Central Europe

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

On 12 February 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Idibek Kalandar to discuss future co-operation of the Office of the Representative with the authorities of Tajikistan.

Ribeiro expressed her interest in visiting Tajikistan and offered the expertise and assistance of her Office in assisting Tajikistan in the full implementation of the commitments on media freedom and freedom of expression. Kalandar emphasized the readiness of his government to an open and frank dialogue with the RFoM. He pledged support to the Office and offered to host relevant media freedom events in Tajikistan, the situation permitting.

Ribeiro and Kalandar agreed that the Tajik authorities would provide her and her Office with additional information on several legal matters pertaining to media freedom in Tajikistan.

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

On 12 February 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Abat Fayzullaev to discuss co-operation of the Office of the Representative with the authorities of Uzbekistan.

During the meeting, Ribeiro addressed several cases of gender-related harassment of female journalists and the arrest of blogger Otabek Sattoriy.

Fayzullaev spoke about his country’s need for capacity-building in the field of media freedom. Ribeiro also underlined her interest in visiting the country and holding an annual regional media conference in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent.

478465

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met today, 15 February 2021, with Ambassador Károly Dán to discuss the current state of media freedom in Hungary. 

The discussion between Ribeiro and Dán focused on the situation with the non-extension of Klubradio terrestrial license in Budapest and the consequences of the Hungarian Coronavirus Act on freedom of expression in the country.

In the conversation, Ribeiro underlined her position that laws related both to licensing of broadcasters and freedom of information should follow international standards and the OSCE principles and commitments. Ribeiro would request further information on these issues.

478492

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met today, 15 February 2021, with Ambassador Emilia Kraleva to discuss the current state of media freedom in Bulgaria.

Ribeiro and Kraleva discussed issues such as safety of media workers and current challenges to the independence and sustainability of public service media in Bulgaria.

During the conversation, Ribeiro referred to the recent refusal by the Bulgarian prosecutor-general’s office to fully investigate the reported beating of freelance journalist Dimiter Kenarov by the police in September 2020. She urged the authorities to resume the process of investigation to find the perpetrators.

The Representative underlined that the public service media, to be able fulfil their remit, should stay public and not be turned into state media. Public service media should serve as a model of fairness and professionalism for all other outlets.

Kraleva informed the Representative on recent developments regarding media regulation in Bulgaria and expressed the wish of the  authorities to support the work of the RFoM and follow-up on this discussion.

VIENNA/STOCKHOLM, 16 February 2021 — The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde will visit Moldova on 17 February for talks with high-level Moldovan officials and the political leadership in Tiraspol.

Linde will hold talks with 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 the Speaker of the Parliament, Zinaida Greceanii, together with members of the delegation of the Moldovan Parliament to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. In Bender, she will meet with Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky and Chief Negotiator Vitaly Ignatiev.

In Chisinau, she will also meet with the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Gender, Liliana Palihovici, and members of civil society working on human rights and gender equality issues.

Media representatives are invited to the livestreams of two press briefings: the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Linde with Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ciocoi on 17 February at 09:30 and on the same day at 17:30 following a meeting with Transdniestrian leader Krasnoselsky and Chief Negotiator Ignatiev in Bender.

Media wishing to view the livestreams are requested to send an email to mtmpress@osce.org by 8:00 am on 17 February. Details for attendance will be provided following registration.

For more information, please contact Anna Vorobeva, Spokesperson of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, at +373 22 887 846 (landline), +373 69 149 510 (mobile), e-mail: Anna.Vorobeva@osce.org

For more information about Sweden's 2021 OSCE Chairpersonship, please visit the OSCE website: https://www.osce.org/chairmanship.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 20 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 894 ceasefire violations in the region, most of which were assessed as live-fire exercises in non-government-controlled areas.
• The Mission recorded four ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded two ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and again saw containers inside and near the southern edge of the area near Zolote.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable repairs and 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.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 894 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, 848 of which were assessed as live-fire exercises in non-government-controlled areas near the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) and Sofiivka (formerly Karlo-Marksove). In the previous reporting period, it recorded 53 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded two ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. 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, and again saw containers inside and near the southern edge of the area near Zolote.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable repairs and operation of critical civilian infrastructure. It heard 50 ceasefire violations close to the DFS, during and near the times when a bus with DFS workers was driving towards Yasynuvata.
• 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.*

478249

On 11 February 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Silapberdi Nurberdiev to discuss co-operation of the Office of the RFoM with the authorities of Turkmenistan.

