Central Europe

TASHKENT, 21 November 2018 – OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) welcomed today in Tashkent the continued engagement of Uzbekistan with the OSCE, and discussed with the country’s authorities how parliamentary diplomacy can contribute to stability and development in Central Asia. 

“The planned decisive reforms to strengthen the role of parliament in Uzbekistan will be to the great benefit not only of the country and its people, but to the entire Central Asian region and the wider OSCE. High-level parliamentary dialogue can create strong partnerships to deal with regional challenges,” said Tsereteli.

“I am especially honored to be here to strongly welcome and encourage Uzbekistan’s growing participation in the work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.” The OSCE PA President was in Tashkent on his first official visit to the country, together with his Special Representative on Central Asia, Austrian parliamentarian Roman Haider, the Chair of the OSCE PA’s General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Margareta Kiener Nellen, and OSCE PA Deputy Secretary General Semyon Dzakhaev. 

Today they met with Senate Chairman Nigmatilla Yuldashev, Legislative Council Deputy Speaker Savar Otamuratov, and Members of the Delegation of Uzbekistan to the OSCE PA, Headed by Senate Deputy Chairperson Svetlana Artikova as well as senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions focused on regional co-operation and security, domestic reforms, human rights protections, water management and environmental challenges, and the fight against terrorism. 

“Uzbekistan is on the frontlines of many priority challenges in Europe and the wider OSCE, in particular the fight against terrorism,” said Roman Haider. “I’m pleased to have this opportunity to speak with parliamentary colleagues in Tashkent, ensuring closer co-operation. Such exchanges are a good way for the OSCE PA to learn from Uzbekistan’s experience in such fields, and also to offer some solutions our Assembly has accumulated over the years.” 

President Tsereteli and the delegation highlighted the strong contribution being made by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, Ambassador John MacGregor, and his office, including through assistance in strengthening legislation and advising on improving the performance of state authorities, government agencies and civil society organizations. 

Kiener Nellen welcomed progress achieved in the area of human rights, and particularly applauded reforms planned in the area of governance and the rule of law, as part of the country’s broader Action Strategy on the further development of Uzbekistan for the period 2017-2021. “Ensuring good governance and reforming the judiciary, the police and the penitentiary systems are essential to strengthening the trust of citizens and democratic consolidation” she noted. “This ambitious undertaking of crucial reforms, if accompanied with efforts to create conditions for further development of civil society, can help to unlock the real potential of this vibrant country.” 

The OSCE PA delegation’s visit to Uzbekistan continues in Samarkand for the Asian Forum on Human Rights taking place through 23 November.

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403685

Implementing effective anti-corruption legislation was the focus of an international conference organized by the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the support of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on 21 November 2018 in Tashkent.

The conference brought together around 50 participants, including officials from the Government and both chambers of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) as well as representatives from the business sector and the international community.

The conference familiarized participants with international standards on anti-corruption and business integrity while also highlighting ways to strengthen private sector integrity and improve the investment environment in Uzbekistan. In this regard, special attention was paid to compliance mechanisms and the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

“With the increased interest of foreign investors and growing domestic potential, it is clear that the business sector will be one of the main drivers of Uzbekistan’s future development, but it needs support to fulfil its function,” said Hans-Ullrich Ihm, Senior Project Officer with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator. “Corruption could still hamper the positive developments we are seeing right now and it is therefore essential to reflect on the risks that currently exist and the methods that could be used to mitigate them.”

The conference was the culmination of a two-week anti-corruption programme organized by the General Prosecutor’s Office with the support of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator and other international bodies active in the country. Events held over the two weeks included a seminar on business ethics and compliance mechanisms in the healthcare sector and a range of workshops on business ethics for representatives of various state bodies.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator has been working on anti-corruption since 2012 and is currently conducting a project on Supporting Uzbekistan in Implementing and Promoting Business Integrity Standards.

403748 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Communication and Media Relations Section

A two-day OSCE-supported training course on the anti-corruption screening of legal acts for 20 representatives from Tajikistan’s government authorities, education institutions, and civil society concluded on 21 November 2018 in Dushanbe.

Organized jointly by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), the course aimed at enhancing awareness of international best practice and methodological skills. Representatives of the Agency for State Financial Control and the Fight Against Corruption, the Justice Ministry, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the National Center for Legislation, Tajikistan National University, and the Institute for Public Administration under the President of Tajikistan participated actively.

“Participants were able to effectively identify corruption risks with regard to the law on local government organs, the healthcare code, the law on education, the law on controlling the activity of economic subjects, and the law on the moratorium on controlling the activity of small and medium-sized enterprises,” said Jonas Grätz, OCEEA Economic Adviser.

The course was facilitated by experts from Moldova and the Russian Federation. The workshop provided participants with concepts and methods of identifying different corruption risks in legal acts and of communicating them effectively to outside stakeholders by drafting reports with a clear structure. The utility of digital tools for mastering an increasing workload while preserving a high quality of anti-corruption analysis was also discussed in detail.

