Central Europe

PODGORICA, 20 March 2023 – Montenegro’s presidential election was competitive, with candidates able to campaign freely and fundamental freedoms for all citizens respected, but the candidate registration was not inclusive and longstanding shortcomings in the legal framework and campaign finance regulations remained unaddressed, international observers said in a statement today.

The joint observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and the European Parliament (EP) found that while the legal framework forms an adequate basis for democratic elections, numerous gaps and ambiguities in areas from election legislation to campaign finances undermine its effectiveness and demonstrate the need for comprehensive reform.  

“It was good to see a competitive election take place in a peaceful atmosphere,” said Tamás Meszerics, head of the ODIHR election observation mission. “But still there are numerous loopholes and ambiguities in the law. This allows the authorities to make arbitrary decisions and contestants to circumvent the rules. These are issues that need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

The election took place against the background of an ongoing institutional crisis and a political impasse, leading to the announcement of early parliamentary elections just three days before the presidential vote. While the election administration managed the electoral preparations efficiently and generally met legal deadlines, most members of the State Election Commission voted along political lines on key decisions including candidate eligibility, undermining public trust. The lack of a functioning Constitutional Court in the run-up to the election left a number of key issues without judicial review.

“Whatever the outcome of the election is, the newly elected president will have to work loyally together with the parliament to ensure that all state institutions function smoothly,” said Joe O’Reilly, head of the PACE delegation. “The political decision makers need to undertake a series of reforms, beginning with the electoral law. It is also vital to ensure the functionality of the Constitutional Court, which is the electoral authority of final appeal.”

In requesting citizenship and residence information for some potential candidates and denying registration on this basis, the election administration was discriminatory and went beyond legal procedures. At the same time, the law requiring at least two years of permanent residence in Montenegro before election day to be allowed to vote is missing clear criteria, while recent legal changes allow for arbitrary decisions that could disenfranchise eligible voters.

While the tone of the campaign in the run-up to the election was mostly neutral, some inflammatory speech was observed, and there were isolated incidents of violence and harassment as well as concerns over the potential use of state resources. The only woman candidate is under police protection and received threats over social networks during the campaign. Overall, women remain underrepresented political life.  While there were some cases of disturbance around polling stations and the secrecy of the vote was not always protected, election day was calm and procedures were largely followed.

“The civic spirit of Montenegrin voters has clearly emerged during these elections. Everywhere we observed on election day we were welcomed with warmth,” said Tonino Picula, head of the EP delegation. “Polling station workers managed the process well in an overall calm atmosphere. This behaviour is an example that shows the way forward for the elected representatives of citizens, away from divisions and towards a common understanding of a better future for the country and for the socioeconomic wellbeing of all citizens.”

There is a diverse media scene in Montenegro. However, political polarisation and the limited advertising market make media outlets vulnerable to internal and external influence from both business and political interests. The public broadcaster’s main channel provided almost no news coverage, making an informed choice more difficult for voters. While private TV channels provided extensive coverage ahead of the election, three out of the four private channels monitored by the observation mission displayed clear bias in their coverage. There were also widespread concerns over the potential impact of foreign TV programing on the campaign.

The international election observation to the first round of the presidential election in Montenegro totalled 187 observers from 41 countries, made up of 149 ODIHR experts, long-term, and short-term observers, 24 from PACE, and 14 from the EP.

For more information, please contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

Bogdan Torcătoriu, PACE: +382 63230913 or Bogdan.TORCATORIU@coe.int

Gonzalo de Mendoza Asensi, EP: + 32 460 76 44 16 or gonzalo.demendoza@europarl.europa.eu

ASTANA, 20 March 2023 – The 19 March early parliamentary elections were held in the context of reforms introduced to bring Kazakhstan closer to holding elections in line with international standards and OSCE commitments, as legal amendments addressed several previous recommendations and provided increased choice for voters. However, limits on the exercise of fundamental freedoms remain, and some political groups continued to be prevented from participation as parties in elections. Further changes to the legal framework are needed to provide a sufficient basis for conducting democratic elections, the international observers said in a statement released today.

While the elections introduced elements of competitiveness to the political arena, diverse administrative obstacles negatively affected the equality of campaign opportunities for some self-nominated candidates, and the practice of deregistration created uncertainty for candidates over their continued participation in the contest.

“Democracy is a process that requires constant attention and dedication. We have noted some welcome improvements, including related to election laws, but Kazakhstan will only achieve the stated political goal of democratic development if far reaching reforms continue,” said Irene Charalambides, OSCE Special Co-ordinator and Leader of the short-term observers. “In particular, greater attention to protecting everyone’s fundamental freedoms is needed. Most notably, the restrictive media space and limited campaign coverage did not match candidates’ efforts to engage in a more dynamic contest.”

