Central Europe

439862 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

An OSCE-supported seminar on the presentation of manuals on how to work in the rehabilitation of returning foreign terrorist fighters and their families took place on 22 November 2019 in Nur-Sultan.

The manuals were developed with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan together with the Regional Office of Penal Reform International (PRI) in Central Asia, and the Government of the United Kingdom.

Some 30 officials from the Anti-terrorism Centre of the National Security Committee and the Committee on Child Protection of the Ministry of Education and Science gathered to discuss methods and practices applied in the rehabilitation of returnees from conflict zones where terrorist organizations are operating.

Presentations included key areas and methods for assessing the risks and needs of working with women and child returnees from conflict zones, as well as the rehabilitation programmes for foreign terrorist fighters and their families.

The event was part of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan’s long-term support to projects in the host country that aim at countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism.

VIENNA, 21 November 2019 – Not only the physical safety but also the legal safety of journalists needs to be protected, said OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir as he presented his biannual report to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today.

“One year ago the 57 participating States adopted a Ministerial Council decision on the safety of journalists. But it is clear that we still have a lot to do to ensure the full implementation of this landmark decision. The truth is that many journalists and media workers are still being harassed and assaulted just for doing their work, for reporting on issues of public interest, publishing their free opinion, and fulfilling their function as an institution of democracy,” said Désir.

Désir noted that in the past five months of this reporting period (5 July-21 November 2019) he intervened on situations related to the physical safety of 69 journalists and made 51 interventions on cases related to the legal safety of journalists, including 23 cases of new detentions of journalists and media workers, and 13 new court proceedings. 

He welcomed the release, or the acquittal, of several journalists on behalf of whom he had intervened in the past, including in Turkey: Kadri Gürsel, Musa Kart, the whole team of Cumhuriyet, Erol Önderoğlu and Fatih Polat; in Ukraine: Kirill Vyshinsky; and in the Russian Federation: Oleg Sentsov and Roman Sushchenko.

“But these advances have been shown to be fragile when the reforms of the legal framework to protect media freedom are not completed. I am deeply concerned by the re-arrest of Ahmet Altan in Turkey last week, as well as the continued detentions of Afgan Mukhtarli in Azerbaijan and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s contributor Stanislav Aseev in the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic”; and the prosecution of Radio Ekho Moskvy’s Svetlana Prokopyeva in Russia,” said Désir.

“I will continue to call for their release and the dropping of charges against them and all imprisoned journalists in the OSCE region.”

The Representative called on participating States to improve their national legislation to protect journalists.

“Most of the situations on which I intervened show that legislative and judicial reforms are needed, and must be completed, to ensure the real protection of journalists’ rights and full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. I call on all participating States to reinforce our co-operation in this regard.”

The Representative’s full report is available here: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/439613

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 fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
• The construction work at Stanytsia Luhanska Bridge was finalized; civilians started walking over the new section of the bridge while travelling towards government-controlled areas and in the opposite direction.        
• The SMM received a Note Verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and a notification from the armed formations about the completion of demining activities inside the Petrivske disengagement area.
• The SMM continued to monitor the security situation inside and near the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repair works to power lines near non-government-controlled Spartak, in Donetsk region.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement continued, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Shevchenko and Verkhnoshyrokivske.

439727 Marina Živaljević

Defence against violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism requires an integrated approach, and educators are at the forefront of the defence against violent extremism tendencies. This was concluded at the workshop “Prevention of Violent Extremism and Radicalization Leading to Terrorism for Primary and Secondary School Professors”, organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, on 19 and 20 November 2019 in Bijelo Polje and Bar.

The National Co-ordinator for Combating Violent Extremism and the Ministry of Education co-organized the workshop, which gathered 80 teachers from across Montenegro. Assessing risks and mechanisms to prevent and combat violent extremism, online radicalization and the misuse of social networks were the focus of the training. Emphasis was put on how the internet can be used to promote violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism.