“We have received very valuable information and practical knowledge during this course, which will help our Agency to carry out its tasks effectively,” said Yosuman Akramzoda, Senior Inspector of the Agency for State Financial Control and the Fight Against Corruption.

The workshop is part of an OSCE-led regional extra-budgetary project on fostering a participatory approach to preventing corruption in Central Asia. The project is designed to assist governments as well as civil society and businesses in developing and implementing national corruption prevention policies. It is funded by Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Serbia and Liechtenstein.

403733 Dragana Nikolic-Solomon Liudmyla Palamar Andrii Dziubenko 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

Women need to be safe in public, the workplace and at home so they can unfold their full potential and actively contribute to political and socio-economic development, said Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Ertugrul Apakan and Senior Project Officer of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine Jeff Erlich on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November 2018.

Gender-based violence takes many forms and cuts across all geographical and cultural boundaries. Apakan and Erlich stressed the OSCE’s commitment and contribution to effectively tackle violence against women in the OSCE region.

“As Ukraine greatly expands criminal liability for physical, psychological and economic domestic violence, we work to ensure stakeholders are ready to act in line with new legislation,” said Erlich. “We hope our support for increasing government efforts in this sphere will contribute to a safer life for all Ukrainian women and men.”

Discrimination and violence against women and girls, they said, is fundamentally a human rights issue, which is why both the OSCE SMM and OSCE PCU are actively engaged in the global 16 Days Campaign to End Gender-Based Violence, leading to the International Human Rights Day, 10 December.

“Based on the Helsinki Final Act’s comprehensive definition of security, in which individual equality plays its part, gender-based violence and inequality, like any human rights abuse, must be eliminated,” said Apakan. “Security for all requires the involvement and engagement of all, both women and men.”

Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Sweden, General elections, 9 September 2018: Final Report

While noting that there is public confidence in the election administration, the final report on the 9 September 2018 parliamentary elections in Sweden by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) recommends taking measures to ensure the secrecy of the vote and the transparency of campaign financing.

The report, published on 21 November 2018, recommends regulating the involvement of third parties in electoral campaigns to increase transparency and introducing additional measures for the transparency of campaign financing of individual candidates.

The report recommends that the secrecy of the vote be better ensured by addressing concerns related to the display of ballots in polling stations.

It also recommends introducing additional measures to ensure that ballot papers are made available to voters under equal conditions for all contestants.

ODIHR deployed an election expert team for the elections. The experts focused their assessment on the electoral legal framework related to the implementation of election procedures and campaign finance reporting and oversight rules.

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) visited Berlin and Karlsruhe from 19 to 21 November 2018 to present the final report of ODIHR’s election expert team for the 24 September 2017 elections to Germany’s federal parliament (Bundestag).

The report’s findings and recommendations were discussed with representatives of the Federal Foreign Office, the Ministry of Interior, the Election Scrutiny Board of the Bundestag, the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs and the Federal Constitutional Court.

The ODIHR experts presented recommendations that focused on strengthening the transparency of campaign finance and adjudication of election-related complaints.

“We appreciate the invitation by the authorities to present the final report from the recent parliamentary elections and engage in meaningful follow-up to discuss ODIHR’s recommendations,” said Tana de Zulueta, Head of the Election Expert Team.

The expert 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 following up on ODIHR's election assessments and recommendations.

VIENNA / PODGORICA, 21 November 2018 – Two legal reviews of Montenegro’s draft Law on media and draft Law on amendments to the Law on the national public broadcaster RTCG, were presented by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Maryse Daviet. The legal reviews were commissioned upon the request of Montenegro’s Ministry of Culture.

The legal reviews were prepared by Davor Glavaš, an experienced media expert with extensive knowledge about the Montenegrin legislative framework.

The main points highlighted in the review on the draft Law on media include, among other things, the need to establish a fund to support media pluralism, the necessity to elaborate on the criteria for awarding financial support to media, as well as the implementation of provisions on the transparency of ownership.

Regarding the draft Law on amendments to the Law on the national public broadcaster RTCG, the expert’s recommendations include the need to replace the “cascade” model with a “dual governing” model which would include the Council and the Supervisory Board, and for the Director General to be appointed by a qualified majority in the country’s parliament.

In Podgorica, Ambassador Daviet presented the two legal reviews to the Minister of Culture Aleksandar Bogdanović.

Désir and Daviet confirmed their readiness to continue assisting and supporting local authorities on any media-related issues including changes to legislation.

The legal reviews can be found here:

https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/403646; https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/403652; https://www.osce.org/me/representative-on-freedom-of-media/403655; https://www.osce.org/me/representative-on-freedom-of-media/403658

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.

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This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM followed up on reports of two civilians injured by shooting and shelling Zolote-5/Mykhailivka.
• The SMM observed heavy weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.
• The Mission recorded ceasefire violations near all three disengagement areas and observed armoured combat vehicles in the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs to essential infrastructure near Artema and Zolote-4/Rodina, as well as repairs to houses in Marinka and Krasnohorivka. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.
• Access for the SMM remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, near Zaichenko as well as Izvaryne, an area close to the border with the Russian Federation.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 120 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours (about 110 explosions). The majority of the ceasefire violations were recorded in areas near the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS), Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) and south-west of Lebedynske (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Mariupol).

