Central Europe

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

A conference reviewing the implementation status of Tajikistan’s anti-corruption strategy for 2013–2020 and introducing the new national anti-corruption strategy for 2021–2030, was held on 27 October 2021 in Dushanbe with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

The conference was organized jointly with Tajikistan’s Agency for State Financial Control and Fight against Corruption.

Some 110 participants from various ministries, prosecution, judiciary, international organizations and civil society attended the conference.

Tea Jaliashvili, Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe said: “The OSCE provides a platform for dialogue on political and security issues and it is in a unique position to support its participating States in implementing and enforcing anti-corruption models and mechanisms. A strong co-operation between all stakeholders, government institutions, civil society, media, citizens and the international community is needed. Only with concerted efforts it is possible to combat corruption. Every NO to corruption is a YES to prosperity of the countries.”

“The continuation of a co-ordinated anti-corruption policy, involving all segments of society and government agencies to collectively prevent and fight against this negative phenomenon, is a sign of the formation of legal and cultural awareness in the population in the fight against corruption,” said Sultonzoda Sulaymon Said, Director of Tajikistan’s Agency for State Financial Control and Combatting Corruption. “In light of this policy in Tajikistan, special attention is paid to issues related to corruption and the grounds that create this practice, thus a series of laws, concepts, and strategies have been developed and a lot of work has been done to improve the anti-corruption policy.”

OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

On 27 and 28 October 2021, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized an online seminar on legal aspects of the dissemination of information in the digital age.

The two-day event brought together representatives from the Mejlis (lower chamber) of the Milli Gengesh (parliament), the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, the Bar Association, the Institute of State, Law and Democracy, higher education institutions, and journalists representing national media.

Experts from Germany and Georgia presented relevant international standards, OSCE commitments and best practices of other OSCE participating States and discussed legal functions and responsibilities of internet intermediaries and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms on free expression on the internet.

“Freedom of the media and free access to information are particularly important in the digital age. Rapidly evolving new technologies have contributed to the media's role in protecting democracy, peace and stability,” said William Leaf, Officer-in-Charge at the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

He also referred to the Declaration of the 14th Central Asia Media Conference, which emphasized “the actual benefits that the internet offers” and called on “governments to ensure protection of the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and freedom of information by adopting appropriate laws, policies and practices and by ensuring independent judicial oversight and effective public scrutiny of their implementation”.

The seminar also addressed the regulation of internet content, including regulation of defamation and hate speech and fighting fake news. Participants shared views on the role and functions of journalists in the digital age and stressed the importance of media literacy.

Richard Wheeler

An OSCE-supported series of webinars for NGOs and crisis centers in Kazakhstan launched on 27 October 2021. The event was organized in co-operation with the Verum Foundation, the Center for Legal Defense “Zan Talaby” and the Eurasia Foundation’s Civil Society Support Program’s office in Almaty. 

The first webinar, dedicated to the NGOs institutional development, brought together some 35 representatives of 21 regional non-governmental organizations from across Kazakhstan. The participants were familiarized with the concepts of sustainability, methodology of strategic planning, and practical measurement tools for the assessment of organizational capacity.

The event will be followed up by five consequent webinars from 27 October through 11 November, covering the topics of advocacy, project management cycle, fundraising and grant writing, human resources and public outreach strategies. 

The event is a part of the Programme Office’s continuous efforts to support civil society development initiatives in the host country.

The winners of the OSCE-supported green office contest were announced on 22 October 2021 in Nur-Sultan. The contest provided an opportunity for government institutions, private companies, civil society and international organizations to promote sustainable use of resources by focusing on waste reduction and recycling.

Some 85 representatives from the Parliament, the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources, the business sector, and international and non-governmental organizations participated in the event on site and via video conference. The 2021 winners included government institutions, private companies, civil society and international organizations from across Kazakhstan. Out of 105 applicants, 30 organizations and individuals were selected as winners on the basis of demonstrated practices of reduced energy use, waste separation and enhanced recycling capacity.

The contest, the third since 2019, was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan in partnership with the Coalition for Green Economy and G-Global Development and ran from 15 April to 15 September. To increase awareness of the contest, the Office supported three online and three offline seminars in South Kazakhstan, Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions with a focus on popularizing ‘green’ office principles and identifying main challenges. At these visits, the businesses and organizations demonstrated innovative tools of addressing sustainable use of natural resources and proposed their vision to make business operations carbon neutral.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s long-term effort to promote a green economy in the host country, as well as sustainable development principles in strengthening environmental security.

