Central Europe

Marina Živaljević

A delegation led by Aleksa Ivanović, Chair of the State Election Commission, and including Darko Brajović, National Programme Officer at the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, met with representatives of municipal election commissions. The meetings aimed to review election readiness, voting procedures, accessibility of polling stations, and new challenges in administering elections during the pandemic.

With parliamentary elections set for 30 August 2020, the discussions were held in Podgorica, Nikšić, Bar, Tivat, Bijelo Polje, Berane, Andrijevica and Mojkovac from 16 to 25 June 2020.

The Chair of the State Election Commission, Aleksa Ivanović, emphasised that: “One of the essential matters prior, during and after an election is for election management bodies to be transparent.” He invited municipal election commissions to regularly post all relevant documents on their websites.

Municipal commissions welcomed the guidance provided by the State Election Commission and expressed frustration with the tendency of political parties to appoint polling station staff only few days before an election, hindering the opportunity for them to be trained on election administration.

Nikola Mugoša, legal advisor at the State Election Commission said that quality training workshops for polling station staff are the key to administering fair elections. He suggested that the municipal commissions should start to liaise with political parties and invite them to appoint polling station staff as early as possible, in order for staff to receive training on how to administer elections.

The Chair of the State Election Commission explained how his Commission is collaborating with the Association of Youth with Disabilities and Montenegro Union of the Blind and inviting the municipal commissions to ensure that their polling stations are accessible for persons with disabilities. Darko Brajović, National Programme Officer at the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, added that municipal commissions should work to eliminate obstacles that discourage and prevent persons with disabilities from voting independently.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM followed up on reports of a man who died from shrapnel injuries on 22 June in Oleksandrivka, Donetsk region.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at a checkpoint along an official crossing route in Luhansk region.*
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM saw civilians travelling towards government- and non-government-controlled areas trough the entry-exit checkpoint (EECP) near Novotroitske, Donetsk region and the EECP in Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

WARSAW, 26 June 2020 – The root causes of excessive violence by law enforcement agencies, including torture or other ill-treatment, must be addressed comprehensively in order to acknowledge the injustice done to victims and help their path to recovery, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture today.

“To counter police brutality effectively, countries across the OSCE region need to ensure independent, prompt and effective investigations of each and every case,” said ODIHR Director Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir. “But that is not enough. States need to take a hard look at the root causes that lead to the use of violence by their law enforcement agencies, such as structural discrimination and racism, as well as institutional incentives for torture or ill-treatment.”

The global outcry caused by the death last month of George Floyd at the hands of police officers was only one example of disproportionate force used by law enforcement agents across the OSCE region. Excessive violence by law enforcement agencies, including torture or other ill-treatment, often disproportionately affects those already marginalized by the various inequalities present in all our societies. These are people who may be poor and underprivileged, belong to ethnic or religious minorities, or find themselves in a vulnerable position because they are migrants or asylum seekers.

“I’m extremely concerned by ongoing reports of excessive use of force by law enforcement personnel against migrants at some borders around the OSCE region,” the Director said. “While there is no question that countries have the right to protect their borders, they must ensure that all border management measures are in line with international law. This includes the absolute prohibition of torture or other ill-treatment and the need to guarantee that no one is returned to a country where they risk being persecuted.

All countries across the OSCE region must take action now to put an end to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, by undertaking reforms that root out systemic discrimination, and putting effective safeguards in place to prevent such acts of violence in the future.”

Torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment are prohibited worldwide, and ODIHR works closely with its partners to strengthen efforts in eradicating them entirely. Most recent publications include a guide on monitoring places of detention during the COVID-19 pandemic. More information on ODIHR’s tools and other work in this area can be found here.

WARSAW, 26 June 2020 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference to present their preliminary conclusions following the presidential election in Poland.

What:

• A press conference of the international observer team sent by ODIHR to the presidential election in Poland
• The press conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)
• You can also follow the livestream on www.facebook.com/osce.odihr

Who:

• Thomas Boserup, Head of the ODIHR special election assessment mission
• Martina Barker-Ciganikova, Deputy Head of the ODIHR special election assessment mission

When:

• 15.00 on 29 June 2020

Where:

• Hilton Hotel, Warsaw Hall 2, ul. Grzybowska 63, Warsaw

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 Sanita Jemberga, media analyst, sanita.jemberga@odihr-seam.pl by 11:00 on 29 June.

