Central Europe

VIENNA, 28 February 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, called today on the Ukrainian authorities to urgently find an effective solution to lift the blocking of the bank accounts of the public broadcasting company of Ukraine, UA:PBC.

According to UA:PBC, on 18 February 2020, the Department of State Executive Service (the bailiff service) at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine opened enforcement proceedings against UA:PBC, which resulted in the immediate blocking of all of its accounts. This step was reportedly taken in order to recover over 10 million euros, owed to the television channel Euronews. The debt was inherited by UA:PBC from its predecessor, the National Television Company of Ukraine, as a result of its partnership with Euronews in 2010 to establish a Euronews Ukrainian service. UA:PBC points out that the blocked bank accounts have already interrupted preparations for some important programmes and projects, including the live broadcasts of the 2020 Olympics.

“I call on the authorities to urgently explore and find effective solutions to lift the blocking of the bank accounts of UA:PBC. It is particularly important to ensure that the public broadcaster created in 2014 doesn’t bear such a burden from its predecessor, that this is detrimental to its mission and development today,” Désir said. “I underline that public service broadcasting plays an indispensable role in providing public interest programming and enhancing the professionalism of media, thereby contributing to diversity, and pluralism. This is only possible when the state secures and respects its independence and sustainability.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.

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 Mission continued to monitor the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska, saw mines and unexploded ordnance inside the disengagement area near Zolote, and recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM saw a long queue of civilians between checkpoints waiting to cross the contact line in Donetsk region.
• It facilitated localized ceasefires to enable repairs to a water pipeline near Zaitseve and power lines near Zolote-5/Mykhailivka and Vesela Hora.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Verkhnoshyrokivske in southern Donetsk region and at a border crossing point near non-government-controlled Dovzhanske in Luhansk region.

447451 Željka Šulc

A one-day training course for judges and prosecutors from across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on addressing the trafficking in human beings and related crimes was held on 28 February 2020 in Banjaluka. The training was organized by the OSCE Mission to BiH in co-operation with entity judicial and prosecutorial training centres (JPTC).

The training course aimed at increasing participants’ knowledge of processing cases related to human trafficking and related crimes. Particular focus was on recent developments in case law, and best practices in the investigation and adjudication of such cases. 

Combating human trafficking is one of the priorities of the OSCE as it affects all OSCE participating States, either as countries of origin, transit or destination. This modern form of slavery is an offence to human dignity, often involving psychological terror and physical violence. An effective investigation of human trafficking must be independent, conducted with due diligence and capable of leading to the identification and punishment of responsible individuals.

Boris Topic, Anti-trafficking Officer at the OSCE Mission to BiH, emphasized that all four legal codes in BiH have criminalized human trafficking. “However, to be effective these legislative solutions must be complemented by skilled policing, effective prosecution and the timely adjudication of trafficking cases. All forms of trafficking must be proactively investigated and victims of trafficking properly assisted.  The Mission invests a lot of effort in capacity-building activities such as this one organized in  Banjaluka in co-operation with the JPTCs in BiH.” 

The OSCE Mission’s Manual on Investigating Trafficking in Human Beings, published in February 2020, was presented to the participants during the training. The latest publication of the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings - Following the Money: A Compendium of Resources and Step-by-Step Guide to Financial Investigations Related to Trafficking in Human Beings, was also discussed.

The training course was implemented as a part of the OSCE Mission’s wider efforts to support the fight against trafficking in human beings in the country by strengthening the capacity of the relevant institutions to detect, investigate and process this crime.

OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

Preparations for the expected regular Eurasian group’s (EAG) mutual evaluation of Turkmenistan’s compliance to the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) standards on anti-money laundering and countering of financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) efforts, including 11 indicators of effectiveness and 40 technical recommendations, were the focus of an OSCE seminar from 26 to 28 February 2020 in Ashgabat. The seminar was attended by representatives of law enforcement agencies, supervisory bodies, and other relevant government and non-government agencies.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the seminar to facilitate the exchange of best practices in preparation of the EAG’s mutual evaluation process on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism, including the accumulation, analysis and compilation of quantitative and qualitative data. The seminar is a continuation of the Centre’s long-term support to the Government of Turkmenistan in advancing its AML/CFT system in compliance with FATF standards.