Joh Corrigan, the Mission’s Programme Manager for Security and Co-operation, said that violent extremism has become a serious threat facing societies across the world. “In the face of such threats, there is no single solution. Security responses are important, but not sufficient.  We need soft power, such as education. In particular, we need relevant, inclusive and equitable quality education,” said Corrigan.

Corrigan said that education is a tool to prevent violent extremism. “The OSCE seeks to assist countries to deliver education programmes that build young people’s resilience to violent extremist messaging and foster a positive sense of identity and belonging. This work must be undertaken here in Montenegro.”

Dragan Pejanović, Montenegrin Interior Ministry State Secretary and National Co-ordinator for Combating Violent Extremism, said that teachers and professors have personal contact with young people. “They provide a safe space that can foster a sense of inclusion and critical thinking. It is the best line of defence against violent extremism tendencies that threaten the rule of law,” said Pejanović.

Marash Dukaj, Director-General of the Education of Members of Minority Peoples and Other National Communities Directorate in the Education Ministry, said that education is the best non-violent method that encourages positive change and affects society and the life of each individual. “That is why it is important to focus on working with children, young people and adults, especially those who are members of vulnerable categories, but also working with professionals,” said Dukaj.

The seminar, led by Marija Đorić, research associate at the Institute for Political Studies in Belgrade, was the part of Mission’s support to the Montenegrin Interior Ministry in implementing priorities of the National Action Plan for 2019.

439754 Communication and Media Relations Section

Good practices, challenges and lessons learned in law enforcement training and education, in particular with regard to the impact of modern technology and the role of women, is the focus of the second meeting of OSCE Police Academies Network (PAN), which brought together more than 40 participants to Vienna on 20 November 2019.

“Digitalization has transformed many aspects of our life, including professional education and training,” said Roman Gajdosech, representative of the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship. “To maximize the benefits of new innovative tools offered by modern technologies, co-operation and collaboration among law enforcement training institutions – be it online or offline – through networks such as PAN is essential.”

Guy Vinet, head of OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Strategic Police Matters Unit (SPMU), added: “Our societies are evolving with more and more engagement of women and efforts towards gender equality. This has to be reflected in police forces and therefore in police training and education.”

Launched by the SPMU in June 2018, PAN aims at promoting and facilitating international co-operation in law enforcement training and education.

The pilot phase of the project started in early 2017, when an online platform was made available to a number of law enforcement education and training institutions in OSCE participating States. The platform was created on the OSCE’s POLIS e-platform and it offered a complete overview of education and training sources, facilitating the exchange and mutual use of existing resources, including curricula, modules, training material and expertise within law enforcement training institutions in the OSCE area.

Since its inception, the PAN has been intended as a complementary tool to the Law Enforcement Training Network – LE TrainNet Initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. In addition, PAN also co-operates with INTERPOL and the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL).

439853 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

An OSCE-supported sub-regional workshop under the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) project on improving mining and tailings safety, with a special attention to transboundary implications, concluded on 21 November 2019 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The event, co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan in partnership with the UNECE and Kazakhstan’s Water Initiatives Centre, brought together some 65 government officials from Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan.

UNECE experts presented final and interim results of UNECE projects on strengthening the safety of mining operations, focusing on tailings management facilities in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. The officials from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan shared information and experiences on mine tailings safety: achievements, lessons learned, challenges and countries’ needs.  The event also focused on improving awareness on linkages with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, its Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.

The sub-regional workshop is part of the OSCE Programme Office’s continuous efforts to promote the implementation of international conventions in Kazakhstan, as well as to support the OSCE environmental security concept and disaster risk reduction management in the country.

This report is for the media and the general public.

SUMMARY

On 21 November at 06:30 (Moscow time), the ninetieth[1] Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of eight vehicles were checked by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers prior to their crossing into Ukraine. All eight vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 11:25 on 21 November.