KYIV, 25 June 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:

“The recent meetings of the TCG and its Working Groups were marked by constructive discussions. This is an important stage towards results, but it requires also the sides’ will to take appropriate decisions in order to bring about a settlement.

In this seventh year of conflict, the civilian population on both the sides of the contact line duly expect concrete solutions that would make their everyday life easier.

I regret to say that today the sides did not succeed to agree on the modalities regarding the provision of security guarantees for the preparatory works in view of the simultaneous opening of two additional entry-exit crossing points (EECPs) near Zolote and Schastya of the Luhansk region.

I welcome the first steps taken to re-open the temporarily closed EECPs. However, far more efforts are required to facilitate the crossing of the line of contact for civilians in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

I wish to point out the substantive discussions of the Security Working Group. The participants achieved significant progress in discussing an updated demining plan, as well as with regard to the Addendum to the Framework Decision of the TCG that addresses the disengagement of forces and hardware.

The Working Group took note of incidents that have restricted the activities of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, as defined by its mandate. Those included regular cases of denial of access, as well as damage to the SMM surveillance cameras near Petrivske and Shyrokyne on June 2 and 22, respectively.

I join the appeal of the representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and the OSCE Secretary General to the sides to ensure the safety of the OSCE SMM’s technical equipment and as well as its staff, so that the OSCE SMM can continue its activities in accordance with its mandate.

The Economic Working Group debated current issues of water supplies across the line of contact, the provision of mobile communications by Vodafone-Ukraine, as well as environmental issues in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine (CADLR).

Besides the topic of additional EECPs, the Humanitarian Working Group considered the issue of mutual release and exchange of conflict-related detainees. 

The Political Working Group had a comprehensive and substantive discussion on certain aspects of the implementation of the ‘Steinmeier formula’ in Ukrainian legislation, as well as of the legal formalisation of CADLR's special status after local elections are held in these territories as specified by the Minsk Agreements.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• The Mission observed damage to civilian properties in Avdiivka.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at a checkpoint along an official crossing route in Luhansk region.*
• The Mission continued monitoring all three disengagement areas: It observed people near former military and military-type positions inside the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM saw civilians travelling towards government- and non-government-controlled areas through the entry-exit checkpoint in Stanytsia Luhanska.
• It observed military-style parades in non-government-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk cities, including with weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at border crossing points near non-government-controlled Izvaryne and Sievernyi, Luhansk region.*

455578 Communication and Media Relations Section Guía de la OSCE sobre actividad policial basada en la inteligencia Guide de l’OSCE La Police Fondée sur le RenseignementRecueil

The OSCE Guidebook on Intelligence-Led Policing (ILP), developed by the Strategic Police Matters Unit (SPMU) of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, is now available in French and Spanish.

Since its publication in June 2017, the Guidebook has been officially translated into ten languages and used for training and educational purposes by various national and international institutions across the OSCE area.

“A number of the OSCE Partners for Co-operation, as well as states outside the OSCE, have expressed interest in the ILP concept and our Guidebook in recent years,” said Guy Vinet, Head of SPMU. “I am confident that these new editions will significantly contribute to promoting the OSCE-recommended ILP model outside the OSCE region, especially in francophone and Spanish-speaking countries.”

The ILP uses information and data for evidence-based decision-making and planning, leading to more effective and efficient police work. Central to the ILP is criminal intelligence – analysed data and information – which is a decisive factor in crime prevention and reduction. The ILP requires the creation of structures and workflows to not only manage and analyse this intelligence but also to ensure the compliance of these practices with national and international law, as well as data protection and human rights standards.

“The ILP represents a modern framework for police management in the 21st century. Research as well as practice show that proactive policing is indeed more effective in crime prevention and reduction than a traditional reactive approach,” said Alena Kupchyna, OSCE Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats. “Empirically-based decision-making and planning also ensures that police work is more efficient, transparent and accountable, thus contributing to the public’s trust in criminal justice and the rule of law.”