“In line with the OSCE strategic documents, the participating States mandated the Organization to implement activities in the area of combating money laundering and terrorist financing, including building the national capacities to implement demanding international standards and practices,” said Ivana Markovic Boskovic, Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“All 57 OSCE participating states are members of FATF, which establishes international standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing and/or one of the FATF-style regional bodies, including the Eurasian Group on Combatting Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism – to which Turkmenistan is a party,” added Markovic Boskovic. “It is our strong belief that the event will support the efforts of relevant  institutions in Turkmenistan to prepare for the EAG’s mutual evaluation this year.”

The seminar introduced participants to the key elements of the mutual evaluation process in accordance with the FATF methodology and in the data provision on technical compliance, efficiency and statistics. There was also an analysis of the conclusions of the National Risk Assessment and on the practical implementation of its recommendations. Experts from Lithuania and Belarus elaborated on the experiences of other OSCE participating States in implementing the FATF standards as well as their experiences in undergoing the EAG mutual evaluation process.

The seminar participants also discussed the importance of assessing national legislation and bringing it in compliance with the international standards.

The seminar will be followed by a roundtable discussion on 29 February 2020. During this event, members of the Inter-agency Co-ordination Working Commission on Anti-money Laundering and the Countering Financing of Terrorism will discuss the outcomes of the seminar and applying recommendations in national practice.

Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion on media legislation in Kazakhstan was held in Nur-Sultan on 28 February 2020. Some 30 government officials, representatives of international organizations, lawyers, journalists and media experts from across the country took part in the event.

The discussion focused on aspects of the country’s media legislation in anticipation of amendments to the law.

Participants prepared a list of recommendations and a "road map" for legislators and media experts to further improve media legislation in accordance with international standards of freedom of speech. Participants also discussed international and national good practices on relations between the state and media, the legislative regulation of information on the internet, new media tools, defamation, state financing of media, and other issues.

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan organized the event in co-operation with the Adil Soz International Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech and ARTICLE 19.

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

447409 Communication and Media Relations Section

At the invitation of the Standing Committee on Defence and Security of the Armenian National Assembly, some 50 representatives from oversight and government bodies, security sector institutions and civil society organizations gathered in Yerevan on 27 February 2020 to inaugurate the new national multi-stakeholder platform on democratic security sector oversight. 

Under the lead of the National Assembly, the platform enhances democratic-civilian oversight of the security sector in Armenia as a pivotal tool in building public confidence towards security institutions. As an advisory body to the Standing Committee on Defence and Security, the platform raises awareness and fosters acceptance of democratic oversight concepts, principles and mechanisms, contributes to policy development and implementation, and strengthens the capacities of all actors involved in the platform in carrying out effective control and oversight of the security sector.

“The idea of creating a multi-stakeholder platform for democratic security sector oversight is both innovative and promising,” said Rudolf Michalka, Special Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the South Caucasus. “If used genuinely, it can certainly contribute to a shared understanding, foster mutual trust, and enhance collaborations.”

“After the velvet revolution in Armenia we are not intimidated to speak openly about the issues we have in the security sector and we are trying to find efficient ways to solve them with the engagement of multiple stakeholders,” said Andranik Kocharyan, Chair of the Standing Committee on Defence and Security of the Armenian National Assembly. “By bringing together civil society, parliamentarians, and public service providers in one area, the platform will contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of both civil and parliamentary oversight by providing comprehensive and demanding security reforms.”

Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the National Security Council, said: “We are convinced that democracy is indispensable for security in Armenia. Democracy building is an important component of security. Collaborative efforts of civil society, legislative and executive branches will help enhance security.”

Kristine Poghosyan, Member of the Standing Committee on Defence and Security, highlighted that the platform will promote dialogue between the security sector and civil society, advance security sector governance and reform, and foster public understanding of oversight principles and mechanisms.

Founder and President of the Peace Dialogue NGO, Edgar Khachatryan welcomed the platform as “unique opportunity to bring forward the issues of civil society organizations in a more constructive way.”

