Central Europe

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 one 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 Chairmanship. Following the host country recommendations, the observers are adhering to social distancing. Due to the preventive measures taken by the central and regional authorities, the OM is faced with certain difficulties, but is still able to continue to fulfil its mandate without any limitations in its observation and reporting activities.

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 7,521 to 7,960 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[2].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 995 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 has closed its borders for the majority of foreigners starting from 18 March. 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, 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 16, compared to 13 last week. Nine persons crossed into the Russian Federation while another seven 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, two families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and four families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when one family was observed crossing into the Russian Federation and four families crossing into Ukraine.

Bus connections                                         

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increase in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (342 compared to 303 observed during the previous week). There were 197 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 145 bound for Ukraine.

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

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (758 compared to 922 during the previous reporting week); 391 at the Gukovo BCP and 367 at the Donetsk BCP, 352 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 406 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 the Russian Federation, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland 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 45 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 the Russian Federation officials, which could include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavourable 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 126 to 136. Of the total number of trucks scanned, all 136 trucks (100 per cent) were bound for Ukraine.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[3] 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 slight decrease in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (168 compared to 173 observed during the previous week); 96 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 72 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 12 occasions; the OTs assessed that five trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining seven trains were travelling to Ukraine (more details are provided in the sections “trends and figures at a glance” below).

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

Other observations

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

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 22 to 29 December 2020, please see the attachment here.

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

[2]Based on data received from the Regional Representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

[3]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 which correspond to driving licence C1).

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Between the evenings of 23 and 27 December, the SMM recorded 130 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 41 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Between the evenings of 23 and 27 December, the SMM recorded 37 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded seven ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Inside the latter two areas, SMM long-range and mini-unmanned aerial vehicles spotted people during daytime hours.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable construction and repairs to critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at two entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk region and at three entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission visited two border crossing points in Donetsk region and one in Luhansk region, and monitored areas close to the border with the Russian Federation outside government control in Donetsk region.
• The SMM observed a calm situation in southern Kherson region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at two checkpoints of the armed formations near Shevchenko and Zaichenko, Donetsk region.*

Marina Živaljević

As part of activities to preserve the cultural and media heritage of Montenegro, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided technical equipment to Pobjeda, Montenegro’s oldest daily print newspaper, in Podogrica on 28 December 2020.

Pobjeda will use the specialized equipment to process and digitize its vast media archive, which includes artifacts, such as photos and articles, from the past 76 years.

“This new equipment provided to Pobjeda will have a positive influence on the quality of journalistic content creation in the future. Journalists will be able to use the archive with both photos and information for their articles, making them more interesting and substantial,” said Maryse Daviet, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.

She added that, being Montenegro’s oldest print newspaper, Pobjeda has a historical record of the country, which is a great treasure that should be preserved for future generations.

Draško Đuranović, Director and Editor-in-Chief of Pobjeda, said that the donation of the OSCE Mission provides significant technical support to Pobjeda’s project. “I am thankful to the OSCE Mission. This valuable donation confirms the good co-operation between the OSCE and Pobjeda, and it supports Montenegro’s interest and its cultural heritage, which includes the Pobjeda’s photos and archive,” said Đuranović.

The donation is part of the Mission’s efforts to strengthen media outlets in Montenegro.

474926 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan handed over 25 devices for verifying travel document authenticity during the signing of a donation agreement with the Border Academy of the Committee for National Security of Kazakhstan on 25 December 2020 in Almaty. The Academy will use the devices to train its current and future border controllers to identify forged travel documents.  

“Within the scope of our border security and management assistance to Kazakhstan, we are providing these devices for checking travel documents. These devices have already proven to be useful, not only for training border controllers but, most importantly, in practice,” said György Szabó, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan. “We are confident that these devices will enhance the Academy’s capabilities and support the training of cadets and other border control specialists.”

Colonel Pavel Polivanov, Head of the Border Academy, said: “The Border Academy of the Committee for National Security of the Republic of Kazakhstan welcomes the contribution of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, which will strengthen the Academy’s educational and methodological potential for checking travel documents. We are open to continuing co-operation with the OSCE Office in 2021 by providing a venue for training during joint events, and we are ready to provide instructor support and share our experience in the field of border security and management at any OSCE-related events.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 41 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 46 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded seven ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 116 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and observed people inside the two latter areas.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and five checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

Željka Šulc

Damir Gnjidić, Head of the Tuzla Office of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, met with Fahreta Brašnjić, Minister of Education and Science of Tuzla Canton on 24 December 2020, to discuss adoption of the “Rulebook on principles and procedure for protection of students from discrimination in primary and secondary schools in Tuzla Canton”.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes the approval of the Rulebook, developed with the Mission’s support and derived from the “Guidelines for recognizing discrimination in education in BiH”.

This Rulebook confirms the commitment of the Ministry to ensuring safe and non-discriminatory school environments in over 120 primary and secondary schools. It is an important step towards ensuring a timely response to any form of discrimination in education and enables those students who believe that they were discriminated against, and their parents, to seek protection from the school. At the same time, the Rulebook educates all stakeholders in the education system on how to recognize various forms of discrimination and prevent it.

The OSCE Mission to BiH remains committed to assisting the Tuzla Canton Ministry of Education and Science in building a better education system.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 46 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 97 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded 116 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.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and three checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM observed a calm situation in south-east Kherson region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Siedove, Donetsk region.*

474842 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Recommendations on how to improve correspondent banking relations between Tajik commercial banks and banks based in the European Union and the United States were presented at an online event organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe on 23 December 2020. The presentation was attended by some 20 officials of Tajikistan’s National Bank and representatives of local financial institutions.

The event highlighted difficulties faced by Tajik commercial banks in establishing correspondent banking relations with foreign counterparts and recommended ways to improve relations. The recommendations were based on a report commissioned by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, which hired an international expert to conduct and present the analysis.

The report will also serve as a guide for enhancing existing mechanisms and adopting internal regulations on anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies by commercial banks in Tajikistan, which could help to speed up the process of establishing correspondent banking relations with EU and US banks.

Farhod Bilolov, Director of the Financial Monitoring Department in Tajikistan’s National Bank, said the report is an important document that “will serve as good guidance for improving the banking sector in the area of anti-money laundering and anti-corruption.”

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) conducted an international roundtable discussion on “Developing and Implementing the National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security: Good Practices and Lessons Learned” on 18 December 2020.

The online event was organized together with the OSCE Secretariat’s Programme for Gender Issues, the National Human Rights Centre and the National Commission on Gender Equality of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

International experts from Albania, Georgia and Ireland shared best practices and provided information on drafting the National Action Plans on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, as well as their approach to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

During the roundtable discussion, representatives of the National Human Rights Centre and civil society organizations of Uzbekistan presented their experiences with developing a draft National Action Plan on Resolution 1325.

Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Human Rights Centre, said: “At this moment, in Uzbekistan, according to the legislation, every single draft law must go through the gender expertise.”

Amarsanaa Darisuren, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, noted: “Today’s roundtable discussion is particularly beneficial for Uzbekistan to discuss and exchange views with experts from other sub-regions of the OSCE area and to explore in more detail the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the participating States of the OSCE.”

OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, John MacGregor, said: “I am delighted that Uzbekistan is determined to advance the implementation of a Women, Peace and Security agenda. I have no doubts that women’s full, equal and meaningful participation is required to maintain peace and security, be it national, regional or global.”

The event provided a platform for discussing the relevant legal and policy frameworks and sharing good practices on implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda among practitioners from Uzbekistan and other OSCE participating States.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 97 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded at least 91 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded one ceasefire violation in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and 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 non-government-controlled Bezimenne, Donetsk region.*

The OSCE held an online national workshop for Bosnia and Herzegovina on the social re-use of confiscated assets on 21 December 2020. More than 20 representatives from prosecutions’ offices, law enforcement, asset management agencies and civil society organizations participated in the event.

The workshop, organized by the Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) and the Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), aimed at building knowledge and raising awareness among civil society and policy makers on the possibility of re-using assets confiscated from organized crime for social purposes and the benefits this practice brings to the society. One of the main goals of the workshop is to promote the involvement of civil society organizations in the prevention of and fight against organized crime and corruption.

“In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a functioning institutional and legal framework covering all levels of authority is needed to enable more efficient and effective use of asset recovery measures in criminal proceedings, especially in organized crime and corruption cases,” stated Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, when delivering opening remarks. 

While the sale of confiscated assets is the most common practice, the social re-use can be a meaningful tool for promoting a culture of legality and giving back to societies what organized crime and corruption have deprived them of. The Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nicola Minasi, highlighted that the social re-use of properties confiscated from criminal organizations has a great social impact, as it demonstrates that the rule of law and societies win. “However, it is crucial for prosecution offices, law enforcement and civil society organizations to co-operate for this common cause.”

Participants at the workshop discussed the legal framework in BiH enabling social re-use of assets confiscated from criminal activity; presented international best practices on how assets confiscated from organized crime can be re-used for social purposes; and exchanged views on current challenges and ways forward in this specific field.

The Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Hercegovina, Gordana Tadic, thanked the OSCE for supporting prosecutors first in their work on war crimes, then in combating corruption and economic crime, and now helping to guarantee that BiH sees the results of previous work through social re-use of confiscated assets.

The virtual workshop was organized within the framework of the OSCE extra budgetary project on “Strengthening the fight against transnational organized crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use” funded by the United States Department of State, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. It is part of a series of national workshops on social re-use in the South-Eastern Europe.

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. The ninety-ninth Russian convoy of seven vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international Mission members, including the Chief Observer (CO) and one 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 Chairmanship. Following the host country recommendations, the observers are adhering to social distancing. Due to the preventive measures taken by the central and regional authorities, the OM is faced with certain difficulties, but is still able to continue to fulfil its mandate without any limitations in its observation and reporting activities.

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 7,117 to 7,521 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[2].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 591 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 has closed its borders for the majority of foreigners starting from 18 March. 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, 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 13, the same number as recorded the previous reporting week. Five persons crossed into the Russian Federation while another eight 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, one family was observed crossing into the Russian Federation and four families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when three families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and eight families 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 decrease in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (303 compared to 315 observed during the previous week). There were 154 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 149 bound for Ukraine.

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

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increase in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (922 compared to 874 during the previous reporting week); 516 at the Gukovo BCP and 406 at the Donetsk BCP, 494 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 428 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 the Russian Federation, Belarus, Georgia, Lithuania and trucks with “LPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (45 compared to 52 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 the Russian Federation officials, which could include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavorable observation position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks.

Compared to the previous week, the total number of X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP slightly decreased from 132 to 126. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 124 trucks (98 per cent) were bound for Ukraine, the remaining two trucks (two per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[3] 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 slight increase in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (173 compared to 161 observed during the previous week); 100 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 73 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 nine occasions; the OTs assessed that four trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining five 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, Armenian and Lithuanian licence plates.

On 15 December at 10:15, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a black funeral minivan entering the BCP from Ukraine. The OT noticed only driver on board. After undergoing customs control procedures, the minivan crossed the border into the Russian Federation.

On 19 December at 01:17, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a white funeral minivan, entering the BCP from Ukraine. The vehicle had an inscription “Funeral Transport” (in Russian) on the side. The OT noticed only the driver on board. After undergoing customs control procedures, the minivan crossed the border into the Russian Federation.

On 17 December at 06:34, the ninety-ninth[4] Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of seven vehicles were checked by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers prior to their crossing into Ukraine. All seven vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation the same day. (See OM Spot Report of 17 December 2020: https://www.osce.org/observer-mission-at-russian-checkpoints-gukovo-and-...)

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 10 November to 22 December 2020, please see the attachment here.

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

[2]Based on data received from the Regional Representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

[3]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 which correspond to driving licence C1).                    

[4]Based on the Observer Mission’s counting, this convoy is considered the ninety-seventh convoy that has crossed into Ukraine through the “Donetsk” or “Gukovo” BCPs. However, so far all these convoys crossed through the “Donetsk” BCP.

Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 22 December 2020 – The Press Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with the support of the OSCE Mission to BiH, published today the analysis of the “STOP! Hate Speech” campaign.  The analysis finds that while still present in media sphere, hate speech has declined in comparison with prior analyses focusing on the same web-portals conducted during previous election cycles.

Launched on 16 October 2020 the campaign was aimed at identifying and responding to hate speech in online commentary during the 2020 local election campaign. From 16 October to 30 November, user comments from across 14 internet web portals in BiH were monitored and analyzed.

“The Press Council of BiH and other relevant institutions helped familiarise the public with possible legal repercussions of hate speech. Failure of public, state and political leaders to demonstrate decency and the type of discourse they engage in greatly contributes to shaping public opinion and triggering reactions of readers who use on-line media to channel their frustrations,” said Darko Maric, analyst and author of the analysis. “It is essential that such leaders be held accountable, given that they often overlook the fact that freedom of speech is not and should not be used as an excuse for hate speech.”

Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Kathleen Kavalec, said: “I am glad to see that the use of offensive, divisive or humiliating language during this election campaign cycle appears to have decreased.   We cannot yet be sure whether this decline will be sustained, but these results can motivate us to unite our efforts and to combat spreading views that could fuel intolerance or spark conflict in local communities.” 

Working closely with editors and journalists, the Press Council of BiH has been fighting hate speech online for the past ten years, while making sure that freedom of speech is protected and pointing to its abuses.

“Media outlets that care about their credibility understand that dissemination of hateful messages in comments sections poses danger and is punishable under the law. That is why they are finding ways to eliminate such comments and react to suggestions of the Press Council of BiH. These encouraging results motivate us to stay engaged in reducing hate speech in online sphere and create more room for dialogue among participants in online communication, based on arguments,” said Dzenana Burek, Executive Director of the Press Council in BiH.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Between the evenings of 18 and 20 December, the SMM recorded at least 98 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 232 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Between the evenings of 18 and 20 December, the SMM recorded one ceasefire violation in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded two ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and observed people inside the Petrivske disengagement area during the day on 20 December.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable construction and repairs to critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations in Donetsk region and at three entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske), Donetsk region.*

474534

On 20 December 2020, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) concluded a series of training courses on how to set up an online culinary business as a means of economic rehabilitation following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The courses were attended by 28 women and began on 17 December with a three-day series of culinary master classes conducted by Shirin Alimova, a self-made female entrepreneur who now runs a chain of confectionary stores and is a member of the World Association of Chefs' Societies.

The training courses were part of the OSCE PCUz’s 2020 project activities aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs through digital means, which were implemented jointly with Coca-Cola, IT-Park Uzbekistan and the Business Women Association.

Another one of PCUz’s activities in 2020 was supporting a women-led start-up, ‘Coozin’, which developed a digital platform to help women run online culinary businesses and to provide online training courses on how to start an online business. More than 70 women have taken part in the courses since the launch of the digital platform.

Hans-Ullrich Ihm, Senior Project Officer at the OSCE PCUz, said: “This unique platform will allow women to sell their products online and share their practical experiences in the format of video lessons.”

OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat and the government of Turkmenistan presented the plan for projects intended for joint implementation in 2021 during an online briefing on 21 December 2020.

The event brought together officials of the Turkmen government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and key national partner institutions as well as representatives of international organizations and embassies of OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation accredited in Turkmenistan.

Opening the briefing, Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, stressed that the departing year was successful with many results for the Centre despite restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Success of our activities would not be possible without our national partners, and I would like to express sincere appreciation to the host government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all partner institutions for constructive co-operation and efficient support for our activities throughout the year,” said Drozd.

Representatives from the Centre briefed participants on its project activities throughout 2020, which focused on preventive diplomacy and border management, trade and transport facilitation and environmental protection, rule of law and media reform. The Centre’s initiatives on preventative measures related to the global COVID-19 health crisis and addressing its consequences across different spheres were also emphasized.

“The year 2021 promises to be even more active and yield more results than the departing year,” said Drozd. ”We designed the project plan for next year to build on the achievements of the previous years while also taking into account the OSCE’s priorities for 2021 and the objectives set by the host government.”

“It is my firm belief that our activities in the upcoming year will further contribute to strengthening co-operation between Turkmenistan and the OSCE and attaining our common goals,” she added.

In 2021, the Centre will continue its essential projects and will launch a number of groundbreaking initiatives, including on strengthening cybersecurity and digitalization of customs procedures, developing e-commerce, attracting foreign investments, trial monitoring, as well as the interaction of state institutions with the public and media during pandemic and emergency situations.

The work of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat under the leadership of Natalya Drozd and its contribution to strengthening Turkmenistan’s co-operation with the OSCE was recognized with the state order ‘Bitaraplyk’ (Neutrality) award presented by the Turkmen government to the Head of Centre, Natalya Drozd, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Turkmenistan's Permanent Neutrality celebrated on 12 December 2020. The award will serve as an impetus for continuing and enhancing the Centre’s collaboration with the host country and will strengthen the image of the OSCE in Turkmenistan.

474543 OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan

On 20 December 2020, training for the management and teachers in 13 pre-school education organizations concluded the OSCE Project Co-ordinator’s in Uzbekistan (PCUz) series of activities in 2020 aimed at introducing environmental education in pre-school education in Uzbekistan.

A total of 50 staff members from selected organizations underwent training on the education of children at the age of 3 to 6 years on environmental behaviour and waste sorting. The training course was based on the interactive game developed by the PCUz jointly with the partners, public movement Hashar Week and tested on the focus group of children during the week.

These activities were implemented in the framework of the project supporting the government on introducing green economy policies and mechanisms and in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the PCUz, and the Ministry of Pre-School Education and Cycling Federation of Uzbekistan earlier in November.

The Memorandum includes piloting of environmental and cycling education in 13 selected pre-school facilities and further scaling across the country and development of animated media materials promoting environmental behavior among children and their parents.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan co-organized a webinar to discuss drafting of the National Action Plan (NAP) on the implementation of the Recommendations of the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT). The event took place on 17 December 2020.

The webinar was held in co-operation with the National Human Rights Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Central Asia and the United Nations Development Program in Uzbekistan.

During the event, international experts from the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' Regional Office for Central Asia and the OSCE shared experiences of a number of countries in developing and implementing the NAPs on the implementation of the Recommendations of the UN CAT.

The webinar provided a platform for the officials of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, relevant ministries and agencies, and civil society institutions to exchange ideas on further improving the state policy on prevention of torture.

474300 SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

On 18 December 2020, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) held an online seminar on open data for anti-corruption. The event was organized in co-operation with the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on statistics and the Anti-corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan along with the International Open Data Charter (ODC).

The seminar was organized to introduce practical tools known as the “Open Up Guides” curated resources on how to publish and use open data for preventing corruption. Experts of the ODC, invited by the PCUz, spoke about the value of open data for anti-corruption and explained how to implement the Anti-Corruption Tool of Open Up Guide. During group discussion sessions, participants exchanged views on prospects of open data usage.

Over 40 participants attended the event, including data officers and other specialists of the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Investment and Trade, Ministry of Justice, State Customs Committee, State Tax Committee, the Central Bank and others.

“Ensuring an efficient system of open data is a fundamental crux for the prevention of corruption and strengthening good governance” said Hans-Ullrich Ihm, Senior Project Officer at the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan. “This seminar will support the promotion of open data initiatives in Uzbekistan.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 232 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 63 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded two ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 21 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM followed up on reports of a man killed by the detonation of an explosive object near Trokhizbenka, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed a calm situation inside all three.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to critical civilian infrastructure and a transfer of funds in Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at one entry-exit checkpoint (EECP) and the corresponding armed formations’ checkpoint in Donetsk region, and at three entry-exit checkpoints and two corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*