Central Europe

The Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and EU Special Representative in BiH, the US Embassy in BiH and the OSCE Mission to BiH welcome yesterday’s long-awaited adoption of the Revised National War Crimes Processing Strategy by the BiH Council of Ministers. The adoption of the Revised Strategy is an important step in delivering justice for all victims of war crimes and reducing the impunity gap, as well as a key requirement outlined in the European Commission Opinion on BiH’s EU membership application.

By seeking common ground for the greater good, BiH politicians have shown they can make vital steps forward to deliver on citizens’ expectations of a more just society firmly on course for EU membership.

Twenty-five years since the end of the conflict in BiH, hundreds of war crimes cases are still pending. The adoption of the Revised Strategy will help accelerate the processing of war crimes cases, by providing more precise criteria on the distribution of cases to the appropriate level. We will continue to support all prosecutors’ offices in BiH in their efforts to ensure their efficient processing.

In keeping with the Revised Strategy, the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH should focus exclusively on the most complex cases, including genocide and crimes against humanity allegations, and those with command responsibility for such crimes. All less complex cases should be transferred to entity and district level prosecutor’s offices to be processed as soon as possible.  We call on the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH to proceed with this urgently, and in light of the findings of the recently published Korner Report. Additionally, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH must, without delay, introduce an effective accountability mechanism for judges and prosecutors who fail to implement related strategic goals and measures. We will closely monitor these processes in the coming months.

It is also crucial that all authorities in BiH ensure that the judiciary processes war crime cases independently, impartially, professionally, and transparently. This process must be free from politicization and with full respect for final and binding judicial decisions and acknowledgement of facts that have already been established by domestic and international courts, in particular the verdicts of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

We will closely monitor the implementation of the Revised Strategy and remain available to assist the justice sector in its efforts to deliver justice to victims.

The OSCE Presence in Albania organized a course on drug investigation for fifteen officers from the Albanian State Police Anti-Drug Units from 22 to 25 September 2020. The course aimed at enhancing the State Police’s capacity to dismantle organized crime groups specialized in drug trafficking, through increasing their knowledge of the new ways criminal chains operate.

International experts from the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center, the USA’s Drug Enforcement Administration, and the UK’s National Crime Agency engaged participants in fictitious and real scenarios of criminal investigation cases of organized criminal groups dealing with drugs trafficking.

The training was part of a larger project run by the OSCE Presence to support Albanian law enforcement to improve regional co-operation and tackle serious and organized crime.

Over the last few years, the Presence in Albania has dedicated around three quarters of its police-related activities to address threats posed by criminal activity, and has enabled the participation of Albanian State Police officers in conferences and trainings abroad to strengthen their professional capacities in investigating drug related cases. The Presence also contributed to the national action plan against cannabis cultivation and trafficking 2017-2020.

The OSCE Presence in Albania will continue supporting law enforcement agencies in Albania by building their capacities and especially improving their investigative skills in drugs and organized crime cases.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 80 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and one in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 157 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and none in Luhansk region.
• The Mission followed up on reports of a man who sustained injuries from the detonation of an explosive device in Sakhanka, Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening hours, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted people inside the latter two disengagement areas.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including at an entry-exit checkpoint and the corresponding checkpoint of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a border crossing point outside government control near Dovzhanske, Luhansk region, as well as again at a checkpoint in an area near the international border outside government control near Bezimenne, Donetsk region.*

Željka Šulc

Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) concluded her two-day visit to Mostar and Stolac on 24 September 2020. Over the course of the visit, she discussed preparations for local elections, to be held later in the autumn, as well as the Mission’s continuous support in promoting inter-religious dialogue in the country.

“I am happy the local inter-party dialogue regarding the organization of elections in Mostar is taking place and that citizens of Mostar will finally have an opportunity to exercise their democratic right,” said Ambassador Kavalec, highlighting the need for continuing constructive dialogue during the campaign and after the elections, including on the prevention of election fraud.