VIENNA 25 June 2020 – “Our co-operation is faltering due to a lack of trust. That trust is lacking due to a breakdown in our dialogue, and due to clear and repeated disregard for our principles and commitments. We need change, and we need it now,” said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, while addressing a three-day Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC), which concluded today in Vienna.

OSCE Chair Rama and Secretary General Thomas Greminger urged fresh thinking and reinvigorated co-operation in addressing common security threats in the OSCE region. They recalled the OSCE’s commitments – grounded in shared principles – as a success of multilateralism, and a foundation of the international system upon which security still depends.

Held under the 2020 Albanian Chair, the discussion gathered over 400 participants, high-level representatives of the 57 OSCE participating States, Partners for Co-operation and partnering organizations with the focus on the politico-military dimension, aiming to foster a more stable and secure Europe.

“The last three days were an open discussion of how we can build more stability though dialogue, and be more forthcoming and focused upon actions that can make a difference to the current security situation,” said Rama.

Rama said that without respect for what we have collectively undertaken, and without a genuine commitment to conversation, we could not hope – or expect - to foster a more stable and secure Europe. “We have to start thinking differently. We must be bolder and openly propose and discuss how we can strive to improve things. We need genuine dialogue – an actual conversation, based on respect, not just presentations and counter-presentations,” said Rama.

Chairperson-in-Office Rama also echoed the UN Secretary-General’s urgent call for a global ceasefire. “Now is the time to pull back from hostilities and put aside mistrust and animosity. We need to act in a spirit of solidarity.If we can adopt a more pro-active mentality, then I am confident we can turn things around and improve security in the OSCE region.”

Greminger, reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, said that the security of the region is not only interconnected, but also interdependent. “We can best protect ourselves by working together to protect each other. This is the core concept of co-operative security – the bedrock principle of the OSCE. The pandemic offers a window of opportunity to increase trust across conflict divides in addressing common threats to health and people’s lives. We still need to see the political will to engage in measures to help conflict-affected populations. There must be a focus on building resilience to crises and the threat of violent conflict,” said Greminger.

Closing the Conference, the Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council, Ambassador Igli Hasani, noted that the discussions had deepened the conviction of the Albanian Chairmanship to prioritise three objectives: “Implementing commitments together; making a difference on the ground and building stability through dialogue.”

More about the 2020 Annual Review Conference here.

455497 Communication and Media Relations Section

Strengthening rule of law compliant criminal justice responses to terrorism was the aim of an online seminar that concluded on 25 June 2020. Practitioners from relevant government agencies attended this event in Ashgabat, while international experts joined in online from their respective duty stations.

The event was organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat together with the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department. It focused on age- as well as gender-sensitive criminal justice responses to terrorism. The seminar built on a 2019-event which tackled effective terrorism prevention and prosecution measures, while emphasizing respect for applicable international law.

Natalya Drozd, Head the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, noted that the Centre was one of the first international organizations in Turkmenistan to launch activities in the area of preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT).

“In line with Turkmenistan’s National Strategy on Preventing Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism, introduced recently at the High-level Conference on Foreign Terrorist Fighters convened jointly by the OSCE, UNOCT and Switzerland, the Centre in Ashgabat stands ready to support the host country’s efforts aimed at preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism, including through awareness raising campaigns on preventing and countering the threat of VERLT for youth and vulnerable communities,” said Drozd.

“The host country is demonstrating a great interest in international instruments and best practices aimed at preventing any kind of violent extremism and terrorism, and the Centre has been supporting the participation of national experts in OSCE-organized events on those issues,” Drozd added.

Experts and participants discussed gender perspectives within criminal justice responses to terrorism offences, as well as Juvenile Justice parameters applicable to the prosecution of minors. Closely linked to these subjects, the online seminar also addressed efforts by governmental and civil society actors in disengaging and reintegrating former terrorist offenders back into society.

Vienna, 24 June 2020 - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Tech Against Trafficking TAT), a coalition of international technology companies, today hosted an online event to launch ground-breaking research on how technology is being used to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings.

"Leveraging innovation to fight trafficking in human beings: a comprehensive analysis of technology tools" examines the ways in which technology is misused to facilitate trafficking, how more than 300 hundreds tech tools have been used to deal with the problem, and how governments, civil society, and the private sector can use tech strategically to combat trafficking right now.