DETAIL

Leaving the Russian Federation

On 21 November at 06:30, the Observer Mission observed the arrival of a Russian convoy at the gate of the Donetsk BCP. The convoy consisted of eight vehicles: one escort car and seven civilian cargo trucks. Out of the seven cargo trucks, only two bore the inscription “Humanitarian aid from the Russian Federation” (in Russian). At 06:30, the vehicles entered the customs control area. Once the convoy arrived, the vehicles were visually checked from the outside by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers. The truck drivers rolled up/opened the tarpaulins of the trucks and the border guards and customs officials performed a visual observation from the outside. Two dogs were present and used by Russian Federation border guards to check the vehicles from the outside.

Four Ukrainian border guards and two customs officers were observed accompanying their Russian counterparts; they also performed a visual observation of the vehicles from the outside (without entering the trucks’ cargo space). They had clipboards in their hands and were taking notes. By 06:35, all of the vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine.

Returning to the Russian Federation

At 11:20, the convoy returned and queued in the customs area. The Russian Federation border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy from the outside. Ukrainian representatives – three border guards and two customs officers – were present during this check. The Ukrainian officials also performed visual checks of the trucks from the outside. One dog was present and used by Russian Federation border guards to check the vehicles from the outside. By 11:25, all eight vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation.

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

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM continued to monitor the situation at the Petrivske disengagement area.
• The Mission observed ongoing dismantling of defensive positions and demining activities in the Zolote disengagement area.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the Mission continued to observe construction works at the broken section of the bridge.
• The SMM observed six weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement continued in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, including in Hryhorivka and Shevchenko, at checkpoints near Zaichenko and Bezimenne, and at a weapons permanent storage site.

439655 Communication and Media Relations Section

How to strengthen critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks is being  explored at a three-day regional expert workshop for national representatives from eight OSCE participating States in South-Eastern Europe, which opened on 19 November 2019 in Skopje.

The workshop engages more than 40 experts from international and regional organizations, research institutes and the private sector, and focuses on current initiatives and challenges to respective national strategies on protecting critical infrastructure. The event aims to give an overview of the threat landscape for different critical sectors, including so called “soft” targets, highlighting both physical and cyber threats.

It is organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Action against Terrorism Unit, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, and in close partnership with the UN Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UNCTED), INTERPOL, and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).

“Terrorist attacks around the world have shown that critical infrastructure and “soft” targets are more vulnerable than ever, which require states to develop action plans and programs,” said Viktor Dimovski, Director of the National Security Agency of North Macedonia.

The workshop aims at supporting OSCE participating States in implementing UN Security Council resolution 2341 (2017), which calls on Member States to address the danger of terrorist attacks against critical infrastructure and consider measures in developing national strategies and policies, in addition to other relevant resolutions. Throughout the workshop, experts have been using the UN Compendium of Good Practices on the Protection of Critical Infrastructure against Terrorist Attacks as a guidance tool.

“The OSCE has been a key partner in providing technical assistance and advice on the implementation of international anti-terrorism commitments and supporting the development of action plans across the region,” said Ambassador Clemens Koja, Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje. “The OSCE will continue to work on preventing and combating terrorism in all its forms,” he added.  

“UNCTED has conducted country assessments around the world, on behalf of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee, which enabled us to identify good practices in States’ efforts to protect critical infrastructure and soft targets against terrorist attacks but there’s a further need to exchange experiences and lessons learned between States, including at regional level, which is one of the main objectives of these workshops” said Ms. Anne-Maria Seesmaa, Legal Officer at UNCTED.

Both speakers and participants reiterated the need for multi-agency co-operation on all levels. Fejzo Numanaj, Acting Head of the Action against Terrorism Unit, added “ensuring national resilience has now become an international responsibility and the OSCE is well placed to act as a regional facilitator and force multiplier by offering a platform to exchange good practices and expertise”.

The OSCE plans to conduct additional regional workshops across the OSCE area in 2020 in co-operation with international and regional partners, as part of the Biannual Action Plan recently concluded with the UNOCT.

VIENNA, 20 November 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, reiterated his call today on the Russian parliament to withdraw the draft law which extends the status of a “media outlet - foreign agent” to individuals.