KYIV, 27 October September 2021 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

“The security situation dominated today’s discussions of the TCG. The Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) reported heightened tensions along the contact line and an increased presence of heavy equipment in the exclusion zone. While raising questions related to the use of banned equipment and weapon systems, I called upon all sides to adhere to their commitments and not to escalate further.

The unprecedented restrictions and harassments experienced by SMM last week are unacceptable. This was part of our discussions since these and other continuing impediments endanger the fulfillment of the Mission’s mandate.

The Security Working Group was dedicated to discussions on the detention in the disengagement area Zolote – Pervomaisk on the 13th October. Participants did not reach a common view on how to enhance mutual confidence. Related to the detainee, it is important to be transparent enough regarding his status as well as respect of international humanitarian law and human rights.

Tomorrow, exactly one year has passed since the tasking by the TCG to the Political Working Group to urgently develop a draft action plan based on written proposals by Working Group participants, in full compliance with the Minsk Agreements. I regret to note that continuous divergences have prevented the Political Working Group so far in engaging on substance related to the development of a single Plan of Action.

The participants in the Humanitarian Working Group had a substantial discussion on the topic of missing persons. They also exchanged views on the opening of new crossing points across the contact line and the mutual release of conflict-related detainees.

Discussions in the Economic Working Group focused on water issues and in particular on tariffs and legal aspects of water deliveries to certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine (CADLO). Participants also discussed the recent travel restrictions in CALO and their possible impact on the ability of pensioners to collect their pension on government-controlled territory.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

On the morning of 27 October at 10:41, an SMM patrol with Deputy Chief Monitor (DCM) Mark Etherington on board arrived at the armed formations crossing point near the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The DCM and two other mission members dismounted and started walking towards the government-controlled side of the crossing point.

They were initially stopped by representatives of the armed formations and asked to provide their names, positions and nationalities. The SMM presented their OSCE cards, but refused to disclose other details. The DCM and the two mission members were allowed to proceed further, only to be stopped again by other representatives of the armed formations who asked to inspect SMM’s luggage. They informed the SMM that they had received no information of the SMM’s intention to cross from their superiors, and could thus only let the SMM pass upon luggage inspection; or as diplomats upon review of diplomatic passports. The SMM refused both. The SMM was allowed to proceed without submitting to these demands only after 98 minutes of waiting.

The SMM notes that OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 1117 specifies that the SMM shall have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. Unrestricted and unconditional access to all areas is essential to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of the security situation, the ceasefire, the withdrawal of weapons, demining, as well as disengagement. The mandate also tasks the Mission to report on any restrictions of its freedom of movement or other impediments in the fulfilment of its mandate.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the Mission recorded 435 ceasefire violations, including 86 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 205 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded 20 ceasefire violations, including three explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded three ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission followed up on reports of damage to an inhabited apartment in non-government-controlled Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and construction of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at five entry-exit checkpoints and four checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission monitored the security situation in east and south-east Kherson region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Bezimenne, Donetsk region. Its unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced multiple instances of jamming and probable jamming.*

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

The 2021 early parliamentary elections in Armenia were competitive and generally well-managed within a short timeframe. They were, however, characterized by intense polarization and marred by increasingly inflammatory rhetoric among key contestants. While the legal framework is generally comprehensive, the fact that amendments were adopted so close to the elections caused some legal uncertainty. These are some of the main conclusions from the final report on the 20 June elections published today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The report offers 24 recommendations to improve the conduct of elections in Armenia and to support efforts to align them with OSCE commitments, as well as other international obligations and standards for democratic elections.

Key recommendations include:

• Ensuring that changes to the electoral legal framework are made well in advance of elections and allowing sufficient time for voter education and for electoral stakeholders to be able to familiarize themselves with the applicable rules;
• Ensuring that all regulations and clarifications on electoral procedures are comprehensive, adopted in formal sessions of the Central Election Commission and applied uniformly;
• Removing restrictions on the right to vote based on mental disability;
• Improving the laws and regulations regarding the prevention, investigation and sanctioning of misuse of state resources;
• Systematically publishing territorial election commission session schedules and decisions as well as signed protocols and results disaggregated by polling station;
• Extending requirements for impartial election coverage by public media to the entire election cycle;
• Implementing more robust efforts to curb vote-buying and pressure on voters;
• Publishing regular and detailed information on the nature and number of updates and corrections made to the voter register.

ODIHR deployed an Election Observation Mission on 17 May 2021 to observe the early parliamentary elections. All 57 participating States of the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

502395 Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ton van den Brandt

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM) Teresa Ribeiro concluded a five-day official visit to the United States of America on 22 October 2021. She met with representatives of the US Department of State, members of the Helsinki Commission, and media freedom organizations to discuss media freedom and freedom of expression in the United States and across the OSCE region.

During her meetings with government officials, the Representative addressed several issues, including safety of journalists in the US, which has seen a growing decline in recent years. In the last year, more than a hundred journalists were assaulted by protestors during public demonstrations in the US, several having their equipment damaged. Law enforcement officials arrested or detained more than fifty journalists in the last year.

Among other issues, Ribeiro discussed with government officials the urgent need to restore public trust in the media; how to effectively tackle the challenges of disinformation, misinformation, while protecting free speech in an information chaos era; as well as the challenge of regulating online platforms in terms of how their business practices affect freedom of expression and media pluralism.

Moreover, the Representative commended new rules introduced earlier this year that help better protect the confidential sources of journalists by restricting the ability of federal prosecutors to obtain journalists’ records through secret subpoenas in government leak investigations.

During her visit, Ribeiro also gave testimony at the Helsinki Commission’s public hearing on media freedom across the OSCE region. She highlighted the urgent need to prioritize the safety of journalists and to restore trust in the independent media and its democratic function. She also shared her assessment on several interconnected challenges affecting global media freedom, including on the lack of trust in the media; the growing number of attacks on journalists, and the capture of our information space by opaque and unaccountable online social media platforms.

Ribeiro also signed the 2021 Joint Declaration on Politicians and Public Officials and Freedom of Expression at an event hosted in Washington DC by the Organization of American States Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. The Joint Declaration this year denounced the rising tide of dangerous, hateful public statements coming from some politicians and public officials. It also offers recommendations to States on fostering independence, diversity and pluralism in the media, and calls on social media companies to ensure their content moderation rules, systems and practices meet international human rights standards.

In the UN Headquarters in New York, Ribeiro met with Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and Head of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ilze Brands Kehris. They exchanged views on global challenges for media freedom, and agreed to enhance their institutional cooperation. On the occasion of the Representative’s official visit, the OSCE Chairpersonship hosted a roundtable discussion with global media freedom organizations based in the United States.

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 27 October 2021 – The OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will visit Prishtinë/Priština today for meetings with representatives of institutions, the international community and the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. The visit will focus on the OSCE’s mandate to support strengthening the rule of law as well as respect for human and community rights.

In her first visit in this capacity, Secretary Schmid will meet with President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, President of the Assembly Glauk Konjufca, Minister for Communities and Returns Goran Rakić and Assembly caucus leaders.

She will proceed to Vushtrri/Vučitrn to visit the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety, the training centre for the Kosovo Police and other public safety agencies established with OSCE support since 1999. There she will meet the Academy’s leadership as well as cadets and trainees from different communities.

Secretary General Schmid will then join the Network of Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian Women’s Organizations for a roundtable with NGOs working on gender equality, violence against women and domestic violence, and women’s rights, to be held in Gračanica/Graqanicë, and conclude the programme with a meeting with prominent representatives of media and civil society.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the Mission recorded 205 ceasefire violations, including 31 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 241 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded three ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded seven ceasefire violations in the region.
• An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was assessed as targeted by small-arms fire near Mineralne, Donetsk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation, repair and construction of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at five entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations south of the bridge near Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk region, and near Bezimenne and Staromykhailivka, Donetsk region. Its unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced multiple instances of jamming and probable jamming.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 22 and 24 October, the SMM recorded 406 ceasefire violations, including 60 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 134 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 22 and 24 October, the Mission recorded 37 ceasefire violations, including 12 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 49 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM observed that the gathering in front of the hotel where Mission members reside in non-government-controlled Donetsk city ended on 23 October. The SMM resumed its regular operations on 24 October.
•  The Mission followed up on reports of damage to two civilian properties in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repairs of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted. Its unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced multiple instances of jamming and probable jamming.*

502248 Communication and Media Relations Section

The energy sector is facing unprecedented challenges, requiring enhanced international co-operation and dialogue among energy producers, consumers and transit countries; concluded experts at the 4th Vienna Energy Security Dialogue, supported by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, held on 22 October 2021 in Vienna. 

The OSCE, the World Energy Council Austria, Ernst & Young and the Federation of Austrian Industries hosted the event at a key moment in time. As the world recovers from the pandemic, participants agreed that the increase in energy demand and gas supply shortages have caused energy prices to spike and placed the industry under tremendous pressure. 

“The swift pick-up of the economy and a resulting surge in energy demand has triggered a new energy crisis,” said Igli Hasani, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. “These developments have brought the energy sector to the forefront of the political debate, triggering new discussions about the relevance of traditional fuels and raising concerns about energy security in the age of net-zero ambitions.”

More governments and organizations worldwide are rolling out their plans to be net-zero by 2050/2060, or sooner in some cases, indicating a consensus among the international community about where the energy sector is going.  

World Energy Council Secretary General and CEO Angela Wilkinson, the keynote speaker, said that current debates around energy price had exposed the trickiness of balancing energy security, sustainability and affordability. “While the pathway is certainly much clearer than it was even one year ago, there are still numerous obstacles to overcome. Humanizing energy is the best way to avoid the urgency of the global energy transition creating a new threat to global peace. We need to better prepare all levels of society for the inevitable shift in social power structures as the world shifts to more sustainable energy and renewable power systems,” she said.  

Ayed S. Al-Qahtani, OPEC Director Research Division, Rana Adib, REN21 Executive Director and Mark Copley, EFET CEO, shared their insights on the implications of the current energy crisis and the transition within their respective industries.

The panelists discussed energy security in the age of renewables, availability of critical minerals, post-pandemic recovery plans and energy geopolitics. They also delved into the role of energy markets in bridging the emissions gap, policies and tools to internalize carbon costs and the challenges brought about by the energy transition for industry and society.

Participants highlighted the importance of this year’s dialogue to build momentum in the lead-up to COP26, which will take place in Glasgow, United Kingdom, from 31 October to 12 November 12.

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

Following this year’s elections in Bulgaria, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has published reports on the 4 April parliamentary elections and 11 July early parliamentary elections.

In the April parliamentary elections fundamental freedoms were respected. The elections were competitive, but massive use of state resources gave the ruling party a significant advantage. Technical aspects of the elections were managed efficiently, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the legal framework provides for an adequate conduct of democratic elections, longstanding concerns over key aspects of the process remain to be addressed. Media lacked analytical reporting and offered limited editorial and news coverage of the campaign, impacting the ability of voters to make an informed choice.

The July early parliamentary elections were marked by mutual accusations of corruption between the former ruling party and the provisional government and were underpinned by law-enforcement’s actions to curb vote-buying. The elections were competitive and well-run. The overall legal framework was adequate, but it was substantially revised shortly before elections, making preparations for the election more difficult and affecting legal certainty. The transparency and accountability of campaign finance were reduced by deficiencies in oversight and limited reporting requirements. Media continued to offer scant editorial and news coverage, impacting the ability of voters to make an informed choice.

Key recommendations from both missions include:

• Revising the legal framework in a public procedure, following a broad and timely consultation, in order to ensure a harmonized, coherent and stable electoral framework;
• Removing undue restrictions on Bulgarian citizens with dual citizenship to stand for office;
• Ensuring the effectiveness of campaign finance oversight by disclosing the sources of donations to the party funds as well as campaign expenditures prior to election day;
• Strengthening impartiality of the public broadcasters by providing funding, based on a clear and objective criteria;
• Reviewing the legal framework for electoral dispute resolution to ensure effective remedy for all;
• Providing comprehensive training for all precinct election commission members to ensure a consistent application of election procedures.

ODIHR deployed a Limited Election Observation Mission on 2 March 2021 to observe the parliamentary elections, and a mission of the same format was deployed on 9 June 2021 to follow the conduct of the early parliamentary elections. All 57 participating States across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

The Government of Sweden has renewed the mandates of or, alternatively, appointed new members to the Court for a mandate of six years starting in October 2021. The appointment of the conciliators, the arbitrator and his alternate were made in accordance with articles 3 and 4 of the Convention on Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE.

Appointed as conciliators are Anne Ramberg, Attorney-at-Law and former Secretary General of the Swedish Bar Association, and Marie Jacobsson, Ambassador and Principal Legal Adviser on International Law at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.

The arbitrator is Mats Melin, former Justice and Chairman of the Supreme Administrative Court of Sweden. His alternate is Pål Wrange, Professor of Public International Law at Stockholm University.

Anne Ramberg and Mats Melin are also alternate members of the Bureau, the Court’s permanent executive body.

Sweden is the Depositary State of the Convention on Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE, signed on 15 December 1992 in Stockholm. The Stockholm Convention of 1992 entered into force on 5 December 1994 following the deposit of the 12th instrument of ratification.

Currently, 34 States are party to the Convention that provides mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes between States parties to the Convention and/or OSCE participating States.

TASHKENT, 25 October 2021 – Despite recent welcome reforms, the lack of genuine pluralism and meaningful engagement between candidates or with citizens meant that Uzbekistan’s presidential election was not truly competitive, while significant procedural irregularities were noted on election day, international observers said in a statement today.

The joint observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the European Parliament (EP), acknowledged that the legal framework has been through extensive reforms in recent years, and many of the changes were in line with previous recommendations. Nonetheless, observers noted that election legislation still has a number of deficiencies and does not yet fully comply with international standards for democratic elections. While fundamental human rights and freedoms are guaranteed by the constitution, they continue to be restricted by other legislation and are frequently not implemented in practice.

“This election has shown that the democratic reforms of recent years must be carried forward to confirm what has already been achieved,” said Reinhold Lopatka, Special co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission. “Full respect for basic freedoms and real competition among political forces, which were lacking here, will be essential to live up to the people’s democratic aspirations.”

Some 21 million voters were registered to cast their ballot in yesterday’s election. While election preparations  were carried out professionally and efficiently, the voting process on election day was negatively assessed in a significant number of polling stations. While turnout was high at over 80 percent, there were numerous serious irregularities, with large numbers of voters added to the voter lists without proper safeguards, able to cast their ballots without identification documents or on behalf of others. Observers also noted indications of ballot box stuffing in multiple polling stations. Counting procedures were often not followed and polling stations had difficulties reconciling the results.

“The recent and ongoing reforms are an encouraging sign,” said Heidi Hautala, Head of the EP delegation. “But the exclusion of opposition parties and the lack of genuine competition, as well as the high number of irregularities we saw on election day, remain substantial obstacles in the path of the democratisation process.” 

“My colleagues and I were overwhelmed by the warm welcome we received in polling stations yesterday across the country, and appreciate the efforts to ensure voting was open to all regardless of physical abilities or language. However, we noted a number of old problematic habits with procedures often not followed, especially during counting,” said Daniela De Ridder, Head of the OSCE PA delegation. “I hope that the high-level legal reforms we have noted will continue and impact all parts of society, strengthen the democratic political culture, and finally do away with these negative practices.”

Five candidates ran in the election, including the current president. Excessively strict requirements for the right to become a candidate, together with burdensome party registration rules, overly limit the right to stand and narrow the range of political options open to voters. One of the five candidates was a woman and despite constitutional guarantees of equality and a recent significant increase in the number of women parliamentarians, women remain underrepresented in public and political life.

The distinction between the president in his current role and as candidate was generally blurred, giving him an undue advantage. In addition, most private media outlets provided more coverage of the incumbent than of the other four contestants combined in their election reporting, with all monitored media also extensively covering the activities of the president.

Although reporting on local government and social issues has become more critical, particularly online, observers noted that criticism in the media of high-ranking public officials and candidates was almost completely absent. The restrictive legal framework for media, together with cases of pre-trial detention, intimidation and harassment of journalists and bloggers all contributed to self-censorship by many journalists, and further limited the amount of information and analysis available to the public.

“We have seen in the course of our long-term observation that progress is possible following the reforms, but there is a long way to go,” said Eoghan Murphy, head of the ODIHR election observation mission. “Despite recent improvements in the media environment and online, the space for citizens to freely and fully express their opinion remains controlled.”

The international election observation totalled 366 observers from 44 countries, composed of 255 ODIHR experts and long- and short-term observers, 99 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, and 12 from the EP.

For more information, please contact:

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

Anna Di Domenico, OSCE PA: +998 908 132145 or anna.didomenico@oscepa.dk  

Cristina Castagnoli, EP: +32 470 880872 or cristina.castagnoli@europarl.europa.eu

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 134 ceasefire violations, including 15 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 169 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 49 ceasefire violations, including 11 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 71 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM observed that the gathering in front of the hotel where Mission members reside in non-government-controlled Donetsk city continued. There was no patrol movement in and out of its premises on 22 October.*
• The Mission observed that the gathering ended on 23 October (outside the reporting period.)
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.* It registered ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repair of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at six entry-exit checkpoints (including the ones near Zolote and Shchastia) and at four corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted. Its unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced instances of jamming and probable jamming.*

SKOPJE, 23 October 2021 — OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid concluded her two-day visit to North Macedonia today. She congratulated the country on its 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship and offered full support in preparing for and exercising this important responsibility.

Schmid met with the President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani, and Minister of Internal Affairs Oliver Spasovski. “I am encouraged by the Government’s focus on the rule of law, and the fight against organized crime and corruption”, said Schmid. “We will do our utmost to help address existing and emerging challenges, including transnational threats.”

“North