During the visit, Kavalec met with political parties representatives Edin Mušić, Chairperson of the SDA Board in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton; Salem Marić, SDA City Board President; representatives of the Mostar Election Commission; CCI and Pod lupom, as well as Marin Bago and Husein Oručević, independent candidates and NGO activists; Josip Merdžo, Secretary General of the Croat National Assembly (HNS); Slaven Raguž, President of Croat Republican Party; Arman Zalihić, President of SDP Board Mostar; Stjepan Bošković, current Mayor of Stolac (HDZ BiH); and Zoran Turković, independent candidate for Mayor of Stolac.

Discussions focused on the Mission’s local election pledge initiative, which entails several key commitments ​aimed at contributing to a peaceful and fair electoral process in the local communities.

Kavalec used this opportunity to meet with religious officials Petar Palić, Bishop of Mostar-Duvno/Apostolic Administrator Trebinje-Mrkan; and Salem ef. Dedović, Mostar Mufti and President of the Majlis of the Islamic Community in Stolac Orhan Tikvesa to discuss  inter-religious relations at the local level. She reiterated the Mission's continuous support of constructive dialogue and joint initiatives aimed at promoting tolerance and co-operation.

“I recognize that 2020 is a sensitive year with approaching local elections, both in Mostar, which was previously deprived of it, and Stolac where there were issues at the previous local elections. I also urge all community leaders, including religious leaders, to promote constructive dialogue and focus on pursuing politics that solve real daily problems for citizens and strengthen the communities within which they live,” said Kavalec.

Ambassador Kavalec also met with Gorčin Dizdar, Head of the Mak Dizdar Foundation and project “Stolac – Crossroads of Cultures”.

The OSCE Presence in Albania organized two, three-day training sessions on how to film and edit stories on smartphones that ended on 24 September 2020.  Twenty-five journalists from Albania’s public broadcaster RTSH participated. The mobile journalism course – the first of this kind for RTSH – marks the start of a year-long professional training programme run by the OSCE Presence as part of the EU-funded Media in Focus project.

Twelve Tirana-based journalists and 13 correspondents from RTSH local studios in Shkodra, Kukës, Gjirokastra and Korça attended the online training, conducted by the European Broadcasting Union expert Glen Mulcahy. He provided the participants with mobile journalism skills, introduced them to a series of relevant applications, and guided them in producing their first stories on their smartphones.

“Mobile journalism is the future, thus journalists need to be equipped with new digital skills which make their job easier and more interesting for the public. This training was a first step in this direction,” said Bledar Zaganjori, RTSH news director.

Over the course of the Media in Focus project, the OSCE Presence aims at strengthening the Albanian public broadcaster through capacity-building for journalists and the production of new flagship programmes. It also aims to improve and modernize the curricula of the Albanian Public School of Journalism. Future training courses envisaged in the project will focus on investigative reporting, editorial judgement, principles of public service media, as well as on using social media and social networks for newsgathering.

ERGNETI, 24 September 2020 - The 97th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Ergneti, co-facilitated by Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and Ambassador Rudolf Michalka, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus. The meeting of the Ergneti IPRM was accompanied by all the necessary precautionary health measures in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants stressed the value of the IPRM format, emphasized the importance of direct dialogue, and engaged in constructive discussions on the most pressing issues influencing stability and security on the ground.

The participants discussed several issues pertaining to stabilization and normalization, ‘borderization’ processes along the administrative boundary line (ABL), the security situation in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area, as well as other locations, and important freedom of movement and livelihood topics. The impact of the prolonged closure of the controlled crossing points along the ABL and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were also discussed on the agenda. Significant attention was devoted to the recent detention cases.

The co-facilitators welcomed the participants’ commitment to engage in regular exchange in the IPRM format. The important role of the EUMM-managed hotline was underscored, with the co-facilitators emphasizing that timely information exchange through all available platforms for preventing incidents and reducing tensions along the ABL remains crucial. 

The co-facilitators also highlighted the importance of safeguarding human security in local communities and addressing challenges of the conflict-affected population. The participants were called upon to make concerted efforts for maintaining general stability on the ground.

The participants agreed to plan for a subsequent meeting on 20 November 2020, situation permitting.

464697 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

An OSCE-supported seminar on the protection of freedom of expression and the judicial regulation of defamation took place on 24 September 2020 in Nur-Sultan. The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan co-organized the event with the Supreme Court, the NGO Legal Media Centre, Internews Kazakhstan and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Forty judges of the Supreme Court and the city courts of Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Shymkent and regions (oblasts) throughout the country, as well as Master students of the Academy of Justice under the Supreme Court were familiarized with international best practices on judicial regulation of defamation cases. A judge of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) shared knowledge and expertise on how the ECHR deals with cases on defamation matters in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings. Participants also learned about international standards on defamation trials in the European Court.

The event is part of the Office’s activities aimed at promoting media freedom and freedom of expression in line with OSCE principles and commitments.

464682

Judges and members of Uzbekistan’s Supreme Court and the National Human Rights Centre completed a three-day seminar on 24 September 2020 about using the provisions of international treaties in decisions of the country’s courts.

Some 69 participants, including 13 women, took part in the seminar, which was conducted in a blended format. The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, in co-operation with the Supreme Court, the National Human Rights Centre, the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Rule of Law Partnership in Uzbekistan Project, and the United States Agency for International Development organized the seminar.

Kozimzhon Kamilov, Chairperson of the Supreme Court; Daniel Rosenblum, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan; Professor Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Human Rights Centre; Matilda Dimovska, Resident Representative of UNDP in Uzbekistan; and Ambassador John MacGregor, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan welcomed the participants. In their remarks, they highlighted the country’s reforms in the fields of the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and the administration of justice. 

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator noted that there are numerous relevant OSCE commitments and reminded the judges of the need for a strong independent judiciary, observing that much progress is being made in that direction. “Viewed from the prism of the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security, the benefits to the people of Uzbekistan comes from not only a greater attention to their human rights, but the strengthened economic security accruing from stronger rule of law,” he said.

During the seminar, two international experts, George Tugushi (Georgia) and Alexander Vashkevich (Belarus), discussed the international standards in delivering justice.  They pointed to other countries’ experiences in implementing provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in national court decisions. Participants also worked on case studies related to peaceful assembly, extradition and gender-based discrimination.

The participating judges are from Tashkent city and the regions of Tashkent and Sirdaryo who are working on administrative, criminal and civil cases, as part of a project to support judicial and legal reforms in the country. The OSCE Project Co-ordinator and the Supreme Court are implementing this project. This seminar is planned to be held in other regions of Uzbekistan in the coming months.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 157 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and none in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations in either Donetsk or Luhansk region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as aimed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying in areas north-east of Lebedynske, Donetsk region.
• The Mission followed up on the death of three and injury of two men in the detonation of an explosive device in Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch), Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening and night hours, an SMM long-range UAV spotted people inside the latter two disengagement areas.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including at an entry-exit checkpoint and the corresponding checkpoint of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints in areas near the international border outside government control in Novoazovsk and Bezimenne, Donetsk region.*

Information for Google Short title:  ODIHR final report on 2020 Poland presidential elections 463932 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The presidential election in Poland was professionally managed despite legal uncertainty during the electoral process and gaps in regulating important aspects. These are some of the main conclusions from the final report on the Polish presidential election held over two rounds on 28 June and 12 July 2020, as published by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The decision to proceed with the constitutionally mandated election following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated legal and practical adjustments. However, some of the changes jeopardized the stability and clarity of the election legislation and had practical implications for candidate registration, campaigning and campaign finance, voting methods, and resolution of election disputes. Candidates campaigned freely but intolerant rhetoric, failure by the public broadcaster to ensure balanced and impartial coverage and cases of misuse of state resources diminished the process.

The report offers 33 recommendations to improve the conduct of elections in Poland and to support efforts in aligning them with OSCE commitments, as well as other international obligations and standards for democratic elections.

Key recommendations include:

• Ensuring that changes to electoral legislation, including for emergencies, follow the principle of stability of law and are timely, enabling a meaningful public debate
• Amending the legislation to adequately define and explicitly prohibit misuse of public funds, including campaigning by public officials and favourable treatment of incumbents by public media
• Ensuring the editorial independence of the public broadcaster, including through a transparent and competitive selection process for management and legal safeguards for financial sustainability and autonomy
• Upholding effective oversight during the campaign by setting up a related body provided with adequate powers to quickly tackle campaign finance-related complaints and enforce sanctions
• Guaranteeing the independence of the National Broadcasting Council through law and requiring the authority to actively monitor the broadcast media in order to fulfil its mandate to ensure impartial coverage
• Ending restrictions on the electoral rights of persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities
• Reviewing the Election Code to provide an effective remedy regarding complaints that challenge the election results between the two rounds

COPENHAGEN, 23 September 2020 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli (Georgia) and Secretary General Roberto Montella opened a web meeting today with Belarusian Head of Delegation Andrei Savinykh, Belarusian opposition presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and OSCE PA Bureau members by noting the importance of building dialogue for the benefit of all. Following weeks of increased polarization in Belarus characterized by street protests, violence and mass arrests, what is needed is to find common ground and pursue a way forward for the country, the PA leaders stressed.

In her opening remarks, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said that recent events in Belarus have surpassed anything previously experienced. The 9 August election was marred by irregularities both on election day and before with the exclusion of candidates, she said. Subsequent demonstrations were met by state repression, she underlined, which has led to greater resolve for democratic change from the Belarusian people. (Video is available here.)

Tsikhanouskaya said that Alexander Lukashenko has lost support from Belarusian society and to facilitate transition of power, she instituted the Coordination Council on 14 August. The country is in a severe political crisis, she noted, asserting that the only solution is a new election. The OSCE has a role in facilitating dialogue and promoting the conduct of fair elections, she said, expressing support for the move by 17 OSCE participating States to invoke the Moscow Mechanism on 17 September to examine alleged human rights violations. “We have the right to a free and fair election and we will achieve that,” Tsikhanouskaya said. “We are firm in our resolution and we will prevail.”

Andrei Savinykh disputed the claim that the August election was illegitimate, highlighting exit polls showing broad support for the incumbent. He stressed that attempts to take power by unconstitutional means are punishable by law.

Savinykh noted that Belarus is planning some constitutional changes, to be undertaken by 2022, in order to liberalize the political system, transfer power from the Presidency to the Parliament and achieve more balance between the three branches of power, as well as to empower political parties. There is also a need to modernize the law on mass events, he said, pointing out that demonstrations are mostly unsanctioned by local authorities. “We will implement all the changes only through peaceful, normal dialogue with actors inside of Belarus – actors who are interested in achieving results in the interests of the whole country,” he said.

In the discussion, ten members of the Bureau took the floor and raised issues related to the need for dialogue without preconditions. Neither side should exclude the other and both should strive to find a creative mechanism to engage in discussions, it was stressed. Members highlighted support for civil society and the constructive role of the OSCE. All OSCE countries have committed to respecting human rights, it was pointed out, with members noting that reports of abuse in Belarusian jails are disturbing.

President Tsereteli stressed that authorities must find a more constructive way forward. There is a need for commitment on both sides to find common ground, he said, noting that the OSCE PA is well suited to facilitate and support that process. “We need more wisdom and more patience,” Tsereteli said.

When it comes to the prospect of engaging in direct dialogue with the Coordination Council, Savinykh raised concerns over its status as a lawful body, noting that it is outside of the legal structure of the Belarusian political system. He said however that the government is eager to act in the interests of Belarusian society. Savinykh said that human rights are a fundamental obligation, noting that there is room for development of human rights standards in Belarus. In order to develop it, however, he noted the importance of formal legal processes, highlighting the plans to reform the constitution and amend the electoral code.

Tsikhanouskaya noted that with so many opposition leaders in prison, there is a need for amnesty in order for any meaningful dialogue to take place.

OSCE PA Bureau members said that effort should be made to continue discussions between the authorities and the opposition, even if they are not done through official channels. Informal dialogue can be done in small steps that are useful in building trust, and this can be pursued without preconditions, it was stressed.

Secretary General Montella said that the important thing is to find any possible common ground at this point in time and pursue a constructive way forward for Belarus rather than arguing on irreconcilable and polarized narratives of past facts. The OSCE PA will follow up in the coming days with both sides to define a way forward in the interest of all Belarus citizens.

Video of the online meeting is available here.

KYIV, 23 September 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 25 October local elections in Ukraine, following an invitation from the national authorities.

The mission is led by Ingibjörg Sólrún Gisladóttir and consists of a core team of 15 experts based in Kyiv and 66 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 29 September. ODIHR also plans to request OSCE participating States to send 600 short-term observers, who would arrive several days before election day. 

The mission will assess whether the elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor key aspects of the elections such as voter registration, campaign activities and their financing, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, and the resolution of election-related disputes. The mission will also monitor media coverage of the campaign.

Meetings with representatives of state authorities, political parties, civil society, the media and the international community are also planned. The ODIHR mission will co-operate closely with the health authorities of Ukraine and follow the protocols they have established.

An interim report will be published to update the public and media during the course of the observation. ODIHR will present its preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference the day after the election, and will publish its final report on the observation including potential recommendations approximately two months after the end of the election process.

The ODIHR election observation mission, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and the Office of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine operate separately and independently under their respective mandates.

For further information, please visit https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/ukraine or contact Veronica Laputska, Media Analyst, at veronica.laputska@odihr.org.ua or +380 678 802 642,

or

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

CHISINAU, 23 September 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 1 November presidential election in Moldova. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the national authorities.

The mission is led by Corien Jonker and consists of a core team of 11 experts based in Chisinau and 24 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 30 September. In addition, ODIHR will request that the participating States provide 200 short-term observers, who will arrive several days before election day.

The mission will assess the presidential election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the election, including potential post-election developments. Specific areas of focus include the implementation of the amended legal framework, candidate registration, campaign activities, as well as election dispute resolution and election media coverage. They will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

In the course of its observation, the mission will meet with representatives from the state authorities and political parties and with candidates, as well as with representatives from civil society, the media and the international community.

On election day, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with the delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results. 

The mission will publish an interim report in the course of its work, and will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference the day after the election. ODIHR will issue a final report on the observation approximately eight weeks after the end of the electoral process.

The ODIHR EOM and the OSCE Mission to Moldova operate separately and independently under their own mandates.

For further information, contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR spokesperson: Katya.Andrusz@odihr.pl or +48 609 522 266

Kira Kalinina, Media Analyst with the Election Observation Mission: kira.kalinina@odihr.md or +373 69002667

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded one ceasefire violation in Donetsk region and none in Luhansk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded no ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and two ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening hours, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted a person inside the disengagement area near Zolote.
• The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including at entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a border crossing point near Izvaryne, Luhansk region, as well as at checkpoints of the armed formations near Olenivka and Rozdolne, Donetsk region.*

SUMMARY

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

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international Mission members, including the Chief Observer (CO) and 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 slightly increased from 10,017 to 10,270 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 44 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 one, compared to eight last week. No persons crossed into the Russian Federation while one crossed into Ukraine. This individual 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, five families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while another three families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when two families were observed crossing to the Russian Federation, while another three families crossed 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 (364 compared to 328 observed during the previous week). There were 191 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 173 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 slight increase in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (988 compared to 957 during the previous reporting week); 559 at the Gukovo BCP and 429 at the Donetsk BCP, 535 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 453 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, Ukraine 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 slight increase in the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (52 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.

During the reporting period, the X-ray vehicle at the Donetsk BCP was not operating due to the ongoing construction activities; consequently, no X-ray checks were observed by the OTs.

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 just a slight decrease in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (160 compared to 161 observed during the previous week); 88 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 31  occasions; the OTs assessed that 18 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining 13 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 cars with licence plates registered in Georgia.

During the reporting week, the OTs at the Donetsk BCP observed police vehicles on four separate occasions:

On 15 September at 12:40, the OT observed a police minivan with Russian Federation licence plates with three individuals on board, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking next to the main building. At 13:48, the police vehicle drove back to the Russian Federation.

The same day at 17:18, the OT observed another police minivan with Russian Federation licence plates with three individuals on board, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking next to the main building. At 17:52, the police vehicle drove back to the Russian Federation.

On 18 September at 18:45, the OT observed a police vehicle with Russian Federation licence plates, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking behind the main building. At 18:53, the police car drove back with three individuals on board including the driver. The OT was unable to notice any other details from its position.

On 21 September at 16:52, the OT observed a police vehicle with Russian Federation licence plates, accompanied by a green SUV, type UAZ, with an inscription “Russian Border Guards“ (in Russian) on signboards and with flashing lights on, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking next to the main building. At 16:55, both vehicles drove back to the Russian Federation. The OT was unable to notice any other details from its position.

During the reporting week, the OTs at the Donetsk BCP observed a group of brand-new vehicles on two separate occasions:

On 15 September at 13:13, the OT observed a group of 16 brand-new ambulances, type UAZ, with no licence plates entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking at the customs control area. The vehicles bore the inscription “Urgent Medical Help” (in Russian) on signboards and a sign “Red Cross” at the front and the rear sides. The OT noticed only a driver inside each vehicle. All the vehicles underwent customs and border control procedures and left for Ukraine at 16:15.

On 16 September at 13:00, the OT observed a group of 13 brand-new vehicles type FORD TRANSIT (seven ambulances and six white minivans) with no licence plates, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking at the customs control area. The ambulances bore the inscription “Urgent Medical Help” (in Russian) on signboards. All vehicles underwent customs and border control procedures and left for Ukraine at 16:45. The OT noticed only a driver inside each vehicle.

On 16 September at 11:07, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance with Russian Federation licence plates entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking in front of the main building. The OT noticed a driver and three female medics on board. The ambulance drove back to the Russian Federation with an elderly female patient at 11:23. The OT was unable to notice any other details from its position.

On 18 September at 09:36, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a white funeral minivan bearing an inscription “Ritual Services” (in Russian) on boards, entering the BCP from Ukraine. After undergoing border control procedures, the vehicle left the BCP towards the Russian Federation. The OT was unable to observe any other details from its position.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 18 August to 22 September 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).

VIENNA, 22 September 2020 – Recent developments, opportunities and challenges for the police in working with the media and journalists is the focus of the 2020 Annual Police Experts Meeting (APEM), which will take place on Monday, 28 September in Vienna’s Hofburg and online via Zoom.

The one-day meeting will bring together law enforcement experts and other criminal justice practitioners; OSCE delegations, representatives of regional and international organizations; media workers and journalists; researchers, human rights experts, as well as civil society from the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation.

The meeting is organized by Albania’s 2020 OSCE Chairmanship with the support of the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department, and in co-ordination with the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

The event will be opened by Romina Kuko, Albania’s Deputy Minister of Interior on behalf of the OSCE Chairmanship, Ambassador Luca Fratini, Director of the Office of the OSCE Secretary General, and Jürgen Heissel, Director of the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

Following the opening remarks, the discussions will focus on: organizational changes and developments of skills and competencies within the police in public relations and media communications; police and the social media; police-media relations in crisis situations and during high-risk events, the freedom of the media and safety of journalists.

Representatives of the media are invited to the entire meeting via Zoom. Registration should be completed through https://events.osce.org/2020-apem/registration, by 24 September 2020. The link and the password to access the meeting on Zoom will be provided to all registered media.

More information can be found here.

Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

An OSCE-supported training seminar on climate change mitigation and adaptation in Central Asia concluded on 22 September 2020 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, in partnership with the German-Kazakh University organized the two-day event. Some 25 civil servants in charge of environmental protection, climate change and water management in Central Asia and Afghanistan attended. Participants discussed the main consequences of climate change in relation to  water resources management, international laws and regulation of water security in the context of climate change and youth engagement in environmental matters.

The training seminar is a follow-up to the Central Asian Leadership Programme for young leaders held from 14 to 18 September 2020. It aimed to strengthen capacities of young government employees and future decision-makers through raising awareness on main environmental challenges and building networks among professionals from the region.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to engage youth and promote environmental leadership in the Central Asian region and Afghanistan.

464430 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

An OSCE-organized online seminar on digitalization of customs and transport procedures in compliance with the international standards, the UN conventions and agreements for representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, transport agencies and other relevant institutions opened on 22 September 2020 in Ashgabat.

International experts from Georgia and the Russian Federation presented effective mechanisms and digital tools in the transport, transit and customs management. An online scoping meeting preceded the seminar on 4 September 2020, which discussed the current needs of national partner institutions and determined the areas of interest for further action and co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, to complement and support the ongoing national efforts in trade and transport area.

“The OSCE participating States recognize that promoting connectivity through facilitating transit and trade and measures undertaken at all management levels can intensify mutually beneficial economic co-operation, which contributes to good neighborly relations and strengthens trust and mutual understanding across the OSCE region,” said Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

The two-day seminar provided an overview of digital transport and transit documents, and best international practices and their implementation. Participants also discussed opportunities for the development of a seamless multimodal transport, a single window system and the related challenges and opportunities.

“The Centre organized this seminar to support the consistent steps of the Government of Turkmenistan aimed at the digitalization of customs procedures which are of particular importance for enhancing co-operation in the area of transport and communication with other countries,” added Drozd.

Experts shared experiences related to the electronic exchange of data and the introduction of the ASYCUDA (Automated System for Customs Data) World information system as well as on how to ensure secure transport management in emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussions focused on the digital future of the regional transport corridors, trends and opportunities.

The seminar was organized within the framework of the project “Promoting regional economic connectivity and development of regional logistic and transport infrastructure”.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Between the evenings of 18 and 20 September, the SMM recorded no ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 12 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Between the evenings of 18 and 20 September, the Mission recorded in total four ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening and night hours, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted people inside the latter two areas.
• The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including 21 multiple launch rocket systems.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including at an entry-exit checkpoint and the corresponding checkpoint of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Staromykhailivka, Staromarivka, and Zaichenko, all in Donetsk region.*

KYIV, 21 September 2020 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference on the opening of the observation mission to the local elections in Ukraine on Wednesday, 23 September.

What:

• An introduction to the role of the ODIHR election observation mission and its planned activities
• The press conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)

Who:

• Ingibjörg Sólrún Gisladóttir, Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission

When:

• 14.00 on 23 September 2020

Where:

• Hilton Kyiv Hotel, Tarasa Shevchenko Boulevard, 30

Registration:

• No registration is necessary if you are attending the press conference in person, but only questions from journalists will be taken.
• To take part via Zoom, please register with: Katya Andrusz, ODIHR spokesperson, katya.andrusz@odihr.pl and Veronica Laputska, media analyst: Veronica.Laputska@odihr.org.ua or +380 678 802 642.

For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in Ukraine, please visit: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/ukraine