Jennifer Croft, Acting Head of Human Rights Department of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) underlined that “the strength of this platform lies in the diversity of its membership and the rich perspectives and experiences those members bring. The priorities that have been identified are all areas where ODIHR regularly provides support to OSCE participating States.”

Strengthening security sector governance and reform is an area in which the OSCE has a long history of successfully supporting participating States.

The OSCE Secretariat together with ODIHR will provide policy and capacity-building support to the new platform as part of the extra-budgetary project “Strengthening Security Sector Governance in the Republic of Armenia”.  With the generous support of Germany and Norway, this project supports ongoing reforms in the security sector as one of the priority areas agreed with the Armenian authorities as part of the OSCE’s Armenia Co-operation Programme.

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 a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote, and recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated localized ceasefires to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. It recorded ceasefire violations while repairs were taking place.
• Members of the armed formations restricted the SMM’s freedom of movement at checkpoints near Verkhnoshyrokivske and Starolaspa, in southern Donetsk region.*

VIENNA, 27 February 2020 – Enhancing co-operation between the OSCE’s Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) and the Permanent Council (PC) in preventing and countering terrorism was the focus of a joint meeting of the FSC and PC held on 26 February in Vienna under Turkey’s FSC Chairmanship and Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship. The discussions focused on how the FSC, as the OSCE’s leading decision-making body in the politico-military sphere, can contribute, in line with its mandate and existing instruments, to the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to combating terrorism.

“As a country which has been fighting terrorism for decades, it is of utmost significance for Turkey to discuss how we can further OSCE’s efforts and co-operation among the participating States in countering terrorism,” said Chairperson of the FSC and Permanent Representative of Turkey to the OSCE Ambassador Rauf Engin Soysal as he opened the meeting.

Deputy Minister of Interior of Albania, Romina Kuko, was the first invited speaker to address the representatives of the OSCE’s 57 participating States.

“Within the existing mandate of the FSC, there are focused areas in which the military sphere can support the wider security sector effort against terrorism at home,” she said. “I would identify three areas: firstly, in addressing the challenge posed by small arms and light weapons; secondly, in contributing to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and thirdly, through the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security.”

Director General for Research and Security Affairs at Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Aylin Taşhan, drew attention to her country’s concerns in a changing security environment.

“Turkey’s geographical proximity to the conflict zone is the number one factor that should be considered in assessing Turkey's efforts to fight against terrorist organizations.  In particular, in the last six years, the regional security environment has changed considerably,” she said. “The rise of racist, extreme right wing terrorism is another source of concern for Turkey.”

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger elaborated on the OSCE’s mandate and work in countering and preventing terrorism, emphasizing the need for a “whole-of-society” approach to counter this phenomenon.

“Terrorist activity in today’s world is complex, multi-faceted and not confined to national borders. This reality requires a comprehensive, nuanced and internationally coordinated response,” he said. “The roles established under the mandates of the PC and FSC respectively have evolved over the years. Discussions today between participating States on where this evolution will take us next, are timely, and will help us to determine OSCE’s future engagement in global counter-terrorism activities.”

Colonel Kadir Özyürek, presented the work of the NATO Centre of Excellence - Defense Against Terrorism (COE-DAT), which is based in Ankara, and conducts training and capacity-building courses, among other things.

“The primary role is to support transformation activities in the Alliance, and help the Alliance adapt to newly emerging threats,” he said. “Most Centres of Excellence operate at the operational and tactical levels. However, the COE-DAT conducts activities at the operational and strategic levels.”

447370 Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir (l), Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and Valery Kalinkovich (r), First Deputy Chairperson of the Supreme Court of Belarus, opening the rule of law conference in Minsk. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Greater efforts and co-operation are needed to achieve a more independent justice system, educate citizens about human rights and strengthen women’s leadership in Belarus, said Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), addressing participants at a rule of law conference in Minsk on 27 February 2020.

“ODIHR and the Belarusian authorities have built up a solid partnership over the last three years, and I believe that continued co-operation would be mutually beneficial,” said Gísladóttir. “At the same time, it is clear that much remains to be done to address the current shortcomings in the protection of human rights and judicial independence, as well as to fully engage civil society in this process. Our further co-operation therefore depends on the development of more ambitious activities to strengthen democratic institutions, judicial independence and human rights.”

The conference in Minsk marked the conclusion of the two-year ODIHR project “Promoting Democratization and Human Rights in Belarus” funded by the European Union. The event, co-organized by ODIHR, the Supreme Court of Belarus and the Council of Europe, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, focused on access to justice in civil and commercial disputes.

“We have touched upon a whole range of topics that are relevant for us today, and an active exchange of opinions, ideas and experiences between representatives of our legal system and legal systems of other states, and representatives of international organizations, took place throughout the project,” said Valery Kalinkovich, First Deputy Chairperson of the Supreme Court. “During today’s conference we will jointly develop certain recommendations, which will be used as part of future work on OSCE projects.”

The project’s rule of law activities included seminars and study visits, focusing on issues such as e-justice, appeals and cassation procedures, juvenile justice, as well as access to court, facilitating in this way the respect of the right to a fair trial of Belarusian citizens. These seminars and study visits benefited more than 200 legal professionals, both women and men, from across the country.

As part of the project, ODIHR also provided expert assistance to Belarus in setting priorities for human rights education. The Office has been training Belarusian experts and supporting the development of human rights education curricula with teaching tools for secondary general, vocational and specialized secondary, university and post-diploma educational levels. ODIHR supports human rights education that helps raise respectful, caring and active individuals ready to stand for their own rights and the rights of others; it is a way to build up a human rights culture that makes schools and universities safer, more democratic and open.

Strengthening the leadership abilities of women and gender equality advocates was another focus of the project. This included activities to support women’s leadership in parliament, on the local level, and among young women. These activities showed that ODIHR interventions could assist young women in breaking the glass ceiling and pursuing their careers and dreams to their full potential, building a momentum for change within the whole society.

The project`s objective was to assist Belarus in meeting its OSCE commitments in the areas of the rule of law, human rights and the equal participation of women in democratic processes. The project was implemented in co-operation with the ministries of foreign affairs, education and labour, and the Supreme Court and with the support of the EU. ODIHR`s assistance to Belarus was based on its mandate to defend democracy and the Office’s extensive experience in democratization and human rights work across the OSCE region.

Communication and Media Relations Section

The OSCE is one step further in eradicating exploitation from its electronics supply chains, having joined Electronics Watch, the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, announced on 27 February 2020. This independent watchdog will be monitoring the production locations of electronics hardware procured and engaging with the industry. The OSCE is setting in practice its policy of transparency in purchasing procedures.

Established in 2015, Electronics Watch is an independent non-profit and non-governmental monitoring organization. Its mission is helping contracting authorities to work together with human rights experts, global supply chains, and civil-society partners to protect workers in the production regions.

By affiliating to Electronics Watch, the OSCE illustrates one of its commitments: envisioning a supply chain system in which the rights of all workers are being respected, their voices are being heard and their working conditions are safe, decent and free from any form of trafficking and exploitation.

“This is an important step, that the OSCE as a promotor of policies on prevention of human trafficking in public sector supply chains also took the strategic decision to ensure that its own supply chains and procurement practices do not contribute to human trafficking,” said Julia Rutz, Senior Adviser with the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

In practice, this means that the electronics supply chains connected to OSCE procurement - from mining to manufacturing – will be monitored to ensure:

• Purchasers exercise social responsibility and have a measurable and positive impact on the workers manufacturing the goods they buy;

• Civil-society organizations and unions help workers in accessing their rights;

• Employers fully respect all applicable national and international labour rights and safety standards;

• Brands and resellers disclose their suppliers' names and compliance data as fully as possible.

In the future, regional risk assessments for regions of production, compliance investigations of major suppliers, and a succinct action guide will form part of the OSCE’s engagement with suppliers.

MINSK, 27 February 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 meeting of the TCG ‎and its working groups in Minsk on 26 February 2020:

“Ceasefire is a key provision of the Minsk agreements. In this context, recent events are alarming.