The intersection of technology and trafficking in human beings is one of the defining topics of the global conversation on efforts to end human trafficking. It is estimated that globally, there are about 25 million victims of human trafficking. Increasingly, these victims are exploited online. Traffickers are widely misusing technology to advance their criminal activities. Yet technology can also be used to support prevention, prosecution, and protection of victims.

"Today, we have heard clearly about the crucial importance of addressing the double-edged sword that technology represents for human trafficking. Indeed, the future success of countries in eradicating human trafficking will depend on how they are prepared for and equipped to harness technology to fight this crime", said Valiant Richey, the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (SR/CTHB). 

The paper 

The OSR/CTHB-TAT publication identifies and analyses more than 300 technology initiatives, their developers, audiences and uses, and addresses ethical considerations, data protection issues, and the need to respect rights in the use of technology. 

A strong emphasis is placed on fighting human trafficking through market-based interventions, data aggregation and analysis tools, which can identify significant trends in the trafficking marketplaces.  

The research also highlights tools that can be useful in fighting THB for labor exploitation in global supply chains, including using block-chain technology and surveying workers in supply chains. These tools are designed to scale up responses and could be used to support prevention of trafficking on a worldwide scale.

According to Thi Hoang, Analyst at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), the landscape analysis yields relevant recommendations for the public and private sectors: "The tech industry must initiate and develop solutions which take into account the target users' internet and digital capacities, as well as their regions' technological infrastructure. They should also prioritize tools that help with victim case management and support – the tool type currently underrepresented according to our analysis. Further, to avoid duplication of efforts, it is recommended that these anti-trafficking tools are made open source and/or shared and exchanged with other stakeholders in the field."

The paper also provides a set of general recommendations for all actors involved in the use of technology to combat trafficking and a more specific set of recommendations for governments, including establishing or strengthening partnerships with tech companies to invest in research and development. 

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM found its camera near Shyrokyne destroyed and the camera mast damaged, assessed as caused by a round from an undetermined weapon.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.*
• The Mission continued monitoring all three disengagement areas.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable the assessment, maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure, as well as demining activities.
• The SMM saw civilians travelling towards government- and non-government-controlled areas through the entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a sharp increase in Luhansk region.
• The SMM camera near Shyrokyne was damaged.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.*
• The Mission continued monitoring all three disengagement areas: It observed people inside the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske during evening hours.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable the assessment, maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure, as well as demining activities.
• The SMM saw civilians travelling towards government- and non-government-controlled areas through the entry-exit checkpoints in Stanytsia Luhanska and near Novotroitske, and saw civilians traveling towards government-controlled areas at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Olenivka.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

COPENHAGEN, 23 June 2020 – In the latest of a series of informal web dialogues between OSCE PA leadership and national delegations, Assembly President George Tsereteli and Secretary General Roberto Montella met today with leaders from Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Liechtenstein. 

Discussions with the so-called ‘microstates’ focused on the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and related recovery efforts. Participants welcomed the meeting as an important opportunity to bring the common challenges facing small states to the forefront.

President Tsereteli said that in order to effectively combat COVID-19, it is important to be vigilant and work closely with other multilateral organizations. The President noted that the OSCE PA is doing well in terms of carrying out its functions and adding value to the international response to the pandemic. One of the lessons learned during this period is to improve preparations in order to better handle future crisis situations, he said.

Secretary General Montella gave an overview of the OSCE PA’s activities in the context of the COVID crisis and described the purpose of the informal leadership meetings as an opportunity for all delegations to engage in dialogue with the President and the Secretariat. He noted that providing a forum for small states is important to hear concerns that are specific to these countries and to demonstrate that all delegations matter equally in the OSCE PA.

Ferran Costa (Andorra) stressed the importance of small states strengthening relationships with international organizations. He welcomed the opportunity provided by the OSCE PA to network and tackle similar challenges with other microstates. He also shared detailed information about how Andorra has responded to the crisis and necessary steps forward.

