Central Europe

WARSAW, 25 July 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expresses profound sadness following the death of the human rights defender Azimjan Askarov in prison earlier today. Askarov, a long-standing partner of ODIHR, spent many years prior to his arrest in 2010 documenting police abuse and brutality in his native Kyrgyzstan.

ODIHR has been calling for Askarov’s release since he was first arrested. Together with many other observers of Askarov’s trials in 2010 and 2011, the Office repeatedly noted serious violations of fair trial standards and the failure of the authorities to address the intimidation of defence witnesses and lawyers or follow up on visible signs of torture. Just two months ago, ODIHR voiced regret over the decision of Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court to uphold the life sentence imposed on Askarov in 2010. It is unfortunate that the Kyrgyz authorities did not use the opportunity open to them to restore justice.

All 57 countries of the OSCE have recognized the vital role played by human rights defenders in ensuring full respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. ODIHR continues to stand firmly with human rights defenders across the OSCE region.

Today, we grieve together with Azimjan’s family and all who knew him.

MOSCOW / PARIS / WASHINGTON, DC, 24 July 2020 - The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (PRCIO) Andrzej Kasprzyk released the following statement today:

The Co-Chairs and PRCIO welcome the relative stability along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border since 16 July. The Co-Chairs appeal to the sides to take advantage of the current reduction in active hostilities to prepare for serious substantive negotiations to find a comprehensive solution to the conflict. The Co-Chairs stress once more that refraining from provocative statements and actions, including threats or perceived threats to civilians or to critical infrastructure, is essential during this delicate period.

The Co-Chairs note that recent public statements criticizing the joint efforts of the co-chairing countries, and/or seeking unilaterally to establish new “conditions” or changes to the settlement process format are not conducive to resuming a constructive dialogue. The Co-Chairs reiterate that political will to achieve a lasting peaceful settlement is best demonstrated by refraining from maximalist positions, adhering strictly to the ceasefire, and abstaining from provocative statements and actions.

The Co-Chairs and PRCIO express appreciation for the strong engagement by leaders of international organizations including the United Nations, OSCE, and European Union, whose calls for strict adherence to the ceasefire and renewed dialogue under the auspices of the Co-Chairs have aligned with and supported the Co-Chairs’ own intensive mediation efforts. We note as especially positive the impartiality of such interventions, which have urged the sides to focus on reducing tensions rather than on assigning to others the sole responsibility of causing the recent escalation. The Co-Chairs welcome the growing international consensus calling for de-escalation and a swift return to negotiations in good faith without conditions.

The Co-Chairs reaffirm that the principles and elements as laid out in their statement of 9 March 2019 continue to form the basis of their mediation efforts. The Co-Chairs are prepared to meet with the leaders or their designees at any time. The Co-Chairs also emphasize that OSCE monitors should return to the region as soon as possible.

As part of its ongoing series to discuss Uzbekistan’s State Programme for the year 2020, the OSCE Project Co-Ordinator in Uzbekistan on 23 July 2020 co-organized a third online discussion, this time focused on strengthening the national Parliament, increasing the role of political parties, and reforming state and public governance.

The event brought together more than 65 participants, including senior officials from the Senate and Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis (parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan. They reported on the progress in implementing the State Programme for the first half of 2020.

Representatives from NGOs and foreign experts also attended, and the meeting explored the way ahead for the work of the state and public sector in Uzbekistan. All of the parties expressed their interest in further enhancing their co-operation in this area.

Marcin Walecki, the Head of the Democratization Department at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), pointed out that Uzbekistan is one of the few countries seeing positive developments in the rule of law and human rights, with speedy implementation of reforms. With the country currently facing the threat of COVID-19, there was a focus on creating an E-Parliament. Walecki noted ODIHR’s willingness to contribute to this process.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, Ambassador John MacGregor, said: “We have entered into a large-scale co-operation with both Chambers of Oliy Majlis – Legislative Chamber and Senate. In addition, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan is ready and willing to continue co-operation with the Central Election Comission. I also expressed my willingness to further support the Constitutional Court in their reforms related to justice and the rule of law.”

The event was co-hosted with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for Central Asia, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Development Strategy Centre. The meeting allowed for sharing best practices as well as expertise from German representatives on Germany’s parliamentary system.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• The SMM corroborated reports of a woman who was injured due to shelling in the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district in June.
• On two separate occasions, small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Chernenko, Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It continued seeing people in and near former positions inside the latter two areas during evening and night hours.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and maintenance of power and gas lines, as well as water pipelines on both sides of the contact line.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

COPENHAGEN, 24 July 2020 – Members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s elected Bureau today urged the personal attention of the Foreign Ministers of OSCE participating States to address the institutional crisis currently impacting the organization.

In an open letter to the ministers, the parliamentarians noted that the inability to reach agreement earlier this month on the OSCE Secretary General, the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Representative on Freedom of the Media and the High Commissioner on National Minorities, and the subsequent failure to find an interim solution with the incumbents, has left a leadership vacuum that damages the collective security of North America, Europe and Central Asia. The PA leaders highlighted a series of initiatives the Assembly is launching to address the institutional crisis and stressed the need to address key issues in the context of an inclusive and open dialogue needed to revitalize the OSCE.

All members of the OSCE PA Bureau – consisting of the President, Vice-Presidents, General Committee Officers, Treasurer, and the President Emeritus – as well as the Secretary General, signed the letter, which noted that the OSCE is now constrained in its operations by the absence of the heads of all four executive structures that make up the organization. “As the elected leadership of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and as parliamentarians who know and care deeply about the OSCE, we hereby call for your dedicated attention to this serious situation,” the letter states.

The Bureau members noted that the process for filling the positions must now move forward without delay. “We firmly believe that this is a time requiring more multilateral leadership, not empty chairs,” the OSCE parliamentarians wrote. “You and your fellow members of the OSCE Ministerial Council are in a position to rectify this problem, and we urge you to take immediate steps to this end.”

The letter points out that the PA has long advocated for greater dialogue at the political level on OSCE matters, and this remains more important now than ever. “As parliamentarians, we remain committed to contributing an important political perspective to the work of the OSCE, but it is the governments of OSCE participating States that must address the institutional crisis in the organization,” the letter states. This is important to revive the OSCE, address key current security challenges, resolve armed conflicts in the OSCE area, promote co-operation in the economic and environmental field, and strengthen democratic practices and the rule of law.

The letter stresses that the Parliamentary Assembly will engage and support efforts to restoring the ability of the OSCE to serve as a key platform for common engagement in overcoming our differences and advancing co-operative security, based solidly on a renewed commitment of the participating States to respect the ten principles of the Helsinki Final Act, at this critical juncture.

The letter’s signatories include:

• Mr. George Tsereteli, Georgia, President
• Peter Lord Bowness, United Kingdom, Vice-President
• Mr. Azay Guliyev, Azerbaijan, Vice-President
• Mr. Victor Paul Dobre, Romania, Vice-President
• Mr. Roger Wicker, United States, Vice-President
• Ms. Margareta Cederfelt, Sweden, Vice-President
• Ms. Kari Henriksen, Norway, Vice-President and Rapporteur of the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions
• Mr. Kristian Vigenin, Bulgaria, Vice-President
• Mr. Pascal Allizard, France, Vice-President
• Mr. Peter Juel-Jensen, Denmark, Treasurer
• Mr. Ilkka Kanerva, Finland, President Emeritus
• Mr. Richard Hudson, United States, Chair of the General Committee on Political Affairs and Security
• Mr. Costel Neculai Dunava, Romania, Vice-Chair of the General Committee on Political Affairs and Security
• Mr. Laurynas Kasciunas, Lithuania, Rapporteur of the General Committee on Political Affairs and Security
• Ms. Doris Barnett, Germany, Chair of the General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment
• Mr. Artur Gerasymov, Ukraine, Vice-Chair of the General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment
• Ms. Elona Gjebrea Hoxha, Albania, Rapporteur of the General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment
• Mr. Kyriakos Hadjiyianni, Cyprus, Chair of the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions
• Mr. Michael Georg Link, Germany, Vice-Chair of the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions

• Mr. Roberto Montella, Secretary General of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

Today’s letter follows a statement issued on Wednesday by a group of current and former PA Presidents and leaders of the Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions calling for urgent action to ensure that the organization can continue to function, particularly in fulfilling its duties in the human dimension.

In the run up to the Tirana Ministerial Council, the PA is planning on strengthening its policy and political support to the organization in a spirit of collective responsibility and with the intention of lending its contribution towards safeguarding and optimizing the crucial work of the OSCE.

To read the Bureau's open letter to OSCE Foreign Ministers, please click here.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening and night hours, it saw people within former positions inside the latter two areas.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and maintenance of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM followed up on a hostage situation in Lutsk, Volyn region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint near non-government-controlled Kreminets, Donetsk region.*

TIRANA, 23 July 2020 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, welcomed the agreement reached yesterday by the Trilateral Contact Group, with the participation of representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, regarding additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire, aiming to ensure compliance with a comprehensive, sustainable and unlimited ceasefire. The agreement is due to come into force from 27 July 2020 until the comprehensive settlement of the conflict.

“This agreement is an important step toward a full, sustainable and comprehensive ceasefire, as well as the fulfilment of one of the main conclusions of the Paris Normandy Summit. A much-awaited real cessation of fire would surely ease also the hardship of the civilian population in the conflict zone,” Rama said. Expressing support to the efforts in the Trilateral Contact Group and the Normandy Four format, he stressed the need now to build on the political will demonstrated and strongly encouraged the full implementation of the Minsk agreements and outstanding conclusions reached at the Paris Normandy Summit in December 2019.

The Chairperson-in-Office underlined the key role of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) in monitoring and supporting the implementation of the Minsk agreements. “I reiterate my full backing to the work of the SMM. The dedicated women and men of the Mission must be ensured the necessary conditions to fully implement the Mission’s mandate throughout the country, including free movement and safety and security for themselves and their equipment,” Rama added.

Contributing to the peaceful resolution of the crisis in and around Ukraine and making a difference on the ground is a top priority of the 2020 Albanian OSCE Chairmanship. “We will continue supporting the improvement of the security situation and easing of the hardship of civilians affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine,” the Chairperson-in-Office concluded.

KYIV, 23 July 2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

“I am pleased to announce that today the Trilateral Contact Group, with the participation of representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADLR) of Ukraine, reached agreement regarding additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire, aiming to ensure compliance with a comprehensive, sustainable and unlimited ceasefire:

“Measures to strengthen the ceasefire

Issuance and enactment from 00:01hrs (Kyiv time) on 27 July 2020  by the leadership of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the leadership of the armed formations of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of, and compliance with, for the whole period until full comprehensive settlement of the conflict, the respective ceasefire orders containing the following ceasefire support measures:

1. ban on offensive, reconnaissance and sabotage operations, as well as ban on operation of any types of aerial vehicles of the sides;
2. ban on firing, including sniper fire;
3. ban on the deployment of heavy weapons in and around settlements, primarily at civilian infrastructure, including schools, kindergartens, hospitals and public premises;
4. the effective use of disciplinary actions for ceasefire violations and notification of them to the TCG Coordinator who shall inform all of its participants about it;
5. creation and involvement of a coordination mechanism for responding to ceasefire violations through the facilitation of the JCCC in its current setting;
6. retaliatory fire responding to an offensive operation* is only permissible if it occurs at the order made by the respective leadership of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the leadership of CADLR armed formations after an unsuccessful attempt to make use of the above-mentioned coordination mechanism. The TCG shall be notified of the issuance of such orders.
7. the above-mentioned measures may not be, fully or in part, disavowed by any other orders, including secret ones.

*Offensive operation shall have the following meaning: any attempts to change the positioning of the troops which exists as of the date of this statement, including any additional engineering improvement of positions, and/or any forward movement and/or relocation of armed persons towards the adversary, including for the purposes of reconnaissance and sabotage operations”.

The leaderships of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and CADLR armed formations will make public statements about the issuance of the orders listing all the above measures and confirm that these ceasefire orders comply with such measures.

The OSCE SMM will contribute and support the sides in the implementation of these measures, as agreed by them, without prejudice to the established procedures of reporting or any other aspect of full implementation of its mandate”.

I hope that the confirmed measures will bring long-awaited silence in the conflict zone and more peace to the civilian population.

The above-mentioned issue, as well as the overall security situation in the conflict zone, was discussed on the eve of the meeting in the Security Working Group.

In addition, the Working Group continued to address demining issues.

The Working Group on Humanitarian Issues agreed to further exchange information regarding conflict-related detainees.

I call upon the sides, in fulfilment of their obligations, to demonstrate goodwill and reach an early agreement for a new stage of mutual release and exchange of detainees, which has long been awaited by the detainees themselves, as well as by their families, their relatives and friends.

In addition, the participants of the Working Group reconfirmed their readiness for the simultaneous opening of two additional entry-exit crossing points in Zolote and Shchastia of the Luhansk region, no later than 10 November 2020. While welcoming this, I urge the sides not to delay the commencement of the preparatory and construction works, so that they can be completed before the cold season.

The Economic Working Group focused on environmental issues in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Current issues of water supplies across the contact line were also duly considered.

The meeting participants of the Political Working Group discussed legal preconditions for ensuring CADLR's special status after the local elections, as foreseen by the Minsk Agreements.”

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It saw people within former positions inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and maintenance of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission observed a convoy in an area where there are no border crossing facilities in non-government-controlled Luhansk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints near non-government-controlled Bessarabka and Shevchenko, Donetsk region.*

VIENNA, 22 July 2020 – To reverse the alarming fall in the number of prosecutions for human trafficking in recent years, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council Ambassador Igli Hasani and the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings Valiant Richey today called on the Organization’s 57 participating States to triple the number of prosecutions for this crime within the next three years.

They made their call at the close of the three-day 20th Alliance Conference against Trafficking in Persons. With over 700 registered participants from almost every OSCE participating State and record numbers of online viewers, it was the largest Alliance Conference ever.

“Too many victims go without any kind of justice, while traffickers revel in their profits,” said Special Representative Richey in his closing remarks. Urging OSCE participating States to reverse the declining number of human trafficking prosecutions, he said: “Prosecuting traffickers alone is not the end of human trafficking, but it is a crucial step toward ending it. We need to replace the current culture of impunity with a culture of justice.” He called on OSCE participating States “to set a concrete goal of tripling the number of prosecutions within the next three years.” To achieve that, Richey reiterated that his office was ready to support anti-trafficking authorities in designing and implementing effective strategies to prosecute traffickers and deliver justice to more victims.

Ambassador Hasani described impunity as an “an open wound in our society” and hoped that “conversations like the one we have had these three days can help us move in the right direction and work to close that wound.” He then launched a “renewed push to increase the number and improve the quality of prosecutions and to implement the existing commitments we have.” In closing, he endorsed the Special representative’s “strong call to change the current state of affairs, end impunity and reinvigorate our effort to eradicate human trafficking.”

In recalling the main highlights and recommendations emerging from the Conference, Ambassador Hasani and Special Representative Richey underlined that “none of those policies will be effective without political will. We must want to improve. We must carry with us the voices of those who endured human trafficking, honour their courage in coming forward, and take action today.”

During the three-day discussion involving State representatives, victims of trafficking, international and non-governmental organizations and academia, persistent challenges as well as a number of good policies and promising practices were highlighted. These included the importance of specialized anti-trafficking units and multi-agency co-operation to build better cases, as well as financial investigations to seize traffickers’ profits and provide compensation to victims. Moreover, the use of a victim-centered and trauma-informed approach by the criminal justice system was underlined as fundamental in ensuring victims’ rights throughout the recovery and reintegration process, and crucial to achieving effective prosecutions.

VIENNA / KYIV, 22 July 2020 – Ukraine’s Defence Minister Andrii Taran today addressed the last meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) under the country’s Chair. Addressing the meeting remotely from Kyiv, he said Ukraine had chaired this decision-making body during “unprecedented circumstances” of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and “ongoing aggression on its territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

He spoke of the negative developments that continue to “further erode trust and confidence, decrease predictability and transparency, and undermine security in the whole OSCE area. These are the signs that urged us to open a frank discussion over the issues that might not be comfortable for all. However, the OSCE and its participating States should stand for its founding principles and seek solutions for a strong and coherent response, when these principles are severely infringed upon.”

“By shying away from these discussions, we will not be able to restore peace and security in Europe,” he added. “We put forward, for consideration of the Forum, those topics that reflect the root causes of these negative developments and its consequences for the entire OSCE community.”

Minister Taran provided an overview of the topics over the last three months, highlighting the Chair’s assessments of the discussions.

Turning to the impact of COVID-19 on politico-military security in the region, he pointed to misinformation and the effect of the pandemic on ongoing conflicts as serious concerns.

“We believe that extra attention should be paid to this topic due to its unpredictability and in view of the need to renew the verification activities under the politico-military instruments, and to improve adaptive measures within OSCE structures and field missions,” he said.

On the ongoing conflicts in the OSCE region, he said that, “we assess that more attention and involvement of the OSCE in processes” to improve the security situations are needed. “The enhanced monitoring of the situation by the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) is important in order to provide an objective picture, even in a limited scope, due to ongoing restrictions of its freedom of movement,” he added.

Reflecting on the Chair’s priority with regard to small arms and light weapons (SALW) and stockpiles of conventional ammunition (SCA), Minister Taran welcomed the consensus on adopting the decision to hold the second Biennial meeting to assess the implementation of the OSCE documents on SALW and SCA.

Noting how illicit SALW and SCA contribute to instability, he emphasized the root causes of illicit trafficking of SALW and conventional ammunition, including across national borders in the conflict zones, and ongoing contamination of the territories with mines, landmines and unexploded ordnance.  In this context, he stressed the importance of the full state border control by the Government of Ukraine to prevent the illicit trafficking of SALW and conventional ammunition, and to carry out humanitarian demining activities.

Moving to the Ukrainian FSC Chair’s next priority, he acknowledged “diverging views on the topic of hybrid threats and hybrid warfare” but added that “this should not discourage us from considerations on the challenges that are at the top of the list of security concerns in many participating States. A coherent international response to these threats is of paramount importance. Many participating States underlined the role that the OSCE can play through its various tools to respond to this cross-dimensional challenge.”

Coming to the implementation and modernization of the Vienna Document 2011 on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures, Minister Taran said “the overwhelming majority of the OSCE participating States support the process of modernization of the Vienna Document in order to more effectively meet the current challenges to the European security system through enhanced military transparency and predictability.”

Minister Taran wrapped up his address by noting that the Ukrainian Chair had also explored the OSCE role in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540 on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the Organization’s possible contribution to the Resolution 1540 Comprehensive Review process in 2021. The Chair had also focused on the activities and regulation of private military and security companies, and, together with Albania’s OSCE Chair, commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, he said.

“Chairing the FSC for the first time in more than 20 years was an invaluable experience and honour for my country,” said Minister Taran. “Let me conclude by thanking all parties who assisted us during this journey.”

Germany assumes the FSC Chair on 31 August 2020.

COPENHAGEN, 22 July 2020 – With the OSCE’s leaders’ mandates having expired on 18 July due to a failure to reach agreement among governmental representatives in Vienna, a group of current and former leaders of the OSCE’s parliamentary dimension called today for immediate action to ensure that the organization can continue to function.

“We call your attention to today’s call by former Directors of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to heed the message on human rights rather than shooting the messenger – a message that we fully endorse,” the Parliamentary Assembly leaders said in a joint statement. “By letting the leadership of the OSCE’s executive structures lapse, the governments of OSCE participating States have weakened the organization and thereby weakened our people’s security.”

Noting that when it is working co-operatively, the OSCE is able to effectively deliver real results on behalf of the people, the PA leaders stressed the need to stop inhibiting the organization’s functions.

“The work by leaders of ODIHR and other OSCE institutions to improve the rule of law, democratic governance and overall security have helped countless people across the OSCE region for many years,” the PA leaders said. “This happens through quiet actions such as support to parliaments as well as through the occasional critical word. It is a sad state of affairs that their willingness to at times criticize the actions of some governments is now being used by governments to block continued work by the organization.”

The statement continued: “In discontinuing the work of the outgoing leaders of the ODIHR and other institutions, the intended target would appear to be their willingness to voice difficult truths. In reality, however, the casualty is the human security of people all across the OSCE – people that we as parliamentarians are elected to represent. It is in the name of our constituents, therefore, that we call for immediate steps to fill the leadership vacuum at the top of the OSCE.”

The PA leaders noted that every day that the OSCE institutions go without leadership is a day of further weakening of the human security of people across the OSCE. “As current and former leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, we pledge to support any decisive efforts to move beyond this crisis facing the organization,” they said.

The signatories of the statement include:

• Mr. George Tsereteli (Georgia), President
• Ms. Christine Muttonen (Austria) former President
• Mr. Ilkka Kanerva (Finland), former President
• Mr. Ranko Krivokapic (Montenegro), former President
• Mr. Wolfgang Grossruck (Austria), former President
• Mr. Riccardo Migliori (Italy), former President
• Mr. Petros Efthymiou (Greece), former President
• Mr. Joao Soares (Portugal), former President
• Mr. Alcee Hastings (United States), former President
• Mr. Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus) Chair of human rights committee
• Ms. Margareta Kiener Nellen (Switzerland) former Chair of human rights committee
• Ms. Isabel Santos (Portugal) former Chair of human rights committee
• Mr. Ignacio Sanchez Amor (Spain) former Chair of human rights committee
• Mr. Matteo Mecacci (Italy) former Chair of the human rights committee
• Mr. Michael Georg Link (Germany) Vice-Chair of human rights committee
• Ms. Ivana Dobesova (Czech Republic) Vice-Chair of human rights committee
• Ms. Kari Henriksen (Norway) Rapporteur of human rights committee
• Ms. Susana Amador (Portugal) former Rapporteur of human rights committee
• Ms. Gordana Comic (Serbia) former Rapporteur of human rights committee
• Mr. Sevki Kulkuloglu (Turkey) former Vice-Chair of human rights committee

In a letter last week to Members of the Bureau and the Standing Committee, OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella addressed the institutional crisis affecting the OSCE executive structures and institutions, recalling that the PA has long urged the OSCE to de-politicize managerial decisions and avoid the misuse of the consensus rule. In light of the crisis, he urged PA leaders to place more value on the OSCE and remain engaged at the highest political level, particularly at this moment of unprecedented global challenges.

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• An explosion occurred near an SMM patrol close to Zalizne.
• The Mission lost spatial control of one of its mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), due to signal interference, while flying over the disengagement area near Zolote.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at SMM mini-UAVs near Chermalyk and Pishchane, Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. In the evening hours, it saw people within former positions inside the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint near non-government-controlled Kreminets, 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 18 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). 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 applying a self-isolation regime between shifts at the border checkpoints and 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 8,055 to 8,853 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[1].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to the Russian Federation, with an average net flow of 582 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, compared to eight last week. Nine crossed into the Russian Federation and four 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, six families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while another six families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when four families were observed crossing to the Russian Federation, while another eight 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 a decrease in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (176 compared to 215 observed during the previous week). There were 87 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 89 bound for Ukraine.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (896 compared to 996 during the previous reporting week); 468 at the Gukovo BCP and 428 at the Donetsk BCP, 496 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 400 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, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, and trucks with “LPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting week, the number of tanker trucks slightly decreased from 63 to 53. 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 significantly decreased from 156 to 25. All 25 scanned trucks (100 per cent) were bound for Ukraine.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. Compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans increased from 159 to 187 vehicles; 84 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 103 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 22 occasions; the OTs assessed that nine 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 Poland, Lithuania, and Georgia.

During the reporting week, the OTs at both BCPs noticed helicopters flying along the border on two separate occasions: 

On 16 July at 13:35, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a green helicopter type Mi-8/Mi-17 with a red star on the side, flying from north to east, turning in a north-westerly direction at an altitude of about 150m. The helicopter remained inside the airspace of the Russian Federation the entire time it was visible to the OT.

On the same day at 13:19, the OT at the Gukovo BCP observed a helicopter type Mi-8/Mi-17 flying from east to north-east, at an altitude of approximately 150-200m. The helicopter remained inside the airspace of the Russian Federation the entire time it was visible to the OT.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 16 June to 21 July 2020, please see the attachment here.

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

[2] Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles which correspond to driving licence C1).

VIENNA / TBILISI, 21 July, 2020 - The co-facilitators of the Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia Ambassador Marek Szczygieł and the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Ambassador Rudolf Michalka underline the importance of dialogue for reducing tensions and preventing incidents along the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line.

During the past weeks, the co-facilitators conducted intensive consultations in order to explore the possibility of restarting meetings in the Ergneti IPRM format.

In this context, the co-facilitators welcome the recent statements made by the IPRM participants regarding their willingness to resume dialogue in this format. They also take note of the participants’ active use of the EUMM-managed Hotline.

The co-facilitators have therefore initiated preparations for the 96th Ergneti IPRM meeting planned for 30 July 2020.

On 20 July, an SMM patrol comprising four members and two vehicles was positioned on the south-western edge of Zalizne (formerly Artemove, government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk) to monitor adherence to a localised ceasefire to enable an assessment and maintenance of the phenol sludge reservoir.

At 12:25, the patrol members, of whom two were outside and two inside the vehicles, heard an undetermined explosion and saw brown smoke at an assessed distance of 300m south-west of their position. The patrol was unable to assess the weapon used and the direction of fire.

The patrol immediately left the area and returned safely to its base in Kramatorsk (government-controlled, 83km north of Donetsk).

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 17 and 18 July, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Between the evenings of 18 and 19 July, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours.
• Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Petrivske, Donetsk region.
• The SMM followed up on civilian casualties and damage to a school and in a residential area as the result of shelling in the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations in and near the areas near Zolote and Petrivske. An SMM long-range UAV spotted people inside the disengagement areas near Petrivske during evening hours, as well as new military positions and trenches assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and maintenance of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

VIENNA, 20 July 2020 – Identifying effective ways to improve the prosecution of human traffickers is the focus of the 20th high-level OSCE Alliance Conference against Trafficking in Persons, which opened today in Vienna.

The conference’s theme acknowledges that while many countries have legislation and action plans to combat human trafficking, impunity remains widespread across the world and in the OSCE region. It is estimated that there are about 25 million victims of human trafficking globally. According to the latest reports, in 2019 only a little more than 11,000 traffickers were prosecuted - roughly one prosecution for every 2,154 victims.

Against this backdrop of declining rates of prosecution in recent years, officials opening the conference called for action and investment in the area of prosecution.

“It is a drop in the ocean”, said OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings Valiant Richey, commenting on the number of prosecutions compared to the estimated number of victims. “The current rate of prosecution means most traffickers never spend a day in a courthouse, let alone a prison cell. This needs to change. Countering impunity and establishing a strong rule of law must be a fundamental cornerstone in the fight against trafficking in human beings.”

The meeting opened with a video message from Coco Berthmann, a survivor of human trafficking, and Founder and President of the Coco Berthmann Scholarship Fund, who said that “perpetrators need to understand that their actions and crimes will be punished to the full extent of the law.” She urged Conference participants to take action.

Sandër Lleshaj, Minister of Interior of Albania, addressing the conference remotely from Tirana, urged participants to recognize that “confiscation of property, revenue and assets generated by or used for criminal activities remains a crucial strategy. Confiscation directly discourages criminals and can be instrumental to compensate victims and support their rehabilitation”.

Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Ghada Waly reminded participants that “rising poverty and fewer opportunities in the COVID-19 economic downturn threaten to leave many more people at the mercy of human traffickers. Governments need to step up action to prevent exploitation in the COVID-19 crisis, to identify and support trafficking victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.”

Katarzyna Gardapkhadze, First Deputy Director at the OSCE Office of the Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, described human trafficking as a “highly-gendered crime, with low rates of identifications, and even lower of prosecutions and convictions”, and urged participants “to systematically include survivors’ voices into policy discussions and development.”

In a video message, Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Parliament of Uzbekistan, addressed participants on the role of the judiciary: "The role of the Supreme Courts is key to ensure consistency in jurisprudence and the correct understanding and interpretation of anti-trafficking legislation by first instance and appellate judges. Special attention should be paid to training the judiciary and law enforcement officials.”

Joining from Brussels, Olivier Onidi, Deputy Director General for Migration and Home Affairs at the European Commission and acting EU Anti-trafficking Co-ordinator said: “To counter impunity towards the eradication of this crime and to protect people from becoming victims, we must use all available means to hold perpetrators accountable: from following the money to ensure that the crime does not pay, to making best use of technology and implementing our laws.”

For three days, judges, investigators, prosecutors, law and policy-makers, experts and NGO representatives from across the OSCE region will discuss challenges and opportunities to enhance the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking and discuss linkages between the prosecution of offenders and the protection of victims before, during and after criminal proceedings. The conference will culminate in recommendations from across the OSCE region on how to make prosecution a more utilized and effective tool in combating human trafficking.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted people inside the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske during evening hours.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable the repairs and maintenance of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

TIRANA / VIENNA, 17 July 2020 – In a letter to the OSCE’s 57 participating States today, Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship announced that the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Edi Rama has taken prompt action to ensure the Organization’s operational continuity in light of the imminent vacancies of the OSCE Secretary General and the Heads of Institutions roles.

“The Chairmanship notes with regret that consensus on the reappointments of the Secretary General; and the Heads of Institutions could not be reached,” read the letter signed by Ambassador Igli Hasani, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Albania to the OSCE. The three-year terms of the incumbents in these positions expire on 18 July.

“In light of this development, I wish to inform you that, as a necessary remedial response, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Albanian Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Edi Rama, under his overall responsibility for executive action and co-ordination of current OSCE business, has exceptionally authorized Ambassador Tuula Yrjölä, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre and Deputy Head of the OSCE Secretariat, to exercise the essential functions of the Secretary General of the OSCE, effective from 19 July 2020 until the appointment of the Secretary General of the OSCE,” wrote Ambassador Hasani in the letter. This is “with the view to ensuring uninterrupted management of the human, financial, and material resources of the OSCE in the implementation of its mandated activities,” he added.

Ambassador Hasani also informed that the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office “expressed his full support to the most senior officials of the three Institutions in the following manner”:

To Katarzyna Gardapkhadze, “in her role as the First Deputy Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in ensuring uninterrupted implementation of ODIHR’s mandate in the interim period until the appointment of the Director of ODIHR”;

To Christophe Kamp, in his role as the Director of the Office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM), “in ensuring continuity” of the Office’s “routine functions” in the interim period until the appointment of the HCNM;

To Jürgen Heissel, in his role as the Director of the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM), “in ensuring continuity of the routine functions of the Office” in the interim period until the appointment of the RFOM.

“In such challenging times, including operating in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chairmanship is committed to providing political direction and co-ordination to the aforementioned officials as may be appropriate,” Ambassador Hasani concluded in the letter.