The draft law, which passed its second reading yesterday, allows government authorities to label individuals as “foreign agents” when they publish (off- or online) information, like written texts or audiovisual material, for a broader public, and receive any funding or other assets from foreign or international governmental and non-governmental sources.

The draft law would impose significant administrative burdens upon the concerned individuals and media organizations. It would also tighten the punishment for non-compliance with the new regulations, including by immediate blocking of access to the online materials when information is disseminated without the notification of having originated from a “foreign agent”.

“This draft law represents a disproportionate interference in the freedom of expression and media freedom,” said Désir. “It may have a considerable chilling effect on journalists, as well as on bloggers, experts, or other individuals publishing information, particularly online. I call on the State Duma to drop the proposed amendments.”

Earlier in January 2018, Désir criticized the draft law after it passed the first reading (see https://www.osce.org/fom/368161).

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He/she 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 facebook.com/osce.rfom.

WARSAW, 20 November 2019 – Thirty years after the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) calls on governments to take greater responsibility for the wellbeing of children living in their countries, wherever they come from and however long they will be there.

“The Convention on the Rights of the Child was a true milestone in pushing the rights of the world’s youngest citizens further up the international agenda,” said ODIHR Director Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir. “But the dire situation of many migrant children shows that the Convention is not yet a reality for all. We are seeing children detained, separated from their families, and at risk of trafficking and abuse. Nobody can say this is putting the interests of children first.”

Children are increasingly becoming a key feature of global migration, with 30 million worldwide having fled violence and insecurity in their home country or the place in which they last lived. Many continue to have their rights denied, including routine detention for immigration purposes.  There is increasing evidence that detention has a detrimental and lasting effect on children’s wellbeing, leading to proposals it should be considered illegal at all times under international law.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child obliges countries to put the best interest of the child at the centre of their decisions. This includes prioritizing children’s rights over any immigration-related procedure or their legal status to ensure they have access to healthcare, education and housing.

Migrating makes people vulnerable, whoever they are. In the case of child migrants, whether they are with their families or travelling alone, even greater care needs to be taken to ensure that children are safe and their rights respected. Their integration into their country of destination depends on governments taking responsibility for their wellbeing, and ensuring they are not marginalized or discriminated against, or exploited.

ODIHR works with countries across the OSCE region to help them develop alternatives to immigration detention for both children and families. ODIHR also helps countries to ensure respect for the human rights of migrant children who may be at risk in the place they have arrived from and therefore cannot be returned, for example by discussing ways of legalizing their status. Through its work in this area, ODIHR contributes to making the pledges contained in the Convention a reality for every child.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued to monitor the situation at the Petrivske and Zolote disengagement areas.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the Mission continued to observe construction works at the broken section of the bridge.
• The SMM observed four weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.
• The SMM saw for the first time unexploded ordnance on a road between the entry-exit checkpoint near Pyshchevyk and checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement continued, including at checkpoints near government-controlled Nevelske and non-government-controlled Boikivske and Sosnivske, as well as near border crossing points in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.

439646 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Following elections held in Ukraine in 2019, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has published reports on the two-round presidential election and the early parliamentary elections.

The presidential election was competitive and fundamental freedoms were generally respected, the observers concluded. In the run-up to the election, the law was often not implemented in good faith, which weakened trust in the election administration, enforcement of campaign finance rules and the effectiveness of election dispute resolution. Candidates could campaign freely, but numerous and credible indications of misuse of state resources and vote buying undermined the credibility of the process. The media landscape and campaign coverage reflected the dominance of economic interests in public and political life, and the campaign for both rounds lacked genuine discussion on issues of public concern. 

In the early parliamentary elections, fundamental rights and freedoms were also overall respected and the campaign was competitive, despite certain malpractices observed, ODIHR reported. The electoral administration was competent and effective despite the short time available to prepare the elections. Nonetheless, the campaign was marked by widespread vote buying, misuse of the advantages by incumbent officials, and the practice of exploiting legislative loopholes, skewing the equality of opportunity for contestants. Intertwined business and political interests dictated the media coverage of elections and allowed for the misuse of political finance, including at local level. 

Key recommendations from both reports include:

• Adopting a unified election code applicable to all types of elections through an inclusive process, following consultations with relevant stakeholders. 
• Revising the method of formation of district and precinct election commissions, including by introducing a maximum number of members corresponding to real needs, limiting the possibility of replacement of commissioners and introducing compulsory training and certification.
• Eliminating concurrent jurisdiction for electoral dispute resolution, providing for a simpler and more coherent process.
• Strengthening legal provisions on electoral offences, including on vote buying, and providing for proportionate and dissuasive sanctions.
• Safeguarding a clear separation between the official rights and responsibilities of the incumbents and their functions as candidates.
• Strengthening the legal framework on campaign finance to ensure that third-party financing and in-kind contributions do not circumvent regulations and reporting requirements.
• Safeguarding the public broadcaster’s editorial independence by providing it with sufficient funding and granting it full financial autonomy.
• Ensuring effective measures to protect journalists, in particular those who investigate and report on matters of public interest, from attacks and any obstacles to their activities.

ODIHR deployed an Election Observation Mission on 6 February 2019 to observe the presidential election, and a mission of the same format was deployed on 11 June 2019 to follow the conduct of the early parliamentary elections. All 57 participating States across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

TIRANA, 19 November 2019 – OSCE PA President George Tsereteli and Secretary General Roberto Montella have concluded an official visit to Albania, as it prepares to assume the OSCE Chairmanship in 2020.

In Tirana, the PA Delegation held meetings with President of the Republic Ilir Meta, Prime Minister Edi Rama, Speaker of the Assembly Gramoz Ruci, members of the Assembly and with representatives of the political opposition. In addition, they also held briefings with the OSCE Head of Presence, Ambassador Bernd Borchardt and members of the international community.

Discussions focused on priorities for the incoming Albanian Chairmanship, as well as Albania’s foreign policy priorities and issues on its domestic agenda. In this regard, President Tsereteli and SG Montella reiterated the full support of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and welcomed the government’s commitment to nurture the OSCE in a spirit of collective responsibility. President Tsereteli also encouraged all political forces to join efforts in contributing to the country’s commitment to guide the OSCE next year.

The PA delegation also discussed with Albanian counterparts domestic challenges. In particular, the sides discussed the state of judicial and electoral reforms and the need to address the OSCE/ODIHR’s recommendations through an inclusive process.

“I can confirm that the PA is committed to supporting Albania unleash its full potential during its OSCE Chairmanship,” President Tsereteli said. “I encourage to address the gap in the reform process as soon as possible, particularly in the judicial and electoral fields. I see an urgent need to increase public trust in institutions.”

The decision by the European Union to postpone a decision on accession negotiations was also addressed in the context of ongoing and outstanding reforms.

The OSCE PA delegation also met with representatives of parliamentary opposition groups, including Rudina Hajdari, Nimet Musaj and Adriatik Alimadhi, as well as with representatives of the extra parliamentary opposition, including the leader of the Democratic Party Luzlim Basha, Chairman of the Republican Party Fatmir Mediu and leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration Party Monika Kryemadhi.

Secretary General Montella took note of the opposition’s criticism of the government and some international organizations active in the country, He encouraged, however, the extra parliamentary opposition to lend a constructive contribution to ensure that the 2020 OSCE Albanian Chairmanship is carried out in a spirit of national unity and responsible leadership of the organization in order to address effectively the needs of the citizens the OSCE serves.

“I appeal to all institutional, political and national stakeholders to prioritize the notion of strategic and collective responsibility,” Montella said. “I am convinced that this is the best medium term investment for Albania.”

Photos of the visit are available on Flickr.

439769 Participants in the high-level panel (left to right): Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Audrey Glover, Former Director of ODIHR and Head of ODIHR election observation missions, Anne Brasseur, Former President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and former Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg, and Ilze Brands-Kehris, Member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

New trends in elections and international best practices for observing them were the topics of a high-level panel discussion during an annual meeting on the implementation of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, which was hosted by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw on 20 and 21 November 2019.