Nathalie Amoratti-Blanc (Monaco) said that very few cases of COVID have been reported in Monaco. She stressed the good co-operation that the parliament has enjoyed with the government and shared some information about economic recovery efforts and employment protection measures that Monaco had implemented. She noted that the citizens have co-operated well, including by taking precautions such as wearing masks.

Oscar Mina said the COVID pandemic has been a difficult situation for San Marino, with much contagion spreading from the affected areas of Italy. Nevertheless, he said that San Marino responded well with all of society co-operating. Responding to the economic difficulties, San Marino released two million euros in aid but he stressed that much more will be needed. He noted the importance of small states having the confidence to ask for whatever help is needed from the international community.

Sandra Gerber-Leuenberger, Secretary of Delegation from Liechtenstein, gave an update noting that the country was not hit very hard by the pandemic and pointing out that it is recovering well.

The delegations discussed the levels of co-operation that parliaments have enjoyed with governments in each of their countries. In the context of a crisis like COVID, it was stressed that executives would inevitably assume more power – the important thing is that it is limited in duration, participants said.

Earlier in the day, President Tsereteli and Secretary General Montella met online with Mongolian Foreign Minister and Head of PA Delegation Tsogtbaatar Damdin. Discussions focused on Mongolia’s parliamentary elections on Wednesday, challenges of international observation and the country’s COVID-19 response.

For more on the OSCE PA's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please click here.

455395 Communication and Media Relations Section

A first ever online training workshop on intelligence-led policing (ILP), a modern proactive model for policing and law enforcement management, was held on 23 June 2020, for some 20 senior representatives of Turkmen law enforcement agencies.

The Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (SPMU) organized the workshop in close co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

ILP uses information and data for evidence-based decision-making and planning, leading to more effective and efficient police work. Central to ILP is criminal intelligence – analyzed data and information – that is collected and managed in compliance with national and international law, as well as data protection and human rights standards.

“The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat developed constructive co-operation with the host Government in the area of police personnel capacity building,” said Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“It is our belief that today’s event will offer an excellent platform for the exchange of practical experiences and will have an added value for the participants’ everyday work,” added Drozd.

Guy Vinet, Head of SPMU, said: “ILP ensures that the work of law enforcement reflects reality on the ground, thus making policing more effective, efficient, transparent, and accountable”.

Participants were familiarized with the OSCE Guidebook on ILP and shared experiences, good practices, and lessons learned from the implementation of ILP at the national level in Serbia and the community level in Sweden. Participants also discussed potential benefits and challenges of introducing ILP in their own country.

The event follows similar workshops organized in recent months by SPMU under its extra-budgetary project on ILP in other OSCE participating States in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

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 20 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 the shifts at the border checkpoints and adherence 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 fulfill 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 1,217 to 1,547 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 39 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 suspended.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military style outfits crossing the border was four compared to two last week, all four crossed into Ukraine, three of them at the Donetsk BCP and one at the Gukovo BCP. 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, no families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while two families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when one family was observed crossing to the Russian Federation, while four families crossed into Ukraine.

Bus connections                                        

Regular local and long-distance bus connections between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and the Russian Federation were stopped from 10 April. During the reporting period, no buses were observed at the two BCPs.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increase in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (1078 compared to 932 during the previous reporting week); 624 at the Gukovo BCP and 454 at the Donetsk BCP, 641 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 437crossed 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, Armenia 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 increased from 43 to 55. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks had hazard signs, indicating that they were transporting propane or a mix of propane and butane.

All trucks underwent systematic inspection by the Russian Federation officials, which could include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavourable observation position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks.

Compared to the previous week, the total number of X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP increased from 167 to 201. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 188 trucks (94 per cent) were bound for Ukraine: the remaining 13 trucks (6 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

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 slightly increased from 64 to 73 vehicles; 42 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 31 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 27 occasions; the OTs assessed that 15 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining 12 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.

On 17 June at 15:25, the OT at Donetsk BCP observed a group of 16 brand-new vehicles type “KAMAZ” entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and queuing in the customs control area. The group consisted of 11 dump trucks, three excavators and two tractors. The vehicles had no licence plates and were painted in orange. All the vehicles underwent customs control procedures and at 20:55 left the border for Ukraine.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 19 May to 23 June 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).                      

455704 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

A two-day online training on anti-money laundering and combating terrorist financing (AML/CFT) concluded in Nur-Sultan on 23 June 2020. Some 50 government officials from law-enforcement agencies and the financial sector participated in the event.

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan organized the online training, together with the Financial Monitoring Committee under the Finance Ministry and the Law Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s office/Regional Hub.

Experts from Georgia and Italy delivered presentations on laundering schemes of illegal incomes and recommendations by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to prevent and act on such schemes. The participants were familiarized with the concept of beneficial ownership, and the assessment of money laundering risks associated with legal persons. Participants also discussed the 2018 FATF and Egmont Group joint study on the concealment of beneficial ownership.

The FATF is an independent inter-governmental body that develops AML/CFT recommendations that are recognized as standard by the national financial intelligence units. The Egmont Group provides a forum for financial intelligence units to improve co-operation in the AML/CFT and to foster the implementation of domestic programs in this field.

The online training is part of the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to promote good governance and to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in the host country.

OSCE PA webinar explores challenges faced by minorities and vulnerable populations during COVID-19 pandemic

COPENHAGEN, 22 June 2020 – Noting that racism and discrimination against ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities have been on the rise during the COVID-19 crisis, participants at an OSCE Parliamentary Assembly webinar said today that public officials have a duty to speak out against intolerance and to work in favour of social cohesion. The pandemic and related measures, if not carefully managed, have the potential to fuel discrimination, threaten stability and undermine security, they emphasized.

The webinar, entitled “COVID-19 response in diverse societies: challenges and opportunities for stability and social cohesion,” featured remarks from Chair of the OSCE PA Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus); OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Ambassador Lamberto Zannier; and Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Opening the event, Hadjiyianni noted that some studies indicate that online traffic to hate websites has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic by as much as 200 per cent in some countries and that spikes in hate-based incidents have been widely reported.

“We should all recognize that at a time of such stress as this pandemic is causing, we must continue to be sensitive about how we express our thoughts and concerns,” Hadjiyianni said. “Such comments can quickly be turned into scapegoating of minorities and feed intolerance and long-existing discrimination.” He cited the OSCE PA’s Luxembourg Declaration, which called for creating a “coalition of respect by publicly speaking out against hate speech and other manifestations of intolerance.”

Zannier stressed the importance of trying to protect those who are more vulnerable because of the pandemic. He highlighted a set of recommendations by the OSCE HCNM on ensuring that COVID-19 emergency measures promote social cohesion. Responses to COVID-19 should be inclusive and sensitive to societal diversity, he said, noting that it is important for governments to prioritize protecting the economically vulnerable, maintaining zero tolerance for discrimination and xenophobia, providing public services and communications in minority languages, and upholding human rights. Areas that must be monitored, Zannier said, include discrimination and hate speech.

Al-Nashif spoke about an ‘infodemic’ related to COVID-19, with a disturbing proliferation of fake news and conspiracy theories. Making verified and credible information available to all and especially in local and minority languages has been an ongoing issue in the context of the pandemic, she said.

Highlighting positive action by governments in addressing hate speech, Al-Nashif stressed that this issue requires constant vigilance. New divisions have been created and existing ones have been accentuated, she noted, saying that the pandemic has exacerbated inequalities that were already in place. She highlighted the Black Lives Matter protests as a reminder of the need to tackle racial discrimination, pointing to an urgent session of the UN’s Human Rights Council on this topic that took place last week.

OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (Georgia) also spoke at the webinar, welcoming the commitment of parliamentarians to address these difficult issues head-on. “This is a time when such leadership has an increased potential to have real and lasting change for our societies,” he said.

In the discussion, parliamentarians explored the challenges and opportunities in diverse societies presented by COVID-19, and highlighted ways to help support social cohesion in responses to the pandemic. Participants stressed the importance of collecting disaggregated data to help ensure fact-based decision-making, and discussed the heightened health risks to minority communities and the possible impact on elections. OSCE parliamentarians stressed measures that have been taken in their countries to counteract scapegoating of minorities as well as efforts to close the digital divide to ensure that minority communities have access to information.

OSCE PA Vice-President and Rapporteur of the human rights committee Kari Henriksen (Norway) highlighted the efforts of people around the world banding together to demand equality and respect for all in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement. “This grassroots movement and wave of protests highlight the terrible consequences of intolerance and discrimination, and how much these issues can impact social cohesion and stability when they are not adequately cared for,” Henriksen said.

OSCE PA Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance Ben Cardin (United States) highlighted the importance of reforming policing to ensure that human rights are upheld.

Monday’s event was the seventh in a series of Parliamentary Web Dialogues organized by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Previous webinars have been held on the economic fallout of the pandemic, maintaining democratic control during states of emergency, COVID’s impact on conflicts in the OSCE region, environmental aspects of the crisis, protecting refugees and migrants, and gender aspects of the pandemic.

To watch the full video of Monday’s webinar, please click here.

For more on the OSCE PA’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, please click here.

###

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 323 parliamentarians from 57 countries spanning Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international co-operation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

VIENNA, 22 June 2020 – The Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council, Ambassador Igli Hasani, and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger expressed their deep concern about a recent serious incident involving threats to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) personnel and assets.

On 22 June, the SMM camera in government-controlled Shyrokyne was damaged. The SMM is currently following up on the incident to gather further details. Hasani and Greminger urged the sides to ensure the security of SMM equipment as well as its staff, so the SMM can continue to operate according to its mandate.

“There is no excuse for the deliberate destruction of OSCE equipment. This provides an essential tool for monitoring the implementation of commitments by the sides,” said Ambassador Hasani. “This is not an isolated incident. We have seen a range of incidents involving threats to the SMM’s staff, as well as the regular obstruction of its work and freedom of movement. This must stop.”

Secretary General Greminger said that this is another example of the disregard for the security of staff and equipment of the SMM. “We have seen too many cases where SMM patrols were exposed to shots and explosions, often breaching specific security commitments. More than ever, it is essential to ensure safe and unimpeded access for the Mission throughout Ukraine and respect for the equipment it needs to do its work.”

The incident follows the apparently deliberate targeting, at a relatively close range, of a camera located in non-government-controlled Petrivske on 2 June 2020.

SMM patrols have been exposed to explosions and shooting in their near vicinity on frequent occasions. SMM UAVs have also been regularly jammed and shot at and, on occasion, lost on both sides of the contact line.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

At 08:10 on 22 June, the SMM lost the video feed from its daylight camera located 1km south-west of Shyrokyne (government-controlled, 100km south of Donetsk). The camera is generally directed northwards along the contact line.

At 08:15, a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the Mission that the camera had sustained damage.

Between 10:20 and 11:42, during multiple flights, an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted that the camera was lying on the ground within the camera site perimeter (near its south-eastern corner) and that the upper part of the camera mast was lying outside the site (along its western edge) with an antenna still attached to it. The UAV also spotted that a power cable and a data transmission cable were hanging alongside the portion of the mast which remained standing.

The SMM will continue to follow up on this incident.

SKOPJE, 22 June 2020 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened a special election assessment mission (SEAM) for the 15 July 2020 early parliamentary elections in North Macedonia. The deployment follows an official invitation from the authorities of North Macedonia.

Laima Andrikiene (Lithuania) heads the mission, which consists of a core team of eight international experts based in Skopje. The ODIHR SEAM will continue the observation that began with an election observation mission (EOM) to the  early parliamentary elections scheduled for 12 April 2020, which were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mission will assess the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will follow fundamental aspects of the election such as voter registration, candidate registration, campaign activities and the media coverage of the campaign, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, implementation of the legal framework, and the resolution of election disputes. In addition, the ODIHR SEAM will monitor the media coverage of the election campaign.

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

The ODIHR SEAM will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting and tabulation proceedings on election day, in line with ODIHR’s methodology for election assessment missions. Mission members will, however, visit a limited number of polling stations on election day.

The day after the elections, ODIHR will publish its preliminary conclusions about the electoral process and present its findings at a press conference. An invitation to participate will follow separately.

A final report with an assessment of the entire election process, containing recommendations, will be published approximately two months after the end of the election process.

For further information, please visit https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/north-macedonia/ or contact Egor Tilpunov, Media Analyst, at +38972443697, or egor.tilpunov@odihr.mk

or

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson, at +48609522266 (Warsaw mobile), or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl.