Central Europe

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

A team of election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report of the ODIHR election observation mission for the October 2017 presidential election in Kyrgyzstan during their visit to Bishkek from 26 to 28 November 2018.

The report’s findings and recommendations were discussed during a session of the presidential task force for improving the electoral legislation and practice. The discussion involved representatives of the Presidential Administration, parliamentary committees, the Central Election Commission, the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs, the State Registration Service, as well as representatives of civil society.

“We see follow-up as key to exchange views on the current discourse in the area of democratic elections, focusing on ways to improve electoral practices,” said ODIHR Director Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir. “Such a discussion should not be the exclusive competency of the winner or the main parties. It should also involve meaningful consultation with smaller political groups, civil society and other stakeholders, including those at risk of marginalization, such as women, representatives of national minorities or persons with disabilities.”

The ODIHR team expanded on potential areas for further co-operation and concrete steps that can be taken by various electoral stakeholders to address the recommendations.

The experts drew attention to the recommendations aimed at an inclusive and timely electoral reform. This includes effective measures against the misuse of public resources and vote-buying, guaranteeing the right to a free and secret ballot, ensuring greater transparency of campaign finance and adequate legal remedies in defamation cases.

Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, head of the 2017 ODIHR election observation mission, said: “I am happy to observe that Kyrgyzstan has adopted the National Strategy to improve its electoral legislation and practices. An electoral process is a broader issue insofar as it includes all the conditions necessary for an election to be democratic, including respect for all fundamental freedoms. ODIHR stands ready to offer its continued support in implementing the recommendations, including through the review of amendments to electoral legislation.”

The ODIHR team emphasized the importance of addressing recommendations made in its reports well ahead of the next elections. All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to promptly following up on ODIHR election assessments and recommendations.

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Following developments at sea near the Kerch Strait, the SMM continued to monitor the security situation and observed protests in different regions of Ukraine.
• The Mission observed heavy weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Karlivka and Lebedynske.
• The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area and near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and to enable an assessment of a water pipeline near Popasna. The Mission also continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.
• In Zakarpattia and Lviv regions, the SMM monitored protests blocking roads leading to the international border crossing points in relation to import taxes.
• The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as near Bezimenne and Novoazovsk, an area close to the border with the Russian Federation.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 100 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours (about 170 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol), south-east of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) and south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol).

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 60 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours (about 115 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded north-west of Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk) and near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) (see below).

Security situation following developments at sea, near the Kerch Strait

Following reported developments on 25 November at sea, near the Kerch Strait (see SMM Spot Report 26 November 2018), on 26 November the SMM monitored the security situation and observed protests in different regions of Ukraine.

In Kyiv, at 14A Yaroslava Khomova Lane, the SMM saw a white car (with diplomatic licence plates of the Russian Federation) with scorched marks parked on the roadside. The SMM saw ten people (all men, aged 20-35) gathered outside the Embassy and noted a calm situation.

Also in Kyiv, the SMM saw about 600-800 people (mostly men, aged 18-60) march on Institutska Street to 11 Bankova Street. Half of them were wearing Natsionalini Druzhyny and National Corps insignia. Outside the Parliament building, the SMM saw about 200 protesters (mostly men, aged 20-60). Some of them were carrying flags of Svoboda, Sokil and Right Sector and chanting messages critical of the Russian Federation. Inside the building, the SMM saw some members of Parliament preventing an extraordinary session from taking place. Parliament subsequently adopted a draft law approving a presidential decree “On the Imposition of Martial Law” for a period of 30 days in ten regions.

In Kharkiv and Odessa, the SMM observed similar protests in front of the buildings of the Consulate-General of the Russian Federation (see SMM Spot Report 26 November 2018). In Odessa, scuffles between law enforcement officers and protesters occurred.

In Lviv, the SMM followed up on reports of a protest outside the Consulate-General of the Russian Federation on 25 November. On 26 November, the SMM saw a pile of three tyres with a paper boat on top of it, as well as ashes, assessed as caused from recently burnt tyres, in front of the premises of the Consulate-General. The Mission noted a calm situation there.

Disengagement areas[2]

On the evening and night of 25-26 November, while on the eastern edge of the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion and about 30 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at an assessed range of 1-5km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area). On the morning of 26 November, while at the same location, the SMM heard 32 undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 4-6km west-south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area). The same morning, positioned just south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 15 km west-north-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area). Positioned 1km north of the bridge, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 5-7km south (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On 26 November, an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle again spotted an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, about 400m north-east of its south-western edge. The same UAV also spotted four members of the armed formations nearby.

Positioned near the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM observed a white signal flare fired by a member of the armed formations near a checkpoint south of the bridge. Members of the armed formations told the SMM that the flare had been launched to indicate readiness to disengage.

On the evening of 25 November, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded a projectile in flight from south to north (assessed as outside the disengagement area). The following day, positioned on the southern edge of the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard two explosions assessed as impacts and three bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at an assessed range of 2-3km north-west (all assessed as inside the disengagement area).

During the day on 26 November, positioned north of Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed a calm situation near the Petrivske disengagement area.

Withdrawal of weapons[3]

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

In violation of the withdrawal lines

Government-controlled areas:

26 November:

• A surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) in Karlivka (25km north-west of Donetsk)
• A surface-to-air missile system (9K33) near Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol)

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of storage sites

Government-controlled areas:

26 November:

• Five self-propelled mortars (2S9 Nona-S, 120mm) at the railway station in Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk) (see below)

Weapons that the SMM was unable to verify as withdrawn[4]

Non-government-controlled areas in Donetsk region beyond the respective withdrawal lines:

26 November:

• 11 multiple launch rocket systems (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), nine self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and ten anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) remained missing

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[5]

Government-controlled areas:

26 November:

• An armored personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk)
• Nine infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP-2) near Valentynivka (35km north of Donetsk)
• An IFV (BMP variant) near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk)
• An anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area (see above)

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk) and to enable an assessment of a water pipeline near Popasna. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

Border areas not under government control*

While at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw a pedestrian (in his twenties) entering Ukraine and no cross-border traffic in the other direction. While at a pedestrian border crossing point near Novoborovytsi (79km south of Luhansk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM observed no cross-border traffic.

Roads blocked near international border crossing points in Zakarpattia, Lviv regions

In Zakarpattia and Lviv regions, the SMM monitored protests which blocked roads leading to international border crossing points. At each location, participants separately told the SMM that they were expressing opposition to an increase of import taxes on used vehicles. (See SMM Daily Report 21 November 2018.)

At the international border crossing points near Chop (194km west of Ivano-Frankivsk), Uzhhorod (182km west of Ivano-Frankivsk) and Malyi Bereznyi (167km west of Ivano-Frankivsk), the SMM saw 20-300 protesters (mostly men, mixed ages) and 15-60 cars with foreign licence plates blocking vehicular traffic in the direction of the border with Slovakia. At the crossing points near Chop and Uzhhorod, the Mission saw 130-140 trucks queuing to exit Ukraine.

At the international border crossing points near Krakovets (64km west of Lviv) and Rava-Ruska (52km north-west of Lviv), the SMM saw 200-300 protesters (mixed gender and ages) and 80-100 cars with foreign licence plates blocking vehicular traffic in the direction of the border with Poland. Near the international border crossing point close to Hrushiv (59km north-west of Lviv), the SMM saw about ten protestors (mixed gender and ages) and five vehicles with foreign licence plates. The Mission noted that vehicular traffic was not blocked there. At each location, about 140-200 vehicles were queuing to exit Ukraine.

Other observations

On 25 November, in Kharkiv and Dnipro, the SMM observed flash mobs on the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. There were 15-40 participants (mixed gender and ages).

The SMM continued monitoring in Chernivtsi and Kherson.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see below). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denials of access:

• On the morning of 26 November, at the railway station in Kostiantynivka, two Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers prevented the SMM from accessing the area where it observed self-propelled mortars from a distance (see above).
• At a checkpoint 2.5km west of Bezimenne (non-government-controlled, 30km east of Mariupol), ten armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage west toward road E58.
• At a checkpoint north of Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 40km east of Mariupol), an area near the border with the Russian Federation, two armed members of the armed formations again prevented the SMM from traveling south.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as to impede its ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.
• South of the bridge in Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations told the SMM that no demining had taken place north of the positions of the armed formations. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed.

Delay:

• On the afternoon of 26 November, at the railway station in Kostiantynivka, three Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers denied the SMM access to the area. After 18 minutes, the SMM was allowed to access it.

[1] Please see the annexed table for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as a map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report. The SMM cameras in Hranitne and Krasnohorivka were not operational during the reporting period.

[2] Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[3] The sentence on a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines in a government-controlled area in SMM Daily Report 22 November 2018 should have read: a mortar (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) in Karlivka (25km north-west of Donetsk).

[4] The SMM visited areas previously holding weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons. The SMM noted that three such sites continued to be abandoned.

[5] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

read more

404387 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Diminishing incentives for coercion in criminal justice systems and examining ways to strengthen or effectively implement safeguards against torture and other ill-treatment were the focus of an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the international NGO Fair Trials in Bishkek on 27 November 2018. The event took place on the margins of the Seventh Expert Forum on Criminal Justice for Central Asia, co-organized by ODIHR and hosted by the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan.

Together with defence lawyers from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, an independent expert from Tajikistan and a police expert from the United Kingdom, participants discussed existing practices in the development of criminal cases and the role of coercion in confession-based criminal justice systems.

The participants noted that incentives to use coercive measures or torture can take the form of crime-solving quotas in the promotion and performance evaluation for law enforcement officials, investigative police officers, prosecutors or judges. Such incentives can also result from torture-tainted evidence being neither challenged nor excluded from criminal proceedings. The participants also highlighted the need to ensure that torture is not used to obtain confessions, and the need to address the issue of overreliance on confession evidence.

“In the field of torture prevention, traditionally, a strong focus is placed on the establishment and implementation in law and practice of procedural safeguards, as well as on the treatment of prisoners and conditions of detention,” said Stephanie Selg, ODIHR Adviser on Torture Prevention. “Much less has been said and done about why torture still happens and what the existing incentives are. These questions should be addressed to assist states in living up to their commitment to eradicating torture and other ill-treatment in the OSCE region.”

Jago Russell, Chief Executive of Fair Trials, said: “Coercion is fuelling a vision of criminal justice that is only focused on 'efficiency', creating a conveyor belt of criminal justice that does not respect human rights. Coercion can take numerous forms, beyond torture itself, and can include the abuse of plea-bargaining and pre-trial detention.”

Specific examples of how policing can work without coercion, for instance through investigative interviewing methods, were presented and discussed. The discussion included a consideration of promising legislative measures and reform practices from the Central Asian region and beyond.

CHISINAU, 27 November 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Desir, is visiting Moldova from 27 to 30 November 2018. During the visit, he will meet the Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Tudor Ulianovschi, President of the Co-ordinating Council of Audiovisuals Dragoș Vicol, other political actors, the management of the National Public Broadcaster “Teleradio-Moldova”, as well as representatives of the media and media NGOs.

Desir will also speak at the award ceremony of the 2018 ADAMI Media Prize for Cultural Diversity in Eastern Europe, and address Moldovan media representatives during the annual Media Forum on 29 November.

During the visit to Moldova, Desir aims to receive first-hand information on the state policies on media freedom, to exchange views on the latest media freedom developments in the country, and to discuss areas where the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media can provide assistance.

As part his mandate, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in the 57 OSCE participating States and promotes full compliance with the Organization’s principles and commitments in respect of freedom of expression and free media.

On Friday, 30 November 2018, journalists are invited to a press conference with the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, at 11:30 at the premises of the OSCE Mission to Moldova in Chisinau, 75 Alexei Mateevici Street.

IMPORTANT: Advance registration of media representatives for the press conference is mandatory. Media representatives should register by sending an e-mail with their name and the name of their media organization to MtMpress@osce.org by 17.00, Thursday, 29 November 2018.

Registered media representatives should present a valid press card and/or ID in order to attend the press conference.

For more information, please contact the Press Office of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, at +373 22 223 495 or e-mail: MtMpress@osce.org.

read more

404336 Marina Živaljević

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized three workshops aiming to strengthen the capacity of parliamentary committees in maintaining inclusiveness, upholding international standards, communicating with media, citizens and civil society, as well as in improving co-operation with independent state institutions on 5, 19 and 26 November 2018 in Podgorica.

“These workshops are a continuation of the work that we have done together with Montenegro’s parliament, focusing on issues of great importance to democratic life,” said Lia Magnaguagno, Programme Manager at the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, addressing the participants. “They are not meant to be a lecture, but rather a discussion and an opportunity to share experiences with the aim to help you further reflect on your work,  and to give you useful ideas and suggestions.”

The first workshop gathered more than 15 participants from the parliament and parliamentary committees, including several MPs whose discussions focused on achieving stronger parliamentary legitimacy through inclusiveness and international standards. Experts from Albania and Croatia presented the challenges they faced and the achievements accomplished in applying international standards.

During the second workshop, experts presented tools that can be utilized in improving communication with citizens, media and civil society. They shared their views on some of the best practices when communicating with the public, and referred to some of the challenges that they encountered in their day-to-day work.

The third workshop focused on Parliament’s co-operation with independent state institutions, and formal and informal approaches to the parliament’s oversight function, one of the cornerstones of democracy.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro remains committed to improving the capacity of parliamentary committees through expert assessments and tailored workshops, with the ultimate aim of enhancing the effectiveness of the parliament.

404333 Communication and Media Relations Section

A specialized workshop for Belarus law enforcement officials on challenges in combating corruption and financial crimes that make use of new technologies concluded on 27 November 2018 in Minsk.

The workshop was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in co-operation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and with the support of the Department of Financial Investigations of the State Control Committee of Belarus. The workshop aimed at discussing tools and methods to investigate corruption crimes that are committed with the involvement of new digital technologies.

The participants discussed the early detection and prevention of corruption and financial crimes, as well as aspects of international co-operation in this area. Workshop participants also discussed the experiences and best practices of other OSCE participating States in countering the use of new technologies for criminal purposes.

“Advances in technology are rapidly transforming our societies and our way of life,” said Andrei Muntean, Senior Economic Adviser at the OSCE OCEEA. “However, they are also giving new tools to criminals and digitalization is a big contributor to the globalization of corruption.”

Igar Marshalov, Deputy Chairperson of the State Control Committee of Belarus, said: “The fast-growing digital sector of economy attracts both legitimate business and criminals. This workshop will contribute to the participants’ capacity to identify and prevent corruption and financial crimes in the digital era.”

The workshop is a continuation of the discussions conducted during the roundtable meeting on combating corruption and financial crimes organized by the OSCE/OCEEA in partnership with the Department of Financial Investigations of the State Control Committee of Belarus in December 2017 in Minsk. It also follows up on the workshop on combating misuse of Darknet and cryptocurrencies for corruption and financial crimes organized in co-operation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in June 2018 in Vienna.

Željka Šulc

Strengthening co-operation in tourism between local communities was the focus of a conference organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in co-operation with the city of Goražde and the municipalities of Foča, Rudo, and Višegrad, held on 27 November 2018 in Goražde.

The aim of the conference, which gathered more than 30 representatives of the cantonal institutions, municipalities, relevant ministries and tourist agencies, was to discuss the importance of public-private partnership between local communities in order to improve regional tourism competitiveness.

The conference was also an opportunity to present a new tourist guidebook, Experience the Drina Valley, which represents a joint tourist offer of Foča, Goražde, Višegrad and Rudo.

“The Upper Drina region, which has been struggling for many years with economic difficulties, has extraordinary potential in the area of tourism in the form of natural beauty and cultural heritage,” said Marek Kubiček, Head of the OSCE Field Office Foča. “Unfortunately, this potential has not been realized, mostly due to the absence of any regional co-operation mechanism.”

As a response to this situation, the OSCE Field Office Foča initiated regional cross-entity co-operation at the beginning of this year, including bringing together representatives from the selected municipalities. The tourist guidebook presented today is the first tangible result of those efforts.

“We hope that this partnership will further flourish and will serve as a driving force for the future prosperity of the region,” Kubiček added.  

TBILISI, 27 November 2018 – The international observers monitoring the second round of the presidential election in Georgia will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Thursday, 29 November, in Tbilisi.

The mission is a joint undertaking of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the European Parliament (EP) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

The statement will be delivered by Kristian Vigenin, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission, followed by Laima Andrikiene, Head of the EP delegation, Margareta Cederfelt, Head of the OSCE PA delegation, Andrej Hunko, Head of the PACE delegation, and Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission.

The International Election Observation Mission comprises some 215 observers from 32 countries, including 185 long- and short-term observers deployed by ODIHR, 11 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, 10 from the EP and 5 from PACE.

Journalists are invited to attend the press conference on Thursday, 29 November, at 14:30 in the Grand Royal Ballroom of the Biltmore Hotel, 29 Rustaveli Ave., Tbilisi.

Live stream of the press conference will be available at: www.facebook.com/osce.odihr and www.oscepa.org.

For further information, contact:

Thomas Rymer, ODIHR, +995 591 616 398 or +48 609 522 266, thomas.rymer@odihr.pl

Iryna Sabashuk, OSCE PA, +995 591 716 350 or +45 60 10 81 73, iryna@oscepa.dk

Chemavon Chahbazian, PACE, +995 +995 591 716 333 or +33 (0) 6 50 68 76 55, chemavon.chahbazian@coe.int

Karl Minaire, EP, +995 599 070 453 or +32 477 85 45 78, karl.minaire@europarl.europa.eu

read more

OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

An OSCE-organized workshop for senior border officials from Turkmenistan and Afghanistan on inter-agency co-operation in border security and management took place in Ashgabat from 19 to 23 November 2018.

An expert from the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre and international experts on international and interagency co-operation in border security and management assisted in conducting the workshop.

“Through this workshop the OSCE confirms the relevance and effectiveness of its activities in strengthening  ​​border security and developing various aspects of co-operation in the world and here in the region,” said Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “The OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation attach special importance to border security issues, in particular, to countering common challenges and threats, primarily international terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and illegal migration.”

The First Secretary of the Embassy of Afghanistan Mohammad Hassan Aman thanked the OSCE Centre for its ongoing work in the area of border security and management, and emphasized its contribution to promoting co-operation between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

Istvan Samu, an international expert from Hungary underscored that the partners involved need to have common goals and interests for the inter-agency co-operation to be effective and beneficial.

Shahriniso Najmetdinova–Scott, an independent Consultant on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism, elaborated on the different types of transnational threats, such as terrorism, and placed special attention to the phenomenon of harmful gender stereotypes.

Seppo Turkia, an international expert from Finland, acquainted the participants with the work of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) and Finnish best practices in inter-agency cooperation.

Taras Seredyuk and Henadzi Aleksiayuk from the State Border Guard Committee of the Republic of Belarus also shared their practices and experiences on interagency co-operation.

The workshop was organized with financial support from the governments of Germany, Italy and Japan, and is the third in a series of joint Turkmen-Afghan workshops held this year within the Centre’s extra-budgetary project. 

This project component will conclude with a three-day joint Turkmen-Afghan Workshop on fighting cross-border crimes and countering drugs, psychoactive substances and precursors scheduled for 4-6 December 2018 in Ashgabat.

VIENNA/ROME, 26 November 2018 - OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Enzo Moavero Milanesi and Secretary General Thomas Greminger today called for restraint and dialogue to de-escalate the already tense situation in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait.

Chairperson-in-Office and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Enzo Moavero Milanesi said: “We are extremely concerned over the reported developments in the area of the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait. We call on all parties to contribute by political and diplomatic means to de-escalate the situation and ease tensions to avoid further risks of destabilization in the region.

We urge all sides to refrain from the use of force and settle any disputes by peaceful means, in full compliance with international law, OSCE principles and commitments, and fully respecting Countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.

These recent events confirm the need to work together concretely in the OSCE to address risk reduction and incident prevention”.

Secretary General Greminger stressed that “immediate de-escalation is both urgent and essential. I urge Ukraine and the Russian Federation to exercise restraint, step back from any further provocations and immediately engage in dialogue to reduce the risk of further tensions in the region,” he said.

read more

VIENNA, 26 November 2018 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed his concern over the restrictive impact on the distribution of Serbian print media in Kosovo following the introduction of recent trade measures. He recalled the necessity to preserve all citizen’s right to access to information in their language

“Access to newspapers, including Serbian print media, must be guaranteed for all citizens and local communities at all times,” said Désir, highlighting that “the media and access to information should not be a collateral victim of the current situation.”

Following the introduction of increased import tariffs on Serbian goods last week, it has been reported that no Serbian print media have reached newsstands in Kosovo.

“I recall that citizens’ unhindered right to information and a pluralistic press must be ensured and protected in all circumstances, without any barriers,” said Désir.

The Representative concluded that due consideration should be given to the right of information in one’s mother tongue and that measures restricting media pluralism should be removed, as the media constitutes a vital pillar of democracy.

read more

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 23 and 24 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Between the evenings of 24 and 25 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• The SMM monitored the security situation following developments at sea near the Kerch Strait.
• The Mission observed heavy weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines in Kostiantynivka.
• The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to a water pipeline in Pervomaisk and continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.
• In Kyiv, Lviv and Kherson, the Mission monitored public gatherings commemorating the 85th anniversary of Holodomor.
• The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as near Kostiantynivka, Novolaspa, Zaichenko and two areas close to the border with the Russian Federation, Voznesenivka and Novoazovsk.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 23 and 24 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 150 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 175 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded south-east and south-west of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), south-west of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) and south-west and west of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk).

Between the evenings of 24 and 25 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 170 explosions), compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were again recorded in areas south-east, south and south-west of Svitlodarsk (including almost 160 explosions) and north-west of Horlivka.

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 23 and 24 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 100 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (104 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including 87 explosions, were recorded south of Putylyne (government-controlled, 44km north-west of Luhansk). Between the evenings of 24 and 25 November, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 115 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded west and south-west of Kalynove-Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk).

The SMM monitored the security situation following developments at sea near the Kerch Strait

In Kyiv, the SMM monitored the security situation in front of the Russian Federation’s Embassy where a protest had reportedly taken place on 25 November. On the morning of 26 November, the SMM observed protests at the offices of the Russian Consulate-General in Kharkiv and Odessa. For more details, please see SMM Spot Report 26 November 2018.

Disengagement areas[2]

While on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) on the evening of 23 November, the SMM heard three undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 3-4km south-south-west (all assessed as inside the disengagement area). During the night of 25 November, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard 13 explosions assessed as impacts of automatic-grenade-launcher rounds, about 30 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and three shots of 30mm cannon fire, all at an assessed range of 3-5km south-south-west (all assessed as inside the disengagement area).

Near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), inside the disengagement area, on 23 November an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) in a revetted position, covered by camouflage netting, south of the railroad and about 1km east of road T1316, and an IFV (BMP-1) south of the railroad and about 700m west of road T1316. Both were assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On the evening and night of 23-24 November, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded 29 projectiles in flight (mostly from northerly to southerly directions), a burst of an undetermined weapon and an illumination flare (in vertical flight), all at an assessed range of 0.5-4.5km at directions ranging from east-north-east to south-south-east. (Twenty of the projectiles and one burst were assessed as having occurred inside the disengagement area, three projectiles and one illumination flare were assessed as outside the disengagement area and six projectiles were unable to be assessed as inside or outside the disengagement area).

During the evening of 24 November, the same camera recorded two projectiles in flight from south to north at an assessed range of 0.5-1.5km east-south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 25 November, the SMM observed one green military truck, driven by a person in military style clothing (no badges/insignia or weapons visible), travelling south-west (inside the Zolote disengagement area) on the north-eastern edge of government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk, inside the disengagement area).

During the day on 24 November,  positioned about 2km north of Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard two shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1-2km east and south-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area. [3] The following day, the SMM observed a calm situation near the Petrivske disengagement area.

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.  

In violation of the withdrawal lines

Government-controlled areas:

25 November:

• Five self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) on a ramp near the railway tracks at a railway station in Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk) and, several hours later, six self-propelled howitzers (2S1) at the same location

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites

Government-controlled areas:

23 November:

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) near Stupochky (60km north of Donetsk)

24 November:

• Ten tanks (T-64) loaded on trailers and parked next to road M04 near Memryk (33km north-west of Donetsk)
• Four multiple launch rocket systems (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and six self-propelled mortars (2S9 Nona-S, 120mm) loaded on railway cars at a railway station in Sloviansk (95km north of Donetsk)

25 November:

• Ten self-propelled mortars (2S9) and four towed mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) at the railway station in Kostiantynivka

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]

Government-controlled areas:

23 November:

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted an IFV (BMP-1) in Zolote

24 November:

• An IFV (BMP variant) at a military compound in a neighbourhood of Nyzhnie (56km north-west of Luhansk)

25 November:

• An IFV (BMP-1) with its engine running, stationary and facing east near a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in Zolote
• Two armoured personnel carriers (APC) (BTR-70) near Chermalyk (31km north-east of Mariupol)

Non-government-controlled areas:

22 November:

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) and an APC (MT-LB) near an abandoned school building in Donetskyi (49km west of Luhansk)

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

On 24 November, the SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable water pipeline repairs near Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), and on 24 and 25 November, the Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

SMM monitors situation near Berdiansk

On 23 November, the SMM monitored areas in Berdiansk (70km south-west of Mariupol) including the port. The SMM saw some infrastructure repairs in the area and observed a calm situation.

Border areas not under government control*

On 23 November, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for an hour and a half, the SMM observed 29 cars (four with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates, and 23 with “DPR” plates), four fixed box-body cargo trucks (one with Russian Federation licence plates and three with “DPR” plates), a trailer tractor, two cargo vans and two black vans (all with “DPR” plates) escorted by a car with “DPR police” painted on it, as well as three buses (two with Ukrainian and one with Russian  Federation licence plates) entering Ukraine. The SMM also observed three buses (one with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates, and one with “DPR” plates), 22 cars (six with Ukrainian, five with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates, and ten with “DPR” plates), seven cargo trailers (two with Ukrainian, two with Belarusian and one with Russian Federation license plates, and two with “DPR” plates), as well as four commercial cargo vans (two with Ukrainian licence plates and two with “DPR” plates) all exiting Ukraine.

On 25 November, while at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) for ten minutes, the SMM was approached by a member of the armed formations who told it to leave the area.* At the Chervona Mohyla railway station in Voznesenivka, the SMM saw more than 100 uncovered cargo cars (unable to see whether empty or loaded) parked on rails. While present, the SMM was also told by a member of the armed formations to leave the area.*

The same day, at the border crossing point near Uspenka, the SMM observed 23 vehicles (six with Ukrainian and 14 with Russian Federation licence plates, two with “DPR” plates, one car with plates not visible), a fuel tanker, a bus (about 40 passengers) and four covered cargo trucks (Ukrainian licence plates) exiting Ukraine. The SMM also observed eight vehicles (one with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates and one car with plates not visible, and three with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine.

While at a pedestrian border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about an hour and ten minutes, the SMM observed four pedestrians exiting Ukraine and a pedestrian entering Ukraine.

Gatherings in Kyiv, Lviv and Kherson in commemoration of Holodomor

On 23 November, the SMM monitored a session of Parliament dedicated to the 85th anniversary of 1932-1933 Holodomor and to commemorating its victims. The session was attended by 500-600 people, including Members of Parliament, the Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate and the Head of the Greek-Catholic Church.

On 24 November, in Kyiv, the SMM monitored a Holodomor Memorial Day ceremony at the Holodomor Monument in Eternal Glory Park at 15 Lavrska Street. The SMM observed that the wider area around the monument had been completely cordoned off by police with metal detectors installed at two opposite positions along the perimeter, and about 1,000 people (mixed gender and ages) were entering the cordoned off area. Government officials addressed the crowd with speeches. The SMM saw about 500 National Guard and police officers present and observed a calm situation.

The same day in Lviv, at the Taras Shevchenko monument on Svobody Avenue, the SMM saw about 500 people (mixed gender and ages) gathered to commemorate the victims of Holodomor. The SMM observed as those gathered joined a ‘Minute of Silence’ and others made speeches. Many participants had black ribbons that read “We remember” and carried stalks of wheat that they laid next to lit candles and lamps. The SMM saw about ten police officers and five city guard officers present and observed a calm situation.

Also on 24 November in Kherson, the SMM observed about 300 people (mixed gender and ages) walk from Freedom Square on Ushakova Street to a monument commemorating the victims of Holodomor on Tiraspol Street. At the monument, the SMM observed as some people addressed the crowd and as others laid flowers, as well as wheat stalks near the monument. There SMM saw about 20 police officers and two police vehicles present and observed a calm situation.  

The SMM continued monitoring in Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Chernivtsi.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see below). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denials of access:

• On 24 November, at a checkpoint near Novolaspa (non-government-controlled, 50km south of Donetsk), three armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage, citing “security issues” in the area.
• On 25 November, at a border crossing point in Voznesenivka, a member of the armed formations again told the SMM to leave the area. He told the SMM that any issues related to the SMM’s freedom of movement should be addressed to the armed formations in Luhansk city.
• On 25 November, at a railway station in Voznesenivka, two members of the armed formations again told the SMM to leave the area.
• On 25 November, at a checkpoint about 800m north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again prevented the SMM from traveling west toward Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and south toward Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), citing “SMM safety”.
• On 25 November, at a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 40km east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again prevented the SMM from traveling south, citing “ongoing operations in Novoazovsk”.
• On 25 November, at the railway station in Kostiantynivka, a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer denied the SMM access to the area.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement through the failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

Delays:

• On 24 November, at a checkpoint in the south-eastern outskirts of Novoaidar (government-controlled, 49km north-west of Luhansk), a Ukrainian police officer denied the SMM passage, citing an ongoing police operation. The SMM could see the police detaining a car with two people inside. After 26 minutes, the SMM was allowed to pass the checkpoint. 

[1] Please see the annexed table for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as a map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report.

[2] Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[3] Due to the presence of mines, including on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

read more

404465 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe SDGs SDGs:  11 - Sustainable cities and communities

Strengthening police and community interaction to address safety and security issues affecting communities was the focus of a series of training courses conducted by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in co-operation with the international organization Saferworld.

The training courses took place in Romit district and the towns of Nurek and Guliston  in October and November 2018. They brought together 86 representatives of Tajik police and public councils from all regions of Tajikistan.

At the training courses, the participants and national experts discussed the Provision on Public Councils and Police Reform Strategy and Programme. The participants received practical training in methods of communication with citizens, while working on a sample working plan for community policing. The joint training helped to further enhance the already close co-operation between the regional public councils and police institutions in the framework of the ongoing police reform.

“Promoting the principles of community policing will help our citizens to better discuss and monitor the process of police transition in Tajikistan.  The participants had a practical exercise aiming the development of close co-ordination with local governments and addressing the specific needs of the communities,” said Rifat Yuldoshev, Professor at the Academy of Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry, who was one of the trainers.

Quzratullo Gulomov, Senior Adviser to Tajikistan’s Interior Minister, noted: “The OSCE is helping to increase the knowledge of members of the public councils about new approaches to policing in Tajikistan. We appreciate our co-operation in this area and pay special attention to fostering police and community interaction on all levels.”

COPENHAGEN, 26 November 2018 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) expressed deep concern today over the escalation of tensions in the Kerch Strait between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, called for restraint, and reiterated support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

“The seizure of Ukrainian naval vessels and the blocking of traffic into the Kerch Strait by Russia represents an unacceptable escalation of tensions between two participating States of the OSCE,” Tsereteli said. “Further steps that might lead to a military escalation must be avoided. Russia must avoid provocative acts, return the detained vessels to the Ukrainian authorities, and release any detainees in its custody.”

He continued: “As stated in the Helsinki Final Act, participating States must settle disputes by peaceful means in such a manner as not to endanger international peace and security. In many OSCE documents, including the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, OSCE participating States have committed to crisis management and peaceful settlement of disputes. Such incidents therefore represent serious breaches of OSCE commitments.

“I also reconfirm the position of the OSCE PA, as expressed in several resolutions, regarding our strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including the autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sebastopol, and call on both sides to recommit to fully implementing the Minsk agreements in order to resolve the crisis. The OSCE PA will continue to watch the situation closely.”

President Tsereteli added that he wishes the injured Ukrainian service members a speedy recovery.

read more

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM followed up on the security situation in relation to reported developments at sea, near the Kerch Strait, where on 25 November, three vessels of the Naval Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces – two artillery boats “Berdiansk” and “Nikopol” and one tug boat “Yany Kapu” – en route from Odessa to Mariupol had been involved in an incident with vessels of the Russian Federation. Reportedly, weapons were used, six sailors were wounded and the three Ukrainian vessels were seized.

Following the incident, an emergency session of Parliament is scheduled to take place on the afternoon of 26 November to decide on the proposal to introduce martial law for a period of 60 days based on the law “On the Legal Regime of Martial Law”.

On the morning of 26 November, the SMM monitored the security situation throughout Ukraine. In Kyiv, the SMM saw a white car with diplomatic licence plates of the Russian Federation damaged by fire near the Embassy of the latter. In Kharkiv, the SMM saw about 70 protesters (mostly young men) gathered in front of the building of the Consulate-General of the Russian Federation. Some of them lit flares and threw them at the building and also attempted to burn tyres, but police prevented it. In Odessa, the SMM saw about 100 protesters (mostly young men) gathered in front of the building of the Consulate-General of the Russian Federation, some of whom threw fire crackers at the building.

read more

KYIV, 26 November 2018 – The OSCE Chairperson’s Special Representative to the Trilateral Contact Group, Martin Sajdik, and the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), Ertugrul Apakan, said today that they followed recent incidents at sea, near the Kerch Strait, with great concern.

Speaking following recent developments that have raised tensions between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, Sajdik and Apakan called for restraint and for the parties to refrain from aggravating the situation. “It is time to address differences through political and diplomatic means,” they said.

read more

404213 Marina Živaljević

In order to support ethical and professional reporting, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights organized a two-day workshop on gender equality for media representatives in Podgorica, on 22 and 23 November.

The two-day workshop, aimed at fostering a solid understanding of gender inequality, gathered 12 media representatives from seven Montenegrin municipalities. They discussed the role of the media in challenging gender roles and stereotypes and promoting gender equality.

“The most distinctive element of this gender equality workshop was the participants’ active engagement in the discussions. The workshops gave the opportunity to change attitudes and reduce stereotyping and prejudices,” said the expert Slavica Striković.

OSCE Democratization Programme Manager Lia Magnaguagno said that the OSCE Mission to Montenegro is firmly committed to promoting gender equality principles. “To ensure future sustainability in the area of gender mainstreaming, the Mission has worked in partnership with the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights’ Gender Equality Department. In line with the National Gender Equality Action Plan, this workshop is a result of this co-operation,” said Magnaguagno.

Participants provided constructive suggestions as to what they can do to challenge stereotypes in media reporting.

“I appreciate the continued commitment of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro to organizing training courses for Montenegrin media representatives. This was an excellent opportunity to meet print and electronic media representatives and talk about this important topic,” said RTCG journalist Dragana Mrkić.

404228 Mirvete Islam, OSCE Mission to Skopje Mihajlo Lahtov, OSCE Mission to Skopje Daily updates from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Thematic Reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine -- The Facts

Members of Parliament, parliament service staff and representatives from the government and civil society organizations participated in an oversight simulation in Mavrovo from 23 to 25 November 2018 to learn about and practice how to organize public hearings in the parliament.

During the three-day simulation, organized by the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the National Democratic Institute, participants were virtually transported to the imaginary Republic of Verduria to address the environmental fate of this fictional young country. To evaluate the country’s Law on Environmental Protection, participants engaged in three committee hearings – legislative, oversight and investigative. 

“The presence and participation of Members of Parliament from all major political parties demonstrate their will and commitment to bringing the parliament back into the centre of democratic life,” said the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Jeffrey Goldstein.

Goldstein also emphasized the importance of the role of the parliament service staff. “Only with a strong, proactive and capable service staff, will the parliament be able to introduce an effective system of checks and balances.”

Findings and recommendations from the simulation will not only help the participants; they will also help the Mission to better support the parliament in further improving the effectiveness of public hearings in the future.

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• The SMM recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to critical infrastructure in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Access for the SMM remained restricted in all three disengagement areas; it was also restricted in the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district, Novolaspa and near Lozove*.
• It continued to monitor queues of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line.
• The Mission monitored a public gathering in Ivano-Frankivsk commemorating events at Maidan.

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 175), compared with the previous reporting period (about 60 explosions). More than two thirds of the ceasefire violations were recorded in areas east-south-east, south-east, south-south-east and south-west of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including 104 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (three explosions). The majority of explosions were recorded in areas north-north-east and west of Holubivske (non-government-controlled, 51km west of Luhansk), south-east of Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and in areas north-north-east and north-west of Berezivske (non-government-controlled, 53km north-west of Luhansk).

Disengagement areas[2]

During the evening of 22 November, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard 16 bursts of anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) and infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire, all at an assessed range of 3-4km south-south-east (all assessed as outside the disengagement area), as well as 60 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at an assessed range of 4-5km south-west (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area).

During the day of 23 November, positioned on the southern edge of the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions and eight bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at an assessed range of 2-5km north-north-east. During the same day, positioned in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 1-2km north-north-west. During the same day, positioned in Zolote, the SMM heard 27 undetermined explosions and five bursts and shots of small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 4-6km south-east. All ceasefire violations were assessed as outside the disengagement area.

During the day of 23 November, the SMM observed a calm situation in the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government controlled, 41 km south of Donetsk).[3]

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum. 

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites

Government-controlled areas:

22 November:

• An SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted six multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Valuiky (70km north-west of Luhansk).

23 November:

• Two self-propelled anti-aircraft systems (2K22 Tunguska) near Kalynove (31km north-west of Donetsk).

Weapons that the SMM was unable to verify as withdrawn[4]

Government-controlled areas in Donetsk region beyond the respective withdrawal lines:

23 November:

• 23 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), six towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm), 28 mortars (12 M-120 Molot, 120mm; 15 2B11 Sani, 120mm; and one BM-37, 82mm) and three anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) continued to be missing.

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[5]

Government-controlled areas:

23 November:

• An armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-80) near Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk);
• An APC (MT-LB) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2, 23mm) loaded in the rear of a military truck in Stepne (66km south-west of Donetsk);
• An APC (MT-LB) on road H-20 near Kamianka (20km north of Donetsk).

Presence of mines

On 22 November, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted again 12 mines laid out in two rows across road T0519 on the western edge of Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol).

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne (government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk), the Petrivske water pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), as well as to enable an assessment of a water pipeline near Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

Situation of civilians at checkpoints along the contact line

At the checkpoint of the armed formations south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, at 10:00, the SMM saw about 550 people queuing to travel towards government-controlled areas and about 100 queuing in the opposite direction. At 11:40, the SMM saw about 500 people queuing to travel towards government-controlled areas and about 100 people queuing in the opposite direction. The Mission also saw 200 people waiting for a bus to non-government- controlled Luhansk city.

At the entry-exit checkpoint north of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, at 12:20, the SMM observed about 100 people queuing to exit government-controlled areas and about 80 people queuing in the opposite direction. About three hours later, the Mission saw 160 people queuing to exit government-controlled areas and 180 people queuing in the opposite direction. The SMM continued to observe snow and ice on the bridge and wooden ramps. 

Public gathering in Ivano-Frankivsk

On 21 November, the SMM monitored a gathering in Ivano-Frankivsk commemorating events at Maidan in November 2013. The SMM saw about 200 people (mainly men, different age groups) marching from Vichevyi Square to the Memorial Square where a memorial ceremony was held. There were ten law enforcement officers present. The Mission observed a calm situation.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government ((for example, see SMM Daily Report 23 November 2018). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denial of access:

• One member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage through a checkpoint near Lozove (non-government-controlled, 52km north-east of Donetsk), citing “orders from superiors” and “explosive works”.
• Two armed members of the armed formations denied the SMM passage through a checkpoint in the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district (15km south-west of Donetsk city centre) citing “orders from superiors”.
• Two armed members of the armed formations denied the SMM passage through a checkpoint near Novolaspa (non-government-controlled, 50km south of Donetsk), after the SMM refused to show its patrol plan.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The SMM continued to be restricted in its access to the three disengagement areas, as well as in the ability to travel on certain roads identified by the Mission as important for effective monitoring due to the presence of mines and UXO. Positioned north of the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier told the SMM that there had been no demining in the area, therefore the SMM did not consider it safe to proceed.

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM cameras in Hranitne and Krasnohorivka were not operational during the reporting period.

[2] Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[3] Due to the presence of mines, including on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] The SMM visited areas previously holding weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons. 

[5] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

read more

404171 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

A team of election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report of the ODIHR election assessment mission for the October 2017 parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic during their visits to Prague and Brno from 20 to 23 November 2018.

The report’s findings and recommendations were discussed during meetings with representatives of the Interior Ministry, both houses of the Parliament, the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Administrative Court, the broadcasting regulator, the office overseeing political party financing and the Ombudsperson.

The ODIHR team expanded on potential areas for further co-operation and concrete steps that can be taken by various electoral stakeholders to address the recommendations.

The experts drew attention to the recommendations aimed at strengthening the administrative capacity of the party financing oversight office, enhancing the transparency and accountability of voter registration, reinforcing the complaints and appeals process and promoting the participation of women as candidates.

“The confidence of Czech voters and other electoral stakeholders in the electoral process is remarkable. But at the same time it clouds issues that are addressed in our report. A meaningful follow-up aiming at a proper analysis of our recommendations is crucially important for ensuring better elections in the future,” said Matyas Eorsi, head of the 2017 ODIHR election assessment mission, during the visit. “ODIHR stands ready to offer its continued support in implementing the recommendations, including through the review of amendments to electoral legislation and advice on good practices and matters of technical implementation.”

The ODIHR team emphasized the importance of addressing recommendations made in its reports in an inclusive and open manner, well ahead of the next elections. All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to promptly following up on ODIHR election assessments and recommendations.