During the meeting, representatives of 28 endorsing organizations reaffirmed the values and importance of international election observation and discussed ways to increase professionalism and impartiality in this field.

“The 2019 Implementation Meeting is a unique opportunity for organizations with established methodologies for election observation to reaffirm our common principles and learn from each other’s experiences,” said Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of ODIHR. “Regular exchanges of good practice among partner organizations help international election observation remain relevant in a fast-changing world.”

The event featured six thematic sessions focusing on the follow-up to electoral recommendations, the electoral participation of people with disabilities, the use of technology in elections, the role of social media, electoral justice and citizen observation of elections.

The Declaration was originally signed by 22 organizations at a ceremony hosted by the United Nations on 27 October 2005 and led by then-U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former U.S President Jimmy Carter, and NDI Chairperson and former U.S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. It has by now been endorsed by 54 organizations, including ODIHR.

Organizations that have endorsed the Declaration and the accompanying Code of Conduct pledge their commitment to assuring integrity and transparency in international election observation. They agree to use these documents as guiding principles in their work, looking to them to address key issues such as the purpose, scope and conduct of missions and the importance of harmonizing assessment criteria among groups.

This report is for the media and the general public.

SUMMARY

KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week. The eighty-ninth Russian convoy crossed into Ukraine and returned through the Donetsk BCP.

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 slightly increased from 11,141 to 11,177 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 63 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 11 this week compared to 32 last week: seven of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and four into Ukraine (55 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, two families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and nine were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when five families were observed crossing to the Russian Federation and seven to 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 an increase in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (483 compared to 457 observed during the previous week). There were 251 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 232 bound for Ukraine. Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes or destinations were noted: Kyiv and Stakhanov – Kyiv.

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 903 trucks (compared to 770 during the previous reporting week) crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs (346 at the Gukovo BCP and 557 at the Donetsk BCP); 465 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 438 crossed to 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 and also 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 increased from 46 to 80. 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 increased from 158 to 194; 126 trucks (65 per cent) were bound for Ukraine, the remaining 68 trucks (35 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 increased from 141 to 153 vehicles; 71 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 82 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 three trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and four to Ukraine (more details are provided in the sections “trends and figures at a glance” below).

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine was regularly informed about the trains bound for Ukraine.

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

Other observations

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

During the reporting week, the OTs observed ambulances on three separate occasions:

     - On 14 November at 12:50, the OT at the Gukovo BCP observed an ambulance entering the BCP area from the Russian Federation and driving behind the main building. At 13:15, the ambulance drove back to the Russian Federation.

     - On 17 November at 08:08, an ambulance with Russian Federation licence plates entered the Gukovo BCP from the Russian Federation side and parked next to the main building. The driver and paramedic took out a stretcher and entered the building. At 08:28, the medical crew then loaded the stretcher with a body on it into the ambulance and drove back towards the Russian Federation.

On 18 November 2019 at 11:13, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance with three medical staff on board entering the BCP from the Russian Federation side. The ambulance parked in front of the main building. At 11:24, the ambulance returned to the Russian Federation with one patient on board.          

Convoy

On 14 November at 06:45 (Moscow time), the eighty-ninth[3] Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk BCP. A total of 14 vehicles were checked by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers prior to their crossing into Ukraine. All 14 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 13:07 on 14 November. Ukrainian border guards and custom officers were present during the checking processes.

(See OM Spot Report of 14 November 2019: https://www.osce.org/observer-mission-at-russian-checkpoints-gukovo-and-donetsk/439064.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 15 October to 19 November 2019, 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 license C1).                              

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

439448 Marina Živaljević

In preparation for the fourth Regional Youth Co-operation Office (RYCO) Call for Proposals, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, together with the RYCO Local Branch Office, organized a training course for potential applicants from 15 to 18 November 2019 in Podgorica.

Around 25 representatives from civil society organizations from Montenegrin towns participated in the training to develop their capacities for applying to the Open Call.

Edin Koljenović, Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro, said that this type of training course is the beginning of RYCO’s friendships with the NGO sector. The key goal is to provide a place and time for young people to meet and collaborate. “We have had three grant seeds so far. Through grants, we want to support projects to connect young people in the region. Every project must be cross-border and involve young people,” explained Koljenović, announcing the new call for proposals planned for the beginning of the next year.

“It is great that we have had the opportunity to work on defining a vision for a youth-friendly region,” said Ana Milović Jasikovac, a training participant.

In September this year, the Mission organized the project writing training course with RYCO for potential applicants — high school teachers from across Montenegro.

The OSCE’s Mission Democratization National Programme Officer, Ivana Vujović said that RYCO represents a partnership that transcends borders. “The OSCE Mission to Montenegro is proud to have been one of the first institutional supporters of RYCO because we recognize the importance of youth engagement and connectivity in the region as a key factor to peace and stability,” said Vujović.

RYCO, founded in 2016 at the Western Balkans Sixth Summit in Paris, is an independent institutional mechanism to promote the spirit of reconciliation and co-operation among youth in the region through exchange programmes.

439502 Communication and Media Relations Section

Representatives from Azerbaijan’s Government, the Council of Europe, Facebook, Microsoft, the Austrian Institute of Technology and Ordina Belgium, among others, participated in a workshop on how to enhance co-operation between the private and public sector to fight cybercrime on 19 November 2019 in Baku.

The Strategic Police Matters Unit (SPMU) of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department organized the workshop with the support of Italy.

Panelists, from both the private and public sectors, highlighted the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned resulting from the current public-private partnership in Azerbaijan. They also discussed criminal justice responses to the growing role of digital technologies in conducting or facilitating law enforcement and prosecutors' actions in fighting cybercrime. The participants also explored how to strengthen bilateral co-operation between the two sectors to improve the exchange of information and better address transnational cases.

Thanking the OSCE for organizing the workshop, Yalchin Ragiyev, Head of the International Security Department at Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that, “the project was in line with the needs and requests of Azerbaijan in addressing the existing gaps in the co-operation with private companies in fighting cybercrime.”

Denise Mazzolani, Deputy Head of SPMU and Adviser on Cybercrime, added: "The OSCE stands ready to provide technical assistance to its participating States in addressing cybercrime, in particular in building the capacities of competent national institutions and bringing together all the stakeholders, including private companies, academia and civil society organizations."

The workshop will be followed by study visits to the headquarters of the Europe, Middle East and Africa operations of Google, Microsoft and Facebook in Dublin, Ireland.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 15 and 16 November, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• Between the evenings of 16 and 17 November, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• The SMM continued to monitor the situation at the Petrivske disengagement area.
• The Mission observed the construction of a 500m long barbed wire fence outside the Zolote disengagement area.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the Mission continued to observe construction works at the broken section of the bridge.
• The Mission continued to facilitate repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure, including to power lines near government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement continued, including at checkpoints near non-government-controlled Zaichenko and Novoazovsk.

439454 Communication and Media Relations Section

An OSCE train-the-trainers course on detecting forged travel documents and imposters concluded on 15 November 2019 in Skopje, North Macedonia.  

The course was organized by the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia and the support of the OSCE Mission to Skopje.

The training was held on the premises of the Police Academy in Idrizovo and was conducted by document experts of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior.

During this course, 12 experienced border officers acquired in-depth knowledge on document security and learned innovative teaching methods and techniques to train their colleagues in detecting forged travel documents and imposters.

Participants had the opportunity to prepare and deliver teaching modules, as well as practice effective verbal and non-verbal communication techniques.

This two-week train-the trainers event is the last of the three courses conducted throughout this year in the Republic of North Macedonia. It is part of a training series on the detection of forged travel documents organized by the OSCE Border Security and Management Unit in different countries since 2015.