Ribeiro expressed her interest in visiting Turkmenistan and offered the expertise and assistance of her Institution in implementing Turkmenistan’s commitments regarding media freedom and freedom of expression. Ambassador Nurberdiev reiterated the country’s pledge to implement fully its commitments in the human dimension sphere and invited the Representative to participate in the activities of the new Turkmen department of online journalism and communications. The Representative accepted the invitation.

Speaking of her Office’s engagement in permanent monitoring of media freedom in the OSCE participating States, Ribeiro requested additional information on the case of the blogger Nurgeldy Khalykov, who, in September 2020, was sentenced in Turkmenistan to four years in prison.

478243

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met on 12 February 2021, with Ambassador Florian Raunig to discuss media freedom developments in Austria and the OSCE region.

Ribeiro and Raunig spoke about the difficult times and the many, and increasing, threats against media freedom in the OSCE region, including authoritarian tendencies and a decrease in the pluralistic landscape.

They discussed the importance of working together with other international organizations, with journalists and civil society on the ground, and with the many OSCE field missions and offices. They agreed that the RFoM should look both at the current political situation, including relevant legal and policy developments, and the long-term goals of her Office.

478219 Jeff Bieley Edita Buçaj

The OSCE Mission concluded on 12 February 2021 a series of five workshops with the Association of the Blind of Kosovo (ABK) to support blind and visually impaired voters to vote independently ahead of the parliamentary elections.   

Through these workshops, around 1,300 blind and visually impaired voters were trained to vote using Braille templates provided by the Central Election Commission.

“Voting is one of the instruments of accountability in the hands of people. In a democratic society, it is also a responsibility. For this reason, all conditions should be in place to allow every person on the voter list to cast his or her vote independently and in private,” said Kilian Wahl, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, to workshop participants in Prishtinë/Priština.

“We should all remember that every vote is equal, and every single vote counts. So you can make a difference,” Wahl added.

ABK trainers from ABK branches across Kosovo conducted the workshops.

SARAJEVO, 12 February 2021 – The U.S. Embassy, EU Delegation/EU Special Representative in BiH and the OSCE Mission to BiH call on all relevant authorities to ensure the draft Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in BiH is aligned with international standards, resulting in a robust system for preventing conflict of interest among public officials.

The prevention of conflict of interest for public officials is a key tool in the fight against corruption. Efforts in this field are essential parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU integration process and key to helping restore citizen confidence in public officials. The Opinion of the European Commission on the application of BiH for EU membership clearly states that adoption and implementation of legislation on the prevention of conflict of interest in line with international standards and GRECO recommendations is one of the 14 key priorities for BiH.

The BiH Ministry of Justice was tasked by the BiH House of Representatives in January 2020 with producing draft conflict of interest legislation to submit to the Council of Ministers within 90 days. The deadline has long expired.

The draft Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in BiH Institutions that the Ministry of Justice submitted for public consultation in December 2020 would do little to improve the mechanisms for preventing conflict of interest. It does not meet international standards and does not implement GRECO recommendations necessary to prevent corruption. Concerted efforts to draft a law lacking strong provisions indicates a lack of willingness by political actors to make the system of prevention of conflict of interest operational.

The U.S. Embassy, EU Delegation/Special Representative and OSCE Mission in BiH  have repeatedly underlined the urgent need for reform, and further delay in the adoption of this important law can only be interpreted as failure to move forward on one the 14 key priorities. The adoption of this law is non-negotiable.

Progress is key not only to BiH’s advancement on its EU path, but also to beginning to restore citizens trust in public officials and institutions and in the belief that public officials work not for themselves, but for the benefit of the country and its citizens.

The Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN), which is supported by the OSCE through an extra-budgetary project, organized its first Steering Group meeting under the Albanian Presidency on 10 February 2021. The Albanian Presidency in BAMIN is represented the Agency for Seized and Confiscated Assets from the country’s Ministry of Interior.

During the meeting, participants discussed activities for the coming year, including mentoring and the possibility of study visits; membership of BAMIN; collaboration with other regional bodies in asset recovery; communication; and visibility of the platform.

Artur Kala, Director of the Agency for Seized and Confiscated Assets, who previously represented Albania’s 2020 OSCE Chairmanship at BAMIN meetings, thanked the Secretariats of the OSCE and the BAMIN for their support to the Network last year.

“As the BAMIN Presidency, our goal is to further enhance and expand this collaboration by including BAMIN in networks and other asset regeneration events worldwide. Our goal is to contribute to preserving the value of seized assets even more effectively throughout the region, providing greater economic value for confiscation,” he said.

The OSCE supports the Network through the extra-budgetary project “Strengthening the fight against transnational crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use.” The OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) are implementing the project.

Iris Pilika, Programme Officer, Economic Co-operation and Governance (OCEEA) and co-manager of the project, thanked the Steering Group members and the BAMIN Secretariat for their ongoing active engagement and offered the OSCE’s continuous support for BAMIN and its members.

The United States Department of State, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom financially support the project.

478162 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 on 10 February 2021, with Ambassador Veselin Šuković to discuss the media freedom developments in Montenegro and areas in which the RFoM’s institution can provide assistance. 

Ribeiro and Šuković discussed issues like the safety of journalists, including the need for an independent and properly funded public service broadcaster as well as unresolved old cases of physical attacks against journalists, the necessity for swift and effective processing of such cases by the judiciary. Ribeiro announced that she would follow-up on specific cases of concern.

Ribeiro stressed that the safety of journalists will be a focus of her work. In this regard, she welcomed the assurance of the Montenegrin government to implement fully the OSCE commitments as outlined in the OSCE 2018 Ministerial Council Decision on Safety of Journalists.

Ambassador Šuković noted that legislative reforms related to the media are underway, specifically in relation to the Law on Audio and Audio-visual Media Services and the Law on National Public Broadcasting Radio-Television of Montenegro (RTCG). As part of media reforms in the country, Ambassador Šuković announced the development of a media strategy. Ribeiro welcomed these important initiatives, and offered her Office’s assistance in providing expert recommendations, to avoid any possible contradictions and to ensure a free and pluralistic media environment.

Ribeiro and Šuković also discussed the regional South East Europe Media Conference, organized annually by the RFoM’s Office. They agreed to engage in further discussions about the 2021 event, including a possible visit of the RFoM to Montenegro.

The strategic role of the OSCE field missions in the promotion and advancement of media freedom and freedom of expression in Montenegro and in the region was underlined, with Ribeiro and Ambassador Šuković agreeing that mutual co-operation and regular dialogue is essential to achieve positive results on the ground.

477721 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 on 5 February with Courtney E. Austrian, US Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, to discuss the current media freedom landscape as well as challenges in the US media context.

Ribeiro addressed areas in which the RFoM Office could provide its assistance, in particular on disinformation.

During the meeting, Austrian noted that the media landscape has changed dramatically and it is almost an entirely different landscape from when the RFoM Institution was established.

Ribeiro on her part stated that disinformation goes far beyond today’s media concerns and challenges, noting that propaganda and misinformation are not new elements, but that the scale today is completely different from earlier days.

The parties agreed upon the need to discuss the varied components of disinformation in order to build a constructive approach to the democratic development of OSCE participating States.

478153 Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ton van den Brandt

On 10 February 2021, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Igor Djundev to discuss the current media freedom landscape and challenges in North Macedonia.

Ribeiro and Djundev spoke about several issues, including the safety of journalists, media self-regulation and the challenge of “fake news” and its effect on media freedom. They went into the specific situation of female journalists, as well as the need to accelerate processing of all cases of attacks on journalists by the judiciary.