Overall, contestants campaigned actively and freely. Party platforms and messages addressed a wide range of social and economic issues but were generally supportive of the president’s reform agenda. The campaign was more dynamic and generated higher engagement in the majoritarian contests in the main cities, as well as online, with some self-nominated candidates offering alternative programmes. Most television channels monitored provided equitable, but only superficial coverage of the campaign activities of political parties in one joint news item. This, combined with the limited news, investigative and analytical coverage did not facilitate voters’ ability to make an informed choice.

“The increased competition, particularly with self-nominated candidates, is a significant development. However, legal and practical hurdles continue to detract from a fully open race among equals,” said Reinhold Lopatka, Leader of the delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. “In the future, the publication of results for each polling station will be important for improved transparency and public confidence.”

Prior ODIHR recommendations related to fundamental freedoms of peaceful assembly, of expression and of the media have yet to be implemented. Undue administrative hurdles, broad discretionary powers during the party registration process and a lack of judicial remedy all remain of concern. Freedom of expression and the media, guaranteed by the Constitution, are undermined by a restrictive legal framework, which deters independent critical reporting and contributes to widespread self-censorship.

“Recently, the registration requirements for political parties were eased, partly addressing a previous ODIHR recommendation,” said Eoghan Murphy, Head of the election observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. “Still, the fact that there are those who continue to be prevented from participating in elections as political parties remains of concern and is not in line with international standards for democratic elections. On election day, which was calm, with voting organized in a smooth manner, significant procedural irregularities were observed during the counting and tabulation process.”

The electoral preparations were administered efficiently, and the Central Election Commission held regular live-streamed sessions and published its decisions promptly. However, the fact that outcomes were discussed in advance of formal sessions detracted from the transparency of the decision-making process. Several welcome initiatives to facilitate access for persons with disabilities to the electoral process were implemented. The observers noted concerns about the impartiality and independence of the work of lower-level election commissions, based on the perception of a prevalence of members of Amanat in their composition.

While voting was organized in a smooth manner overall, significant procedural irregularities were observed during counting and tabulation and important safeguards were often disregarded, undermining the transparency of the process. Observers consistently noted discrepancies between the number of voters casting their ballots and the officially reported preliminary turnout figures.

Women remain underrepresented, and measures to promote women’s participation in public and political life are limited. Women made up 29 per cent of the candidates in the proportional contest and 20 per cent in the majoritarian ones. Gender issues did not notably feature in the campaign and, while a number of well-known women stood as self-nominated candidates, party attempts to promote prominent women candidates were limited.

Overall, the accreditation of citizen and international observers was inclusive. although meaningful observation was not always ensured, due to restrictions during the counting and tabulation processes.

539258 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

Sixteen demining specialists from Central Asian countries completed a three-week regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal course (EOD level 3) on 17 March 2023 in Dushanbe. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized the event in co-operation with Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the United States Army Central.

The course participants represented Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan’s Ministries of Defence; Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence; the National Guard of Tajikistan; Tajikistan’s Border Troops and the Ministry of Interior.

The activity aimed to develop the competencies and enhance the qualifications of military personnel from Central Asia to perform their duties and tasks as qualified EOD Level 3 Operators when carrying out EOD operations according to International Mine Action Standards.

Other main topics covered in the course were EOD safeties; land service ammunition; rendering safe procedures and tools; EOD protective works; chemical and biological agents; demolition range management and disposal of explosive ordnance as well as EOD reporting and full mission profile.

Representing Tajikistan’s MOD, Major General Sayorabek Bachabekzoda, Head of the Engineering Department, said:  “Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defence highly appreciates the contribution of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe in supporting the Regional Explosive Hazards Training Centre of the MOD with EOD equipment and in training the regional specialists on EOD courses since the level of the threat of terrorism and the threat posed by explosive hazards have not decreased in the region yet.”

Major General Muhabbat Ibrohimzoda, Director of Tajikistan’s National Mine Action Centre, stressed the importance of the EOD courses in the context of regional security.

Captain Muhammad Umair, U.S. Air Force Bilateral Affairs Officer from the Office of Military Co-operation at the United States Embassy in Dushanbe said: “I hope that you found the training directly applicable to your dangerous jobs and something that will keep you safe as you are continuing to keep Central Asia mine free. We are stronger when we work together.  Together, we can enhance regional security and work towards a brighter future.”

The course will sustain the training capacity within the Ministries of Defence of Central Asia to train its staff on explosive hazards and operational management resources. It will allow the Ministries to continue internal capacity development and skills transfer in their departments in Central Asia and other OSCE participating States, as per national and international standards.

VIENNA, 17 March 2023 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, strongly condemned today the judgements in the cases against editor-in-chief Maryna Zolatava and director general Ludmila Chekina, of TUT.BY, one of the largest and most prominent Belarusian media portals.

According to reports, on 17 March, the Minsk City Court sentenced, in a session behind closed doors, Zolatava and Chekina to 12 years in prison. The authorities reportedly had pressed multiple charges against them, and both have been in custody since May 2021.

These verdicts follow a long list of the latest imprisonments and arrests of media workers, including these of Valeryia Kastsiuhova, political observer and editor of the website Nashe Mneniye. sentenced to 10 years; Andrzej Poczobut, journalist, sentenced to 8 years; Darya Losik, wife of jailed RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik, sentenced to 2 years; Dzmitryy Luksha, journalist, sentenced to 4 years; Larysa Shchyrakova, former journalist, in pre-trial detention; Siarhei Stankevich and Aleh Rubchenia, editor-in-chief and deputy editor-in-chief respectively of Infa-Kurier newspaper, under arrest.

“The cruel verdicts against Maryna Zolatava and Ludmila Chekina, and other recent detainments of media workers are another illustration of the continued wide-scale persecution of journalists and independent voices in Belarus,” Ribeiro said. “I renew my call on the authorities to reverse this detrimental trend, to release all imprisoned media workers and abide by their OSCE media freedom commitments and other international standards.”

According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, currently, 36 media workers are detained in Belarus for their journalistic work.

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

539147 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

From 13 to 17 March, the OSCE conducted a five-day needs assessment visit to Moldova on the country’s law enforcement structures. This visit, in response to the security challenges in the region, took place in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Moldova.

The war against Ukraine has directly affected Moldova’s public and security sectors, with the authorities facing increasing challenges in addressing the influx of people and goods coming into, or transiting through, the country.

During the visit, OSCE officials met with the Head of the General Police Inspectorate (GPI) and representatives of the General Inspectorate of Border Police (GIBP) as well as several directorates and subdivisions pertaining to analytical analysis, operational management, public order and security, criminal investigation, canine support and anti-corruption. In addition to assessing the capacities of these directorates, the meetings involved field visits to a regional police inspectorate, a visit to the special police brigade “Fulger”, and practical demonstrations of police work.

"It is very important for the police to be a well-trained force, capable of being close to citizens and performing its duties efficiently, and this can be achieved by increasing the level of professionalism of police employees. I am grateful to our international partners such as the OSCE for showing interest and being always responsive and open to our requests,” said Viorel Cernăuțeanu, Head of the General Police Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova.

“The purpose of our visit is to take stock of the needs of the law enforcement system in Moldova and the OSCE’s ability to meet them. The more detailed and thorough information we can gather, the better we can prepare an assessment report to inform  our project aimed at strengthening the capacity of the law enforcement agencies in Moldova to fight transnational organized crime,” said Noah Lilienfein, Adviser on Fight Against Organized Crime at the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department.

The OSCE representatives received information on the current legislative framework, technical aspects, infrastructure, human resources, finances, and an overview the needs and challenges facing the GPI and the GIBP. The Transnational Threats Department will also explore components of airport security to be included in the project and mainstream a gender perspective in all project activities.

The findings of the mission will support tailoring the activities under of the "Support to the Law Enforcement Agencies in Moldova in Response to the Security Challenges in the Region" project. Incorporating the needs of the beneficiaries on the ground will help strengthen their capacity to fight transnational organized crime in Moldova and support law enforcement institutions to address the security challenges created by the war against Ukraine.

539135 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe completed a capacity-building training course on avalanche safety for 20 representatives of Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence on 17 March 2023. The two-week course aimed at enhancing the rescuers’ skills and capacities in the area of search and rescue operations in an avalanche area as well as the recovery of victims after an avalanche in challenging winter conditions.

The training course covered topics such as identification of snow properties, causes of avalanche formation, factors affecting the degree of avalanche danger, methods for determining the degree of avalanche danger, search and rescue operations in an avalanche area, and first aid for an avalanche victim.  

Theoretical sessions were held in the training facility of the Committee in the Varzob district and practical sessions were conducted in the avalanche danger zones at the Ushtur and Maikhura passes of the Varzob district. Local experts from the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the Committee delivered the course.

“On behalf of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, I would like to express my appreciation to all the participants for their active participation and valuable contributions to the avalanche safety course. Your commitment and enthusiasm ensured the success of our training,” said Ilgar Ibrahimli, Senior Executive Officer at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe. “I extend my sincere gratitude to the European Union for their financial support and fruitful co-operation with the Programme Office in organizing this training course for Tajik rescuers.”

The event was conducted as part of the OSCE’s project on the Stabilization of Tajikistan’s southern borders with Afghanistan, funded by the European Union. The project aims to strengthen the professional capacities of both Tajikistan’s Border Troops and the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense to tackle illicit activities in border regions and respond to natural disasters.

PODGORICA, 17 March 2023 – International election observers will hold a press conference to present their findings following the presidential election in Montenegro.

What:

• A press conference of the international election observation mission to the presidential election in Montenegro
• The press conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)
• You can also follow the livestream on www.facebook.com/osce.odihr

Who:

• Tamás Meszerics, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission
• Joe O’Reilly, Head of the PACE delegation
• Tonino Picula, Head of the EP delegation

When:

• 14:30 local time (GMT +1) on 20 March 2023

Where:

• Lesendro Conference room, Ramada hotel, 74 Bulevar Save Kovačevića, Podgorica

Registration:

• To take part via Zoom, please register by 11:00 local time on 20 March using the following link.       

The international election observation is a joint mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and the European Parliament (EP). The observation mission totals 187 observers, made up of 149 ODIHR-deployed experts, long-term, and short-term observers, 24 from PACE, and 14 from the EP.

For more information, please contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

Bogdan Torcătoriu, PACE: +382 63230913 or Bogdan.TORCATORIU@coe.int

Gonzalo de Mendoza Asensi, EP: + 32 460 76 44 16 or gonzalo.demendoza@europarl.europa.eu

ASTANA, 17 March 2023 – International observers will hold a press conference to present their preliminary conclusions following the early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan.

What:

• A press conference of the international election observation mission for the early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan
• Journalists can attend the press conference in person or via Zoom (details below)
• For all others, the press conference is open to the public, and can also be followed on livestream at www.facebook.com/osce.odihr and www.oscepa.org

Who:

• Irene Charalambides, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the OSCE short-term election observation mission
• Reinhold Lopatka, Head of the delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA)
• Eoghan Murphy, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission

When:

• 15:00 local time  (GMT +6) on 20 March 2023.

Where:

• Saryarka III, ground floor, Radisson Hotel Astana, Saryarka Ave. 4, Astana

Registration:

• No registration is necessary if you are attending the press conference in person, but questions will only be taken from journalists.
• For those journalists who wish to take part and ask questions via Zoom, please register with Thomas Rymer, ODIHR limited election observation mission spokesperson, thomas.rymer@odihr.kz, and Egor Tilpunov, media analyst, egor.tilpunov@odihr.kz, by 11:00 local time on 19 March.

539021 Jeff Bieley Edita Buçaj

The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Michael Davenport, attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Municipal Coordination Mechanism against Domestic Violence (MCMDV) in Novo Brdo/Novobërdë Municipality.

Ambassador Davenport emphasized that the establishment of the municipal coordination mechanism was a significant step forward and demonstrated the commitment of Novo Brdo/Novobërdë to a more effective joint institutional response to tackling domestic violence.

“The effective operation of the Memorandum the Co-ordination Mechanism can help to provide support and necessary services to victims of domestic violence, to provide security and to improve the efficiency of community services to prevent domestic violence from arising in the first place,” he said.

Nazlie Bala, Adviser to the Minister of Justice, said that all this work, engagement and dedication wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of international organizations. “I would like to highlight in particular the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, because I know what the Mission has done in the area for human rights, particularly in the area of domestic violence. The Mission has directly helped as a drafter of many different strategies and action plans to address domestic violence,” she said.

The signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding included representatives of the court and prosecution, Kosovo Police, relevant municipal directorates, the Victims’ Advocacy and Assistance Office, the Centre for Social Work, the local shelter for victims of domestic violence and civil society organizations.

This is the 19th Municipal Coordination Mechanism against Domestic Violence established with the support of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. These mechanisms aim to strengthen co-ordination, information sharing, and engagement of all relevant actors at the local level, and include concrete steps to improve prevention of domestic violence, and strengthen the protection, treatment, and reintegration of victims.

538967

With less than two months from the local government elections of 14 May, Head of the OSCE Presence Ambassador Guido De Sanctis hosted today a meeting with the Heads of Missions of OSCE participating States and international organizations in Albania to exchange information and co-ordinate assistance and positions on elections.

State Election Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi – who attended part of the meeting - briefed participants on the preparations conducted by Central Election Commission (CEC) ahead of the elections, and answered their questions. He thanked the OSCE and other international partners for their continuous support to the CEC.  

Ambassador De Sanctis spoke about the findings of the OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission report and recalled previous recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR remaining to be addressed. Considering the CEC as one of the closest and most trusted long-term partners, he assured of the continuation of the support to this institution.

Today’s event was a special meeting of the OSCE Presence-initiated International Election Working Group – a forum of representatives of the OSCE participating States and international organizations in Albania that meets periodically to exchange information and co-ordinate positions.

WARSAW, 15 March 2023 – With cities often at the forefront of responding to the challenges of integrating refugees and migrants, four major international organisations together with the Union of Polish Metropolises will tomorrow launch the Academy on the Integration of Migrants and Refugees in Polish Cities, a series of training courses that draw on their knowledge and expertise to assist city administrations.

Over the next 18 months, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will offer a series of training courses for staff from a range of local authorities in Poland to address numerous aspects of migrant and refugee integration in cities.

“Integrating migrants is not an option but a necessity – and one that benefits everyone, creating more inclusive and sustainable cities for all,” said ODIHR First Deputy Director Kateryna Ryabiko. “Cities are well-placed to understand the needs of the people arriving and what is needed for residents as well as the local labour market and service infrastructure to absorb them.”

Although migration policy is generally set nationally, migrant and refugee integration and inclusion policies take shape at the regional and local level. Local authorities therefore play a vital role in integration, and can also create spaces where refugees or migrant and host communities come together to find common interests, learn from each other and overcome prejudice. To achieve this goal, cities need to rely on well-trained staff able to respond to challenges flexibly and efficiently.

“The efforts of Polish cities to host refugees from Ukraine and other countries have been remarkable,” said Christine Goyer, UNHCR Deputy Representative in Poland. “UNHCR works with municipalities and local organizations to foster inclusion, and develop long-term solutions for refugees.”

Cities have also developed innovative strategies by learning from other cities in similar situations. However, in order to manage the varying needs of the newcomers, and especially in the face of large and sudden increase in arrivals, it is also crucial that they form partnerships at local level and cooperate with a range of other groups, from civil society through to local businesses.  

“Making migrant integration work is a key step for building prosperous communities based on anti-discrimination and equality, where everyone belongs and thrives,” says Thorsten Afflerbach, Head of Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Programmes at the Council of Europe. “Our Intercultural Cities Programme has designed methodologies and tools that support local authorities in acquiring the intercultural competencies they need to manage diversity as an advantage for society as a whole.”

In March 2022, the 12 largest Polish cities and the municipalities surrounding them hosted almost 70% of all refugees from Ukraine who had arrived in Poland after the military attack by the Russian Federation in Ukraine a month earlier. In total, the new arrivals together with the Ukrainians already living in Poland beforehand numbered more than 2.2 million. As the war in their country continues, most Ukrainians living in Poland remain in the country’s largest urban centres.

“Our cities have faced the enormous challenge of accommodating many new inhabitants since February last year. We therefore use every possible opportunity to prepare our staff for working with the newcomers and addressing this challenge,” said Tomasz Fijołek, Managing Director of the Union of Polish Metropolises. “The Academy will be a perfect platform for our cities to meet and exchange experiences, and to benefit from the expertise of international organizations.” 

The content of the training courses has been tailored to the specific context in Poland. The courses will be delivered in Polish to ensure they are accessible and as useful as possible to all participants.

Media contacts:

ODIHR: Katya Andrusz, Spokesperson – katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

UNHCR Poland: Tarik Argaz, Communications Officer – argaz@unhcr.org

Council of Europe: Panos Kakaviatos, Spokesperson – panos.kakaviatos@coe.int / Tatiana Baeva, Spokesperson – Tatiana.baeva@coe.int

Union of Polish Metropolises: Julia Wiśniewska, Communications Coordinator – j.wisniewska@metropolie.pl

538866 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

A roundtable event of the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians in Tajikistan to discuss the “Law on State guarantees of equal rights for men and women and equal opportunities for its implementation” took place on 14 March 2023 in Dushanbe. The event was jointly organized by the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians and the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

Some 35 representatives, including 32 female participants, of the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians, the Union of Women Judges, and the Association of Women’s Councils in the Ministry of Internal Affairs attended the event. They discussed the implementation of the law, collected proposals from the three women’s caucuses and relevant state entities regarding challenges in the law’s implementation, and made recommendations for its amendment.

Opening the workshop, Tea Jaliashvili, Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe said: “Tajikistan has adopted many laws and state programs on gender equality and the OSCE has put its modest contribution to these developments and the formation of women’s caucuses in the Parliament of Tajikistan, Courts as well as the Ministry of Interior.”

"Equality is the guarantee of a prosperous society in every country. It is a guarantee of peace and stability in society, as it implies fairness and objectivity of society to each citizen. The Parliament and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan have adopted several regulatory legal acts and decisions that promote equal participation of men and women in all spheres of the country's development”, said Dilrabo Mansuri, Deputy Chairperson of Majlisi Namoyandagon of Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan (the Lower Chamber of Tajikistan’s Parliament).

In the fall of 2023, the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians will hold a parliamentary hearing on the implementation of gender equality-related laws and provisions and include the results of the roundtable in order to share feedback and challenges identified during the discussion with the entire Parliament.

538881 The participants of “Youth Against Corruption” event during the case discussion For Media inquires

To increase the involvement of younger generations in the fight against corruption, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana (the Office) organized this year’s “Youth Against Corruption” event on 13 March with the Public Association “Jastar Alauy”.

The event focused on raising awareness and encouraging action against corruption, with a specific emphasis on the crucial role of young people play in identifying, reporting, and countering corruption. Corruption remains a significant challenge that undermines trust in public institutions, hinders economic growth, and negatively affects people’s daily lives.

The Youth Against Corruption event provided space for dialogue and learning while mobilizing young people to act against corruption. It brought together a diverse group of speakers from corporations, academia, and government bodies to discuss challenges and opportunities of fighting corruption. Panel discussions provided participants with a platform to engage in meaningful dialogue and learn from experts on topics related to corruption. The event covered essential topics such as the significance of transparency and accountability in institutions.

“…the enthusiasm that these young people bring to the fight against corruption is truly inspiring, and it shows that they understand the vital role that they play in shaping the future of our country”. – Miras Kargabay, Head of the Preventive Services Department of the Anti-Corruption Agency.

Additionally, event included a contest, during which participants were confronted with research cases simulating real-life corruption cases. Young people were thereby encouraged to identify and take action, inspiring them to become champions of transparency and accountability in their communities.

President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has made fighting corruption a high priority in the ongoing presidential reform agenda. In September 2020, President Tokayev launched a new anti-corruption policy, which aims to strengthen institutional and legal frameworks, enhance transparency, and promote public participation in the fight against corruption. A key priority of this policy is to enhance the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures among young people, and encourage their active participation in the fight against corruption.

This aligns well with the goals of the "Youth Against Corruption" event supported by the Office, which encouraged young people to act against corruption, while fostering a community of emerging leaders who collaborate to address corruption challenges within the country. As Kazakhstan continues to implement anti-corruption reforms, the involvement of youth will be crucial to ensuring their success and promoting a culture of transparency and accountability.

VIENNA, 13 March 2023 – Freedom of expression as well as the freedom for media to operate independently are key pillars of a genuine democracy, OSCE leaders said during a two-day Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting in Vienna.

Some 240 people from across the OSCE region registered for the meeting in Vienna, which will discuss the role of media freedom as a central pillar of comprehensive security. Organized by the OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the event brings together representatives of OSCE states, international organizations, civil society, and the media. Participants will focus on the interconnection between the media, democracy, and security across the OSCE region, especially in times of conflict and crisis, and discuss ways of strengthening this relationship.

“Media freedom is a direct indicator of the civilizational progress of society and represents a critical segment of any democratic society. In the contexts where freedom of expression is not valued and press freedom is threatened, our democracy is threatened, too. Hence, we will continue to strive to promote and support activities that counter any violations of free expression, including programs aiming at safer environment for journalists. And finally, what represents an utmost necessity is the confirmation of our collective political determination that created, supported and reinforced the RFoM mandate throughout the past, while mobilizing all of our resources to maintain, advocate and advance the media freedoms, stipulated in the broader set of OSCE security commitments,” emphasized Ambassador Igor Djundev on behalf of the Chair.

Free and independent media are one of the cornerstones of democratic societies, and they have never been more important to navigate the current security challenges facing the OSCE region. Participants will begin by discussing the significance of media freedom for common security. The second session will highlight the role of free media across all three pillars of the OSCE’s comprehensive security framework, encompassing the political and military, the economic and environmental, and human rights principles. Finally, there will be a discussion of the interlinkage between democracy and media freedom, and the need to ensure the safety of journalists as a precondition for safeguarding democracy.

“It is clear that the OSCE region is going through a particularly difficult time, with its common security challenged also by a growing disregard for democratic values across many parts of the region,” said OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, “Independent media have a crucial role in upholding and restoring democracy, peace and security, and there can therefore be no security without media freedom. To ensure media freedom throughout the OSCE region, we need unity, courage and above all, political will. It is in the interest of us all to be safe and fully enjoy our human rights.

An enabling environment for free media is not only essential for ensuring media pluralism, but also to develop and sustain inclusive and robust democratic societies. OSCE countries have made numerous commitments to ensuring freedom of expression, freedom of information and freedom of the media, including access to media and information. They have also recognised that independent media and freedom of expression are vital for stable and peaceful societies.

“Media freedom, as all other fundamental freedoms and human rights, is a founding block of peace and long-term security,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “A lack of respect for media freedom has a negative impact on the rights of every individual, and ultimately on the stability of our societies. When we look at the critical role media play during elections as well as the work of human rights defenders, we see clearly that free and independent media are vital for overall trust in democratic institutions.”

Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings are a platform for the OSCE’s participating States and OSCE institutions, as well as international organizations and civil society, to exchange views and good practices in order to find common solutions for the challenges facing societies across the OSCE region. Today’s discussion is the first SHDM of 2023, with two more planned for this year.

VIENNA/BELGRADE, 10 March 2023 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Jan Braathu, expressed their concerns today over the recent targeting of several journalists in Serbia, urging the authorities to thoroughly investigate all incidents and swiftly bring all those responsible to justice, as proscribed by Serbian law.

According to reports, three journalists have recently been subjected to violence and intimidation, offline and online, while another journalist felt compelled to leave the country over safety concerns.

On 7 March, Marko Dragoslavić, a journalist with FoNet news agency, was assaulted by an unknown individual shortly after covering the “Students for Kosovo” rally in Belgrade. Meanwhile, on the same day, Stevan Dojcinović, journalist and editor of the award-winning investigative media outlet Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) received online threats calling for his murder.

Earlier, on 3 March, Milan Nikić, a local journalist working for N1 TV in the city of Kragujevac, reported to the authorities that an unknown individual had surveilled his apartment for 40 minutes. Prior to this, an unknown person had confronted Nikić while he was covering a protest of dismissed workers of the Kragujevac ‘waterworks and sewerage’ public utility company.

Furthermore, journalist and writer Marko Vidojković and his wife were recently relocated to an unknown location outside of Serbia with the support of PEN International. The relocation followed a series of anonymous death threats on social media during the recent years. Vidojković, with his colleague Nenad Kulacin, regularly hosts the podcast “Dobar, Loš, Zao” (The Good, the Bad and the Evil).

“I am concerned by acts of violence and threats against journalists in Serbia. No journalist should face attacks or intimidation over their work, or be compelled to leave their home country for that matter. Acts that threaten the personal safety and integrity of journalists represent a serious obstacle to media freedom and hamper the free flow of information and citizens’ right to access information of public interest. I urge the authorities to do their utmost to thoroughly investigate all the incidents and swiftly bring all perpetrators to justice, and ensure journalist’s safety, online and offline,” Ribeiro said.

“The safety of journalists is a fundamental principle among the OSCE participating states. Each case of attack on journalists and other media professionals should be efficiently and effectively investigated and condemned publicly by the authorities, as foreseen by the 2018 OSCE Decision on Safety of Journalists. The Mission will continue cooperating with the Permanent Working Group for Safety of Journalists, government institutions and media organisations in line with OSCE consensus commitments,” Braathu added.  

Representative Ribeiro and Ambassador Braathu call the authorities to continue implementing the 2018 OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on Safety of Journalist and to ensure full compliance with OSCE commitments and international freedom of expression standards in order to enable the safety and freedom of journalists in practice.

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

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Promoting good governance and combating corruption, money laundering and financing of terrorism are key areas of OSCE activity. In this regard, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan – together with the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Financial Intelligence Unit of Uzbekistan), the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG), and the International Training and Methodology Centre for Financial Monitoring – organized the “Meeting with Donors and Providers of Technical Assistance” on 9-10 March in Tashkent.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Technical Assistance Plan for Uzbekistan on anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), developed after the publication of the Second Evaluation Report of the EAG Secretariat in 2022. The report, which aims to bring national AML/CFT systems in line with international standards, identified a number of shortcomings, which the Technical Assistance Plan aims to address. Discussions thus focused on strengthening the host country’s capacity to effectively overcome those, especially by identifying areas for better co-operation among donors and providers of technical assistance and defining the timeframe for the implementation of the Plan.

The event gathered more than forty participants – including representatives from different donor countries and international organizations.

Dilshod Rahimov, Head of the FIU of Uzbekistan, stressed that the implementation of the recommendations of the Mutual Evaluation Report to improve the national AML/CFT system was essential to create a better investment climate and greater transparency, thus ensuring sustainable economic growth.

Hans-Ullrich Ihm, Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator, assured that the OSCE will continue to support Uzbekistan in its efforts to combat money laundering and corruption, and underlined the importance of these meetings in offering avenues to additional capacity building, better coordination and more efficient implementation.

538722 Communication and Media Relations Section

Approaches and methodologies for education on cybercrime and digital evidence for criminal justice practitioners were at the centre of a two-day regional meeting held on 9 and 10 March 2023 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The event, organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, brought together over 25 senior representatives from law enforcement educational institutions and agencies across Central Asia. Various good practice examples on cybercrime education from across the OSCE area were presented during the meeting. Expert speakers shared their experiences and included representatives of the Prosecutor’s Office of Estonia, the European Cybercrime Training and Education Group, the Norwegian Police University College, the Cybercrime Bureau of the Korean National Police Agency, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training, University College Dublin Centre for Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Investigation, and Hesse State University for Public Management and Security.

“Central Asia, as many other parts of the world, has been undergoing rapid digitalization. Every criminal justice actor needs to understand the basics of digital evidence and the role of digital technologies in facilitating or conducting criminal activities. Our law enforcement academies need to adapt to these new challenges and we need to ensure we have a structured and systematic education in this field,“ said Evgeniy Kolenko, acting head of the Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The meeting brought together heads and deputy heads of key educational institutions in Central Asia. These included the Almaty Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan; the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Training Centre of the Prosecutor General’s Office and Institute of the State Committee of National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Training Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Turkmenistan; and the Law Enforcement Academy and the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The meeting was organized as part of the “Capacity building on combating cybercrime in Central Asia” project, which is funded by Germany, the Republic of Korea, and the United States of America.

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On 8 and 9 March 2023, the OSCE Presence in Albania organized a technical training for eight staff members of the Albanian State Police, who will be involved with the deactivation, inspection, verification, marking and certification of firearms.

The training was based on the manual “Operational guidance for verifiers inspecting deactivated firearms”. The manual was developed with the Presence’s assistance, as part of its efforts to improve the deactivation legislative framework, the establishment and implementation of a functional mechanism for firearms deactivation, as well as to increase of capacities of the Albanian authorities in this regard.

The training covered all technical processes, including verification, marking, certification and record keeping. It focused on international and regional developments and best practices of firearms deactivation.

The development of the manual and the training are part of the project “Assisting the national authorities of the Republic of Albania to decrease the risk of weapon proliferation and misuse of Small Arms and Light Weapons”, which is implemented by OSCE Presence in Albania with funds by the European Union, Germany and France.

The project will also assist the Albanian State Police to improve the facilities of the Material-Technical Supply Centre, will purchase the necessary deactivation equipment, and provide certified capacity building for the deactivation personnel.

538596 Mirvete Islam, OSCE Mission to Skopje

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Killian Wahl, invited the Gender Equality Platform and women’s rights activists to hear first-hand about their initiatives, activities, challenges and advocacy efforts. The event helped us to identify points for co-operation between the Mission and the participants.

Ambassador Wahl expressed gratitude to the activists for their hard work on behalf of gender equality and the advancement of the rights of women and other marginalized groups in the country. Acknowledging that there is still a lot of work to be done, he added, “The pursuit of gender equality in politics, the society and the economy can only succeed through the joint and synchronized efforts of institutions, political actors, NGOs and all other stakeholders”.

“During the early 2000s, the OSCE Mission to Skopje was one of the greatest supporters when the first initiative to increase the percentage of women on electoral lists up to 30% was put forward in front of the Parliament, and the subsequent effort to increase it to 40% in 2015. As a result, we look forward to receiving advocacy support from the Mission in the new initiative to achieve 50% women on electoral lists,” Savka Todorovska, President, National Council for Gender Equality.

“Never underestimate the power of networking,” said Sabrije Tefiki from the Women’s Forum Tetovo, adding that it is very important for her as a young woman “to be able to meet peers working towards the same cause of advancing women’s rights, sharing experiences, and ensuring the voices of women and youth are heard in policymaking.”  

Marija Savovska from Akcija Zdruzenska agreed, adding “the event was a great opportunity to meet Mission Members with whom we found mutual understanding about how to try to enhance women’s political participation at the local level.” In the same vein, Marija Risteska, Executive Director of the Center for Research and Policy Making and the co-ordinator for the EBRD’s Western Balkans Women in Business Programme, identified co-operation to invigorate the policy dialogue on women’s economic empowerment as a possible area for cooperative advocacy.

Marija Todorovska, the Programme Director at Open Gate – LaStrada in North Macedonia, spoke about her organization’s work on preventing trafficking in human beings. She noted that “The role of police and the law enforcement agencies is crucial in ensuring the co-ordinating mechanisms work well for a timely response, protection and prevention and the OSCE Mission to Skopje’s support in this domain is significant in boosting their capacities.”  

Biljana Tasheva from Vizija Kavadarci, presented her organization’s work founding the first regional counselling centre for women and children victims of domestic violence, which is jointly financed by the municipalities of Kavadrci, Negotino, Demir Kapija and Rosoman. Natasha Dimova from the Stella Network, took the opportunity to speak with the Ambassador about their new project aimed at mentoring young ladies between the ages of 15 and 19 to help them as they begin to think about their future careers.

Hajdi Shterjovа Simonovikj, the Executive Director of the Healthy Options Project Skopje (HOPS), summed up the experience, saying that the event was of great importance because  “representatives from the sector working on gender equality gathered at the same place,” which gave them “the opportunity to exchange information, update each other on current activities, network, and discuss further co-operation in the field of gender equality, prevention and protection from gender-based violence and domestic violence.”

VIENNA, 8 March 2023 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, today condemned the Belarusian authorities’ decision to designate the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) as an “extremist formation”.

According to reports, on 7 March 2023, the Belarusian authorities added BAJ to its list of “extremist formations,” based on an earlier decision by the Committee for State Security. Eight individual members of BAJ, including the organization’s management, have also been included in the list. The act of creating, or participating in, an “extremist formation” carries the possibility of being punished with long prison sentences.

“It is deeply regretful that the Belarusian authorities continue to create a climate of harassment and fear among and towards members of the media, deliberately targeting and stifling free and independent voices,” Ribeiro said. “The decision of the authorities to designate BAJ as an “extremist formation” aims to further undermine the organization’s important work of protecting and advocating for the rights of journalists and is the latest manifestation of the clampdown by the authorities on media freedom in the country. I have also noted with great concern the authorities’ previous decisions to add BelaPAN, Nasha Niva, Euroradio, and other independent media, to the list of “extremist formations”.”  

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