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 200 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours (about 70 explosions). The majority of the ceasefire violations were recorded in areas near Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk), Holubivka (formerly Kirovsk, non-government-controlled, 51km west of Luhansk) and Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km north-west of Luhansk).

Two civilians injured by shooting and shelling

On 17 November, at a hospital in Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), medical staff told the SMM that on 14 November, a man (aged 29) had been admitted with a large cut on the left side of his head near the ear. Over the phone, the victim told the SMM that around 14:00 on 14 November, he had been inside a truck near Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk) when a bullet had hit the driver’s side window and shattered it and another window in the cab of the truck, cutting the left side of his head near the ear. Two representatives of an electricity company separately told the Mission that on 14 November the injured man had been driving a truck as part of repair works to a power substation near Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, and one of the representatives had then taken the injured man to the hospital in Pervomaisk following the incident.

On 15 November, at the same hospital in Pervomaisk, medical staff told the SMM that a man (62 years old) from Zolote-5/Mykhailivka had been admitted on the evening of 12 November with injuries on the left side of his chest consistent with shrapnel wounds and that he was recovering in the hospital. Medical staff told the SMM that they could not meet with the victim without “permission” from a “ministry” of the armed formations (see SMM Daily 16 November 2018).* On 15 November, in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, three residents (women, 50, 65 and 71 years old) separately told the SMM that there had been shelling on 12 November and that a man had been injured as a result. On 19 November, in the same settlement, the daughter (39 years old) of the victim told the SMM that her father had sustained a chest injury on 12 November between 17:00-18:00 while in the courtyard of his house at 20 Pervomaiska Street and that her father was still in the hospital in Pervomaisk.

Disengagement areas[2]

During the evening of 18 November, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard three shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 3-5km south, all assessed as outside the disengagement area.

During the same evening, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded five projectiles in flight (two from south-south-west to north-north-east, one from north-north-west to south-south-east and one from south-south-east to north-north-west), all at an assessed range of 2-5km east-south-east. The following day, the same camera recorded two muzzle flashes and two projectiles in flight (from north to south), all at an assessed range of 2-4km east-north-east. Positioned in Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions assessed at about 5km east and 5km south-west. All ceasefire violations were assessed to be outside the disengagement area.

On 18 November, inside the Zolote disengagement area, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted an armoured combat vehicle (ACV) (type undetermined) about 150m south of the area’s northern edge and about 1.2km west of its eastern edge, near previously observed positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as an ACV (type undetermined) about 120m south of the railway tracks and about 2km west of its eastern edge and an ACV (type undetermined) north of the railway tracks about 1.2km east of the area’s western edge, both near previously observed positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On the same day, an SMM long-range UAV also spotted an ACV (type undetermined) about 130m north of the Zolote disengagement area’s southern edge and about 800m west of its eastern edge, and an ACV (type undetermined) east of road T1316, about 800m north of its southern edge. Both ACVs were assessed as belonging to the armed formations. 

Positioned about 2km north of Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard five bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire at an assessed range of 2-3km south-south-east, all assessed as outside of the disengagement area.[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.  

In violation of the withdrawal lines

Government-controlled areas:

17. November:

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted three surface-to-air-missile systems (9K35 Strela-10) near Vynohradne (101km south of Donetsk)
• An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
  • a self-propelled howitzer (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) and three surface-to-air-missile systems (9K35) near Vershyna (63km north-east of Donetsk);
  • a surface-to-air missile system (9K35) near Myronivka (64km north-east of Donetsk); and
  • a surface-to-air missile system (9K35) near Ozarianivka (52km north of Donetsk).

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites

Government-controlled areas:

18. November:

• An SMM long-range UAV spotted two surface-to-air missile systems:
  • a 9K33 Osa near Verkhnokamianka (84km north-west of Luhansk); and
  • a 9K35 near Spirne (96km north of Donetsk).

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

Government-controlled areas:

17 November:

• An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
  • an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2, 23mm) mounted in the rear of a military truck near Vershyna;
  • three infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP-1) near Myronivka;
  • two probable IFVs (BMP-1) near Troitske (69km west of Luhansk);
  • three APCs (BTR variants), an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) and an ACV (type undetermined) near Malynove (19km north-east of Luhansk);
  • two APCs (BTR-70) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2, 23mm) mounted in the rear of a military truck near Artema (26km north of Luhansk); and  
  • a self-propelled anti-aircraft system (ZSU-23-4 Shilka, 23mm) near Ozarianivka.

18 November:

• An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
  • four ACVs (type undetermined) east of Bila Hora (54km north of Donetsk);
  • two IFVs (BMP-2) near Zaitseve (62km north-east of Donetsk);
  • two ACVs (type undetermined) near Vershyna; and
  • an ACV (type undetermined) near Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk).

Non-government-controlled areas:

17 November:

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted an IFV (BMP-1) and an APC (BTR variant) near Pryvitne (11km north of Luhansk).

18 November:

• An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
  • four IFVs (BMP-1) near Pakhalivka (40km west of Luhansk); and
  • an ACV (type undetermined) and a probable IFV (probable BMP variant) near Sokilnyky (38km north-west of Luhansk).

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to the Petrivske water pumping station near Artema, to powerlines in the neighbourhood of Vilnyi, east of Zolote-4/Rodina (government-controlled, 59km west of Luhansk), and houses in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) and Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 21km west of Donetsk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS.

Border areas not under government control

While at a pedestrian border crossing point near Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk) for 35 minutes, the SMM saw six people entering Ukraine and 11 people exiting Ukraine.

While at a pedestrian border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) for half an hour, the SMM observed that there were no members of the armed formations operating the border crossing point in Ukraine. The SMM observed eight people exiting Ukraine and three people entering Ukraine.

While at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk) for about ten minutes, the SMM observed a bus (with Ukrainian licence plates) exiting Ukraine. A member of the armed formations then told the SMM to leave the area.*

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, 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 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:

• At a checkpoint near Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), two armed men in military-style clothing denied the SMM passage west to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and south to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), saying there was “ongoing kinetic activity in the area.”
• At a border crossing point near Izvaryne, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

The SMM continued 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 south of the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), an armed member of the armed formations told the SMM that there had been no demining in the area, therefore the SMM did not consider it safe to proceed north.

Other impediments:

• On the evening of 18 November, an SMM long-range UAV temporarily lost its GPS signal, assessed as due to jamming,[5] while flying over areas near Trudove (government-controlled, 60km north of Luhansk), Hrechyshkyne (government-controlled, 45km north-west of Luhansk) and Baidivka (government-controlled, 75km north-west of Luhansk).

[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.

[5] The interference could have originated from anywhere within a radius of several kilometres of the UAV’s position.

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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 decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 21 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO) and one first responder[1].The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border                                                                                                                                                                                          

The profile of the people 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 people and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits decreased from 9,790 to 9,446 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[2].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of minus 17 for both BCPs.

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

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits noted crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs was sixteen this week (compared to ten last week); eleven of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and five into Ukraine (81 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 have tinted windows, and buses and minivans have drawn curtains.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

The OTs continued to report on families crossing the border, sometimes with elderly people and/or children, at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, five families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and five were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when no families were reported.

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 do not state their route; instead they have 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 (416 compared to 389 observed during the previous week). There were 222 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 194 bound for Ukraine.

Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” route or destination was noted: Stakhanov- Kyiv.

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

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OM observed an increase in the overall number of trucks crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the total number of trucks went from 737 to 782 (217 at the Gukovo BCP and 565 at the Donetsk BCP); 426 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 356 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, on a daily basis, the OTs also noted trucks registered in the Russian Federation and in Belarus.                                                                                           

Among them, the OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting week, the number of tanker trucks decreased to 50 (compared to 62 during the previous reporting period). 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 undergo systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which may 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 slightly increased from 114 to 119: of the total number of trucks scanned, 63 trucks (53 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 56 trucks (47 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[3] 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 slightly decreased from 167 to 163 vehicles; 82 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 81 into Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains running on the railway tracks located approximately 150 metres south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 15 occasions, compared to 21 last week; the OTs assessed that five trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and ten to Ukraine. 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.

During this reporting period the OTs observed Russian Federation police cars at the Donetsk BCP on three occasions: once on 15 November at 13:05 and twice on 16 November at 11:49 and at 14:10. In each case, the car arrived from the Russian Federation side, went behind the main building at the BCP and left a few minutes later in the direction of the Russian Federation.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 16 October to 20 November 2018, please see the attachment here.

[1] First responders are OSCE staff or mission members deployed to another mission for a short period of time

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

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

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VIENNA, 20 November 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, in Vienna to establish new co-operation with Albania on the future regulation of online media.

“I am very pleased to host Prime Minister Edi Rama in Vienna today and to deepen our co-operation following my visit to Albania in February this year,” said Désir. “Albania is a strong partner of my Office. Our co-operation on the new anti-defamation package and rules for online media is very important to ensure that provisions in future legislation are not restrictive to the freedom of expression, media freedom and access to the Internet.”

“This is one of the most complex and sensitive issues for freedom of expression in the digital age and I think our working together is positive for Albania and the whole South-Eastern European region,” concluded Désir.

The Representative informed the Prime Minister about a comparative study on defamation commissioned by his Office, providing an overview of OSCE participating States’ legislation in this area.

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.