Last week, we all witnessed an exceptional spike in ceasefire violations in the Luhansk region, including with the use of Minsk-prohibited weapons. Once again, the civilian population has paid a heavy price. It is unacceptable.

Referring to the TCG statements as of 17 July and 18 December 2019, I once again call on the sides to remain committed to comprehensive ceasefire.

Along with the general security situation in the conflict zone, the Security Working Group focused on the issues related to the definition of additional areas for the disengagement of forces and hardware. The sides dedicated a lot of time and effort to this issue, but it still requires further elaboration.

Mine action issues were also raised. I would like to remind you that mines are still the main cause of casualties among civilians – this year, eight out of 14 victims.

The Humanitarian Working Group discussed questions regarding the exchange of detainees, ways to ensure an effective search for missing persons as well as the possibilities of opening new crossing points across the line of contact.

The Economic Working Group paid particular attention to the issues related to pension payments and water supplies in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR).

The Political Working Group focused on issues related to the special status of CADR and CALR as well as the implementation of the ‘Steinmeier formula’ into Ukrainian legislation.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote, and recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle spotted anti-tank mines near Luhanske, some of which were about 150m from residential houses.
• The SMM facilitated localized ceasefires to enable repairs to and operation of critical civilian infrastructure, including repairs of water pipelines in Zaitseve.
• Members of the armed formations restricted the SMM’s freedom of movement at checkpoints in Verkhnoshyrokivske, Prymorske and Sosnivske, all in southern Donetsk region, and at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka in Luhansk region.*

MOSCOW, 26 February 2020 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Albania’s Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Edi Rama had a frank and constructive discussion today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, on a number of key issues that affect security in the OSCE region. The meeting took place during Rama’s first official visit to Moscow as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

Rama welcomed Russia’s ongoing engagement with the Organization to tackle the security challenges facing the region. He said that sustained dialogue and sincere co-operation between governments, a credible effort to adhere to and implement international commitments, and putting people at the heart of efforts towards making a difference on the ground, are required.

“The crisis in and around Ukraine is today the most pressing security challenge in Europe. Addressing this is a top priority for Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship, not least to stabilize the security situation and ease the hardship of civilians living in conflict-affected areas in eastern Ukraine,” Rama stated.

Rama also said that the Albanian OSCE Chairmanship will support the way forward for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. “In doing so, we will do our utmost to ensure respect for OSCE principles and commitments. And we will strongly encourage the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements, supporting the efforts of the Trilateral Contact Group and the process of the Normandy Format.” He stressed the importance of continuing to build on the positive steps made in the last months, including at the Paris Normandy Summit.

Emphasizing his full support to the work of the dedicated women and men of theOSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Rama said: “The Mission needs to be given safe, secure and unhindered access in order to fully implement its mandate, together with the necessary support and resources it requires.”

Russia’s efforts in co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group and engagement in the Transdniestrian Settlement Process were appreciated. According to Rama, it is vital for Moscow to maintain its constructive support of, and engagement in the Geneva International Discussions and in the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meetings in Ergneti. “Russia is a key participant in the relevant negotiating formats. I trust that it can use its influence to move us closer to peace,” Rama said further.  

The Albanian OSCE Chairmanship is also looking to Russia to engage substantively on OSCE discussions on arms control and confidence-building measures in the year ahead, especially on the Vienna Document and the Structured Dialogue process.

The discussion between Rama and Lavrov also touched on transnational threats such as violent extremism and terrorism, challenges posed by cyber/ICT threats, corruption, as well as the need of all participating States to promote tolerance and non-discrimination related to human rights.

“In the end, the OSCE can only be as strong as the shared political will and determination of its participating States,” said the Chairperson-in-Office. “The Organization functions by consensus. So finding and delivering effective responses to our challenges is a collective responsibility that we must all embrace.”

Communication and Media Relations Section

The practical implementation of intelligence-led policing (ILP) as a modern and proactive approach to law enforcement was the focus of an OSCE training workshop that took place on 25 and 26 February 2020 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Some 40 senior law enforcement representatives from Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia attended the event organized by the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department.

Participants discussed ILP implementation at the national as well as community levels, criminal intelligence databases and IT systems supporting ILP, and the use of ILP in tasking, co-ordination and decision-making processes. The model recommended in the OSCE Guidebook on Intelligence-Led Policing was also presented. Expert guest speakers came from the law enforcement agencies of Estonia, the Netherlands, Serbia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

“Crime has become more complex than before and so has criminal investigation. We believe that introducing ILP in Iceland would enhance the quality as well as effectiveness and efficiency of our law enforcement operations,” said Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Iceland’s Justice Minister, at the start of the workshop.

Guy Vinet, Acting Co-ordinator of OSCE Activities to Address Transnational Threats, added: “Law enforcement agencies across the entire world face at least one common challenge when combating a crime: limited time and resources. Sound planning and decision-making is essential for the police to successfully fulfill its mission and ILP provides tools for achieving this goal.”

The event was a part of a series of training workshops organized by the Strategic Police Matters Unit under its ILP project that aims to raise awareness about the benefits of proactive policing and to promote a common and coherent approach to ILP implementation in the OSCE area.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission saw damage to a residential building in non-government-controlled Holubivske, reportedly from shelling on 18 February, and saw fresh craters in non-government controlled Oleksandrivka.
• It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM saw three weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM facilitated localized ceasefires to enable a transfer of human remains from government- to non-government-controlled areas, as well as to enable repairs to critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Verkhnoshyrokivske, Novoazovsk and Shcherbak in southern Donetsk region, and at border crossing points near Izvaryne and Sievernyi in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.*

25 February 2020 – In order to fight the disinformation and fake news that permeates the media environment and results in the erosion of confidence, polarization of politics and widespread confusion on important matters, OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (Georgia) has appointed Oscar Mina (San Marino) as Special Rapporteur on Disinformation and Propaganda. 

“Disinformation and propaganda have become new tools in hybrid warfare. Through the use of new technology, they are increasingly damaging the credibility of journalism and posing a serious danger to democracy and its core values,” President Tsereteli said. “Parliamentarians can play a crucial role in fighting this phenomenon and promoting cybersecurity in both national and international fora, by developing new policies and legislation and by creating a positive environment for good information to spread.” 

Tsereteli expressed appreciation for the continued involvement of San Marino in fighting disinformation on the international stage and in the Parliamentary Assembly, first with former Head of Delegation Luca Santolini serving as Special Rapporteur and now Oscar Mina. A high-level conference on the dangers of disinformation took place in San Marino on 10 May 2019, with OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella addressing the participants. 

Working in close co-operation with the OSCE PA’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, the Special Rapporteur on Disinformation and Propaganda:

• Represents the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly at relevant international conferences;
• Promotes partnerships with the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media as well as the OSCE Chairmanship, other OSCE executive structures and with relevant international stakeholders on issues related to the promotion of media literacy and resilience to misinformation;
• Informs the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly of steps taken to counteract disinformation including related to strengthening national legislation to promote high-quality journalism, developing norms and standards that apply equally to both traditional and digital platforms, and encouraging accurate and diverse media content, while ensuring compliance with international legal guarantees of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of the media;
• Considers relevant developments in the OSCE region and advises the President on any further steps to be taken.

 Mina, a former Captain Regent (Head of State) of the Republic of San Marino, has been a member of parliament since 2006.

COPENHAGEN, 25 February 2020 – Following up on the special debate on combating anti-Semitism, discrimination and intolerance at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Winter Meeting on 21 February, the leaders of the PA’s human rights committee today recalled the importance of discrimination and extremism being high on the international agenda. They condemned the attacks in Hanau, Germany, on 19 February, and noted that they serve as a tragic reminder of the need for all public figures to renounce intolerance.

Today Chair Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus), Vice-Chair Michael Georg Link (Germany), and Rapporteur Kari Henriksen (Norway) issued the following joint statement: “As last Friday’s debate in Vienna demonstrated, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is a powerful forum for sharing best practices and experiences in counteracting intolerance and extremist violence. We in the OSCE PA’s human rights committee underline that all Members of the Parliamentary Assembly should continue this work in their home countries, speaking out against intolerance and building bridges with marginalized communities. Politicians and leaders cannot remain complacent and allow discriminatory rhetoric to be normalized. Racist speech leads to hate, and hate leads to violence.”

Rapporteur Kari Henriksen is preparing a report and draft resolution for the OSCE PA’s Annual Session in Vancouver this summer. Presenting her ideas for the report last week, she said: “Intolerance takes many forms. Racism, anti-Semitism, bias against Muslims, against Christians, against non-believers, against Roma, against people with disabilities, based on sexual orientation, and, of course, bias based on gender. None of these is acceptable, and we must all work to fight this. We must raise knowledge, encourage inter-religious dialogues and implement legislation against hate – violence and hate speech.”

Watch the special debate on combating anti-Semitism and intolerance here.

447097 Andrii Dziubenko Promoting a culture of dialogue How, When, Where Does Dialogue Work? Practical Guide

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, the National Agency of Ukraine for Civil Service, online studio EdEra and Ukrainian School of Governance presented a training programme on improving skills in conflict management and engaging stakeholders in implementing reforms at an event in Kyiv on 25 February 2020. The programme is aimed at public servants of central governmental agencies and local authorities in Ukraine.

The programme, which will become an integral part of the re-training curriculum for public servants, includes an online course and a two-day in-classroom training. Certificates will be given to those who complete both courses. The online tool is open for all and can be used by prospective civil servants as part of their preparation when applying for a government job.

The training courses draw on cases relevant to civil service and will enable participants to identify, analyze and understand conflicts and select the best approach when handling them, including mediation and dialogue.

“Dialogue is an instrument enabling a safe space communication, where participants can overcome emotional barriers and mistrust, address concerns or resistance to change and establish constructive interaction in conflict situations. The training will contribute to developing skills that can help enhance social cohesion in the country,” said Henrik Villadsen, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine developed the training programme with financial support from the Government of Bulgaria, Global Affairs Canada, Governments of Japan, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

SUMMARY

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

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international 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.

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 10,148 to 10,616 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[1].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 61 per day for both BCPs.

The Donetsk BCP continued to experience much more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs was 15, compared to five last week, 11 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and four into Ukraine (93 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP). They continued to cross the border individually or in groups. Most individuals crossed on foot, however, some made use of private vehicles, buses or minivans, making it more difficult for the observer teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border, especially since some of the private vehicles had tinted windows, and buses and minivans had drawn curtains.

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, four families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and one family was observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when six families were observed crossing to the Russian Federation and no families 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. In addition to regular bus connections, the OTs continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the buses did not state their route; instead they had a sign on the windshield stating “irregular”.

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a slight increase in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (450 compared to 446 observed during the previous week). There were 230 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 220 bound for Ukraine.

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

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (683 compared to 712 during the previous reporting week); 331 at the Gukovo BCP and 352 at the Donetsk BCP, 341 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 342 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 Belarus, the Russian Federation and 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 40 to 36. 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 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 decreased from 143 to 115. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 107 trucks (93 per cent) were bound for Ukraine: the remaining eight trucks (7 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 frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. Compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans decreased from 113 to 100 vehicles; 51 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 49 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 seven occasions; the OTs assessed that six trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and one 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 18 February at 15:09, an ambulance with “LPR” plates was observed arriving at the Donetsk BCP from Ukraine. While undergoing border procedures, a driver, a medic and one passenger were observed. The ambulance had the inscription “Reanimation” written in Russian on the side. At 15:32, the vehicle crossed the border to the Russian Federation. Later at 19:20, the same ambulance was observed crossing back to Ukraine.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 21 January to 25 February 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).                              

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Between the evenings of 21 and 22 February, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period.
• Between the evenings of 22 and 23 February, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• The SMM saw damage from gunfire to residential buildings in non-government-controlled Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, Luhansk region, and Oleksandrivka, Donetsk region.
• It continued monitoring the security situation in the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line in Luhansk region.
• It facilitated localized ceasefires to enable repairs to critical civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Repairs near Holubivske were interrupted due to the high number of ceasefire violations heard from the area.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Verkhnoshyrokivske and Starolaspa, in southern Donetsk region.*