They also discussed the need for an independent and robust public service broadcaster to be able to perform its important role in society. In this regard, Ribeiro expressed readiness to offer her Office’s expert assistance to improve the national legal framework related to public service media, in accordance with international standards and the relevant OSCE commitments. Ribeiro also announced that she would follow-up on specific cases of concern in close co-operation with the North Macedonian authorities.

Reiterating the OSCE commitments in the 2018 Ministerial Council Decision on Safety of Journalists, Ribeiro underlined that the safety of journalists will be a top priority on her agenda.In this respect, Ribeiro welcomed the North Macedonian government’s efforts to initiate amendments to the country’s Criminal Code to ensure better legal protection and safer working environment for journalists in the country.

Ribeiro and Djundev acknowledged that the OSCE field missions are an important asset in building linkages and in exchanging knowledge and expertise on the ground in the advancement of media freedom and freedom of expression in North Macedonia and in the region. To complement the efforts on the ground, Ribeiro and Djundev agreed that co-operation and dialogue with other institutions and interlocutors are of crucial importance.

Ribeiro and Djundev further spoke about the regional South East Europe Media Conference, organized annually by the RFoM’s Office, and agreed to engage in further discussions about the upcoming 2021 event. They also discussed the prospects for a visit of the RFoM to North Macedonia and agreed to continue the mutual co-operation and open dialogue.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 53 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded ten ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 40 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and again saw containers inside and near the southern edge of the area near Zolote.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable operation and maintenance 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 monitored a gathering in Kyiv in relation to recent closures of broadcasting networks.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

VIENNA/STOCKHOLM, 15 February 2021 — The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde will visit Georgia on 16 February for meetings with high-level officials.

During her visit, Linde will meet with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Tea Akhvlediani. Talks will focus on strengthening the co-operation between the OSCE and Georgia.

Chairperson-in-Office Linde will also meet with the Chair of the Parliament of Georgia Archil Talakvadze, members of parliament and civil society to discuss the priorities of the Swedish Chairpersonship, as well as hold a press statement for the Georgian media.

The Chairperson-in-Office also plans a field visit with the EU Monitoring Mission, EUMM.

For more information about Sweden's 2021 OSCE Chairpersonship, please visit the OSCE website: https://www.osce.org/chairmanship

477964 Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ton van den Brandt

In a meeting on 9 February, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, discussed with Georgian Ambassador Ketevan Tshikelashvili the situation of media freedom in Georgia and the progress achieved by the country in recent years.

They discussed the dire economic situation of media in a wider OSCE context, aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed that the challenges of mis- and disinformation must be tackled by investments into quality journalism and media pluralism instead of restrictions affecting free speech.

Ribeiro thanked Tshikelashvili for Georgia’s continued support to the annual OSCE/RFoM South Caucasus Media conference and further regional engagement.

SARAJEVO, 10 February 2021 – Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, congratulated Halil Lagumdžija, newly elected President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC) and Sanela Gorušanović-Butigan and Biljana Simeunović, as Vice Presidents.

“The Mission supports the HJPC BiH as the essential institution mandated to ensure the independence, impartiality, and professionalism of the BiH judiciary. The HJPC, as the body charged not only with appointing judges and prosecutors but also with the creation, review, and dissemination of judicial policy in BiH has a crucial role to play in restoring public trust in judicial institutions and must lead judicial reform efforts.”  

Kavalec said that the HJPC can best lead by example, upholding the highest ethical standards while working to strengthen appointment processes and disciplinary proceedings.   

“The OSCE Mission to BiH remains a close partner to the HJPC and looks forward to co-operation with the newly elected HJPC leadership in all these processes aimed to strengthen the integrity, transparency and accountability of the BiH judiciary,” said Kavalec.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded ten ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 42 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded 40 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded five ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and again saw containers inside and near the southern edge of the area near Zolote.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable operation and maintenance of critical civilian infrastructure and a transfer of funds.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at five entry-exit checkpoints and two 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 near Bezimenne and on a road near non-government-controlled Korsun, Donetsk region.*