of Organized Crime Prosecutors (PCOCP) organized online by the OSCE Secretariat in collaboration with the OSCE Mission to Serbia on 27 April 2021. The event highlighted PCOCP achievements over the last 5 years and the use of the Permanent Conference for addressing cross-border co-operation and best practices in investigations and prosecutions of organized crime in the OSCE region. Participants also welcomed Austria’s intention to become the PCOCP’s 13th member.

“With the dramatic changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we see even more of a need to enhance co-operation at the regional and international level, and initiatives such as the Permanent Conference go along way in addressing these issues,” said Anita Ramasastry, Special Representative to the Swedish Chairperson-in-Office at the OSCE on Combating Corruption. “The need to better understand the impact of organized crime on our legal economies is even more urgent now, as the measures that participating States will undertake to mitigate the recession and boost economic development will also offer new opportunities for criminal groups through corruption and infiltration.”

Participants included chief prosecutors, representatives from PCOCP, and high-level OSCE representatives, as well as prosecutors from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia. Representatives of Austria also announced the country’s intention to join the PCOCP as its 13th member.

Over the course of the meeting, participants exchanged information on complex criminal cases and new issues related to addressing organized crime, including a rise in organized crime activity in the legal economy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. They also detailed good practices for ensuring parallel financial investigations during the prosecution of criminal cases, as well as the importance of sharing operational information in specific cross-border money laundering and asset recovery cases.

Participants also agreed that asset seizure and confiscation remains a key component of an efficient and sustainable strategy for breaking down criminal business models and preventing and repressing organized crime. They recognized that a lack of harmonization in law and practice affects international co-operation in this area.

Jan Braathu, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, presented an overview on the implementation of the PCOCP Belgrade Declaration of Intent. The Declaration was signed by 10 OSCE participating States in 2016 to strengthen their mutual co-operation in combating organized crime.

The PCOCP was established in 2016 through an initiative supported by the OSCE Mission to Serbia. It is currently supported through a regional extra-budgetary project on asset recovery jointly implemented by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, with financial support from the United States, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.

KYIV, 29 April 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:

“The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) continues to record a high level of ceasefire violations.

At the same time, the growing number of restrictions and impediments to the freedom of movement of the OSCE SMM is negatively affecting the implementation of the Mission's mandate. The SMM's UAVs are targeted daily by small arms fire as well as by jamming.

The requirement for compliance with the ceasefire was in the focus of the discussions of the Security Working Group and the TCG. Participants in the meeting reiterated their commitment to it. However – regrettably – no agreement was reached upon a TCG statement on responding to ceasefire violations and their elimination in the future.

With the onset of the warm season and the approaching Easter holidays, I call on the sides to take urgent action as regards demining. According to the SMM, the majority of civilian casualties this year have been caused by mines and unexploded ordnance.

Procedural issues continued to dominate the discussions of the participants in the Political Working Group meeting, preventing progress on developing 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.

Certain aspects related to the mutual release and exchange of conflict-related detainees were also duly considered.

Discussions of the Economic Working Group focused exclusively on water supply issues on both sides of the contact line, particularly in the Donetsk region.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 217 ceasefire violations, including 79 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 205 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 148 ceasefire violations, including 47 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and their corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission visited a border crossing point outside government control in Donetsk region.
• The SMM monitored various checkpoints in south-east Kherson region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted. Its mini-unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*