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403511

Business ethics and compliance mechanisms in the healthcare sector were the topics of a two-day training seminar for healthcare regulators and professionals organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) on 19 and 20 November 2018 in Tashkent, in support of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The first day of the seminar brought together nearly 60 participants from government agencies (of whom nearly 20 were female representatives), while around 50 attended the second round of training aimed at healthcare professionals, 15 of whom were female participants. Both training seminars were conducted by Jaroslave Strecelnoks, a Latvian expert who previously held the position of  Chief of the Latvian Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) and who familiarized the participants with the concept of business ethics and the specific corruption risks prevalent in the healthcare sector. In this context, special attention was given to conflicts of interest and the culture of gift giving. Other topics included international standards in anti-corruption legislation, including standardized benchmarks and compliance mechanisms. 

In interactive sessions of the seminar, the participants were encouraged to share their own experience with corruption in their professional lives and were presented with  case studies.

The training seminar was held within the framework of a two-week anti-corruption programme organized by the General Prosecutor’s Office, in co-operation with the PCUz and other international organizations.

The PCUz has been active in the field of anti-corruption since 2012, currently working under the project Support Uzbekistan in Implementing and Promoting Business Integrity Standards.

403559 Marina Živaljević

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in partnership with the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and the Department for Gender Equality, delivered three two-day workshops during October and November 2018 to gender equality focal points from 12 Montenegrin municipalities on how to train their colleagues on understanding gender equality and gender mainstreaming.

The workshops, held in Podgorica on 24-26 October, 1-2 November and 13-14 November 2018, provided participants with an opportunity to learn how to plan and deliver training courses and organize awareness-raising events within their respective municipalities. Through an interactive approach, the experts strengthened the participants’ knowledge of gender mainstreaming, explained the legal framework in relation to gender equality, and presented training techniques and skills.

Towards the end of the workshop, each participant delivered a presentation after which they received comprehensive feedback from the experts.

The workshop is part of the OSCE Mission’s ongoing support to the work of the designated municipal gender equality focal points.

Edita Buçaj SDGs SDGs:  4 - Quality education

On 19 November 2018 the OSCE Mission in Kosovo completed the installation of indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras in the primary school Ali Hasi in the village Cërmjan/Crmljane, located in the municipality of Gjakovë/Djakovica, with the aim of reducing violence in schools. This brings the total number of schools equipped with cameras by the OSCE Mission to 15.

The project is part of the Missions efforts to support community safety initiatives by Local Public Safety Committees (LPSCs). Members of LPSCs have identified violence in schools as a persistent problem.

“Through these activities, we are working to continuously promote the community policing concept and support the LPSCs in implementing safety projects throughout Kosovo. The project reflects the concerns of parents and community leaders. We hope that the cameras will contribute to a safer educational environment for pupils and teachers,” said Jan Braathu, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

The OSCE Mission plans to continue with the installation of surveillance cameras in other schools in Kosovo in 2019.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with the protection and promotion of human and community rights, as well as with democratization and public safety sector development. It supports the community safety forums in contributing to safety, security and quality of life in local communities and all police regions, through capacity building and donation of relevant equipment.

Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Astana

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana supported a roundtable discussion on steps Kazakhstan could take to regulate the release and marketing of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) - any organism or microorganism, including agricultural products, whose genetic material has been altered by means of genetic engineering - on 20 November 2018 in Astana.

Experts from Kazakhstan and Ukraine presented their analysis of Kazakhstan’s current legislation to see what changes would be necessary if the country ratified the Aarhus Convention Amendment on “Public Participation in Decisions on Deliberate Release into the Environment and Placing on the Market of Genetically Modified Organisms" known as the “GMO Amendment”.

The GMO Amendment stipulates requirements for public participation in decisions concerning the deliberate release of GMOs. It aims to address public concerns related to health, loss of biodiversity and citizens' environmental rights. It provides a clear regulatory framework to ensure the effective engagement of the public in decision-making on GMOs. This includes early access to information and effective mechanisms to give individuals an adequate opportunity to provide feedback on the decision before it is taken.

Ratification by Kazakhstan’s parliament would require further changes to the country’s legislation to ensure compliance with the GMO Amendment.

The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in partnership with the Energy Ministry and brought together some 20 participants from government entities, research institutes and the expert community. It was part of the Programme Office’s multi-year activities to promote good environmental governance and to assist the host country in meeting its commitments under the Aarhus Convention.

Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Astana

A training seminar dedicated to the monitoring of media coverage during elections concluded in Astana on 20 November 2018.  The event was organized by the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan (CEC) in co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). 

Some 50 CEC members and state officials, who may also serve as election observers for OSCE/ODIHR and other international observation missions, learned about the role of media monitoring during elections, the ODIHR mandate and OSCE commitments, as well as practical aspects of media monitoring in international observation missions.  

Konstantin Petrov, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission, emphasized the importance of the freedom of expression as enshrined in OSCE and other international documents. He noted that the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas should be exercised without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. “Any restrictions on such rights must always be clearly set forth in law and comply with international standards”. 

“Freedom of speech and freedom of the media play an important role in any democratic process and the assessment of media coverage during election campaigns is a fundamental part of the election observation,” noted Diana Digol, Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. “During any election, media is an invaluable channel for information exchange between the candidates and the public.”

“OSCE participating States have mandated ODIHR to conduct comprehensive observation of all aspects of the election process,” said Radivoje Grujic, ODIHR Election Adviser, addressing seminar participants. “Any observation effort should pay significant attention to the activities of media and their coverage of elections”.

The event was part of the Office’s continuous efforts to enhance the transparency and accountability of electoral process and strengthen democratic institutions in accordance with OSCE principles and commitments.

403361 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

Youth involvement in promotion of gender equality, lessons learnt and experience in supporting the advancement of women and girls in their communities and among families, friends and peers were the focus of a roundtable discussion conducted by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe on 14 November 2018 in Dushanbe.

The event marked the first anniversary of the Tajik gender champions’ network established by the Office. It brought together 45 participants, including 30 women and 15 men representing youth wings of different national political parties and civil society organizations of the Dushanbe, Khatlon and Sughd regions. The network addresses the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions and decision-making processes, education for girls and other relevant matters by raising awareness through peer-to-peer approach, debate clubs and mobile theaters. Within a year of the establishment of the network, the gender champions were able to recruit 15 new members, including ten boys and five girls.

The EU Ambassador to Tajikistan, H.E. Marilyn Josefson, said: "It is impressive to see how much this network of creative and dynamic young gender champions have been able to achieve in one year. Gender equality is a crucial matter to all of us, men and women, boys and girls, old and young, as well as in all parts of the country. It is therefore very encouraging to see how the OSCE, through this network, has been able to mobilize enthusiastic gender champions in all strands and parts of the Tajik society. I'm looking forward to following and supporting their progress towards their next anniversary."

Vesna Ivanovikj-Castarede, the Gender and Anti-Trafficking Officer of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, explained: “These young people were selected at our mobile community training courses. They were handpicked to be further motivated, inspired and supported as gender advocates in order to tackle gender stereotypes in their communities.” She added that in the upcoming months, they will work on different assignments, such as leadership for women, entrepreneurial possibilities for young rural women and domestic violence issues. “We are proud to see their devotion and commitment and the OSCE will further continue working closely with these young people,” Ivanovikj-Castarede said.

This report is for the media and the general public.

• Between the evenings of 16 and 17 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period.
• Between the evenings of 17 and 18 November, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both regions, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• The SMM saw recent damage caused by shelling to civilian properties in Zolote-5 and Kruta Balka.
• The SMM observed heavy weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.
• The SMM recorded a ceasefire violation inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area.
• The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.
• In Kyiv, the Mission monitored a gathering in relation to attacks against civil activists, including Kateryna Handziuk. It also monitored a pre-announced gathering in support of transgender rights and saw two female participants being treated for pepper spray irritation.
• The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as near Bezimenne, Novolaspa and Dovzhanske, an area close to the border with the Russian Federation.*

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”.

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 16 and 17 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including a similar number of explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 110 explosions). The majority of the ceasefire violations was recorded in areas south and south-west of the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk), north-west of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk) and south-east and south of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk).

Between the evenings of 17 and 18 November, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including, however, a similar number of explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of the ceasefire violations was recorded in areas south of the DFS, south-east of Svitlodarsk and south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol).

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 16 and 17 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 30 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (ten explosions). Between the evenings of 17 and 18 November, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 70 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of the ceasefire violations were recorded in areas west and north-west of Kalynove (non-government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk).

Damage caused by shelling in residential areas

At 15/1 Dundycha Street in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), on 16 November, the SMM saw fresh shrapnel embedded in the west-facing side of a two-storey apartment building and a broken window on the same side. The Mission assessed the damage to have been caused by a round of an undetermined weapon fired from a north-westerly direction. A neighbour told the SMM that shelling had occurred near the building at 18:00 on 14 November.

In Kruta Balka (non-government-controlled, 16km north of Donetsk), on 18 November, the SMM saw two fresh impacts (scorch marks) on the north-facing side of a single-storey house and a broken window on the same side, assessed as caused by round(s) of an undetermined weapon. The Mission was unable to assess the direction of fire. A resident of the house told the SMM that at around 14:00 on 17 November, while at home, he had heard explosions and seen the abovementioned damage.

Disengagement areas[2]

During the day on 17 November, positioned near the entry-exit checkpoint inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 1km east, assessed as inside the disengagement area. The following day, the SMM observed a calm situation.

During the day on 17 November, positioned about 5km north-north-west of the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions assessed as artillery rounds and 18 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 5-10km south (assessed as outside the disengagement area). The same day, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded a projectile in flight from south-south-east to north-north-west at an assessed range of 3-5km east (assessed as outside the disengagement area). In the early evening of 18 November, the same camera recorded six projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east at an assessed range of 2-5km north-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 18 November, the SMM observed a calm situation in the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km 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.  

In violation of the withdrawal lines

Non-government-controlled areas:

17 November:

• 21 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk) (see SMM Daily Report 8 November 2018)
• Four self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and four towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) near Bile (22km west of Luhansk)

Weapons storage sites beyond withdrawal lines

Heavy weapons permanent storage sites in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region:

17 November:

• 13 MLRS (BM-21), 17 towed howitzers (16 D-30 and one 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) and 14 self-propelled howitzers (2S1) remained missing
• New weapons observed present for the first time

Permanent storage site in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region:

18 November:

• Five tanks (four T-64 and one T-72) remained missing
• A new weapon observed present for the first time

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

Government-controlled areas:

17 November:

• One armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk)
• One infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) in the yard of a house in Orikhove-Donetske (44km north-west of Luhansk)

Non-government-controlled areas:

16 November:

• Mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted three 10m-long trenches (not visible in imagery from 9 July 2018), each in the yard of houses in the Marivka neighbourhood of Zolote-5

17 November:

• Five APCs (four MT-LB and one BTR-80) in Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk)
• Tracks assessed as those of a tank (T-72) leading to an area near the contact line, north-west of Kalynove-Borshchuvate (61km west of Luhansk)

Civilian infrastructure

On 17 and 18 November, the Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS.

Situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints

On 16 November, the SMM saw two shelters (one under construction), a tent for heating and seven sanitary facilities at the entry-exit checkpoint in Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol). A woman (in her sixties) told the SMM that she had been waiting to cross for one hour, expressing concern over the lack of covering which protects pedestrians from weather.

On 17 November, at the checkpoint of the armed formations south of the bridge, the SMM saw about 400 people waiting for a bus to non-government-controlled Luhansk city. The Mission also saw an ambulance arrive at the site. A paramedic from the ambulance told the SMM that a man (aged 75) had required cardiac treatment and had been taken to a hospital in Luhansk city.

Border area not under government control

On 18 November, while at a border crossing point near Dovzhanske (84km south-east of Luhansk) for half an hour, the SMM saw four cars (two with Ukrainian, one with Russian Federation, and one with Belarusian licence plates) and a bus (with Ukrainian licence plates) entering Ukraine and two buses (with Ukrainian licence plates) exiting Ukraine. A member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

Gatherings in Kyiv

On 17 November, the SMM monitored a gathering in relation to investigations into attacks against civil activists, including Kateryna Handziuk (see SMM Daily Report 16 November 2018). The Mission saw about 130 protesters (mostly men, aged 17-45) gathered at 2 Volodymyrskyi Descent. It heard some of them complain about the reaction of law enforcement agencies. Later, the SMM saw a convoy of vehicles carrying half of the protesters drive to Minsk Avenue, where two police officers were present. Some of the protesters were carrying signs with messages, including “Who ordered the murder of Katya?” The Mission saw some of them spray-paint similar messages on the exterior wall of the residence of a government official and light flares. The SMM did not observe further incidents.

On 18 November, the SMM monitored the “Trans-March 2018” organized by the LGBTIQ community in support of transgender rights. The Mission saw around 50 people (20-40 years old) gathered on Shevchenko Boulevard. Some of them were holding rainbow and transgender flags. The SMM also saw about 40 young men gathered nearby – later joined by an additional 60 people (mostly men), some of them holding Katekhon and Tradition and Order flags – and heard some of them chanting messages critical of the LGBTIQ community. About 40 police officers in riot gear were separating the two groups. The Mission later saw paramedics of a non-governmental organization treating two female participants for pepper spray irritation. The SMM did not observe further incidents during its presence.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, 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 17 November, at a checkpoint 2.5km west of Bezimenne (non-government-controlled, 30km east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage west toward road E58, citing “orders from superiors”.
• On 18 November, at a checkpoint on the eastern edge of Novolaspa (non-government-controlled, 50km south of Donetsk), an armed member of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage, citing “security issues”. 
• On 18 November, at a border crossing point near Dovzhanske, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

The SMM continued 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.

Other impediments:

• During the night of 17-18 November, an SMM long-range UAV experienced signal interference[5]near government-controlled areas of Vershyna (63km north-east of Donetsk), Myronivskyi (62km north-east of Donetsk), Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk) and Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) and near non-government-controlled areas of Alchevsk (40km west of Luhansk), Rozkishne (9km south of Luhansk), Klynove (68km north-east of Donetsk), Vesela Tarasivka (17km west of Luhansk) and Zolote-5.

 

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM cameras in Hranitne and near Shyrokyne 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 hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[5] The interference could have originated from anywhere in a radius of several kilometres of the UAV’s position.

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ASTANA, 19 November 2018 – OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) commended today Kazakhstan’s strong support of the OSCE and its active participation in the Parliamentary Assembly as a sign of the country’s commitment to the success of the Organization. 

“Since chairing our Organization and hosting the last OSCE summit in 2010, Kazakhstan has continued to demonstrate its unconditional commitment to our work through continuous engagement in our activities,” said Tsereteli. “Following our recent Autumn Meeting in Bishkek, this visit is another important step to underscore Astana’s efforts to promote regional and international co-operation including through the OSCE, and to further underline our strong commitment to security in Central Asia.” 

The OSCE PA President was accompanied in meetings in Astana by his newly appointed Special Representative on Central Asia, Austrian parliamentarian Roman Haider, Deputy Secretary General Semyon Dzakhaev and the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, Ambassador Gyorgy Szabo. 

On 19 November, they met with the Chairman of the Senate and Head of Kazakhstan’s Delegation to the OSCE PA, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Chairman of the Mazhilis, Nurlan Nigmatulin, and Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov to discuss a wide range of issues including strengthening parliamentarism, nuclear non-proliferation, economic reforms and enhancing social welfare of citizens, promoting the rule of law through police and judiciary reform, as well as regional co-operation and the role of the OSCE in promoting regional security and addressing transnational threats such as terrorism. 

“This past year has shown that we can find inspiration in the diplomatic breakthroughs that have taken place in Central Asia, and I look forward to the continued active engagement of Kazakhstani parliamentarians to address the region’s challenges in our discussions and debates,” said Haider. “I believe it is important that we continue to work together towards the fulfillment of every country’s OSCE commitments, whilst also learning more about the successes and challenges faced by individual participating States.” 

The OSCE PA delegation also met with Ambassador Gyorgy Szabo and the staff of the Programme Office in Astana. Representatives of civil society engaged in OSCE-supported reforms aimed at modernizing the police and enhancing citizens’ trust in the judiciary system also stressed the importance of engaging civil society in the reform process to help ensure the sustainability of reforms. 

The OSCE PA delegation is scheduled to meet on 20 November with the Chairman of the Supreme Court, Zhakyp Assanov, as well as officials at the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to further discuss the status of police and justice reform. President Tsereteli and Special Representative Haider’s visit to Central Asia continues on 21 November in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where they will meet with senior officials. The President will also attend the Asian Forum on Human Rights in Samarkand on 22-23 November, together with the Chair of the OSCE PA General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions Margareta Kiener Nellen.

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Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Astana

Modernizing the system to select judges and activities of the High Judicial Council in Kazakhstan were the topic of an OSCE-supported international roundtable discussion held in Astana on 16 November 2018.

The event gathered some 100 high-level government officials, parliamentarians, representatives of the judiciary, non-governmental organizations, and local and international legal experts.

Participants discussed issues related to the objectivity and transparency of the selection process and the role of the legal community and civil society in the composition of bodies deciding on judicial selection. Representatives of the High Judicial Council presented key novelties in the procedure of competitive selection of judges and related qualification criteria.

Talgat Donakov, the Chairperson of the High Judicial Council, said: “The establishment of an independent and fair judiciary is one of the priorities of state policy. Today’s event is aimed at presenting the results of implemented measures to improve the system of selection of judges for public consideration.”

”Transparency is a key element for recruiting the best candidates for judicial posts and minimizing potential political influence in judicial decision-making. How these processes are undertaken is also essential for gaining public trust,” said György Szabó, the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana.

Experts from Italy and Spain shared experiences on the selection of judges in other countries and representatives of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights focused on standards and practices in the selection and appointment process of judges in the OSCE region.

The event was jointly organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, the High Judicial Council, and the Supreme Court, with support from the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy. It was part of the Programme Office’s long-term efforts to support criminal justice reform in Kazakhstan.

403229 Kunduz Rysbek

The Second International Conference on Islam in a Contemporary Secular State took place in Bishkek on 15 and 16 November 2018. The Conference was opened by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbai Jeenbekov and brought together representatives of government agencies, academics and independent experts working on religious issues from 20 countries across Asia and the Middle East, as well as representatives of embassies and international organizations based in Bishkek. 

The event was organized by the State Commission for Religious Affairs and supported by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and the United Nations in Kyrgyzstan.

Building on the Bishkek Declaration adopted in 2017, the Second International Conference focused on ways to integrate Islamic traditions into a modern and secular state and approaches to harmonizing relations in Muslim communities. The participants developed recommendations for improving the effectiveness of democratic governance in the religious sphere, and brainstormed about new ways to prevent radicalization and the spread of extremist ideas.

Praising Kyrgyzstan’s multinational and multi-confessional space, President Jeenbekov said: “Kyrgyzstan has declared complete freedom of religion and confessions and religious organizations have been given the opportunity to develop freely. Modern Kyrgyzstan is a state in which religion is separated from the state.” The President expressed his disapproval of the misuse of Islam by certain groups who try to impose their traditions and culture on the Kyrgyz people.

Referring to Kyrgyzstan’s strategic approach to the issue, Pierre von Arx, the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek said: “Just this month, the National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2040 was adopted. The document is comprehensive and it includes an entire chapter on religion in a democratic state, underlining the guarantee of civil rights including freedom of religion and belief by the Kyrgyz Republic.”

Von Arx added that the Office is also supporting the educational pilot project Basic History of Religious Culture, which introduces the history of world religions to secondary school students. The government made educating students about world religions mandatory for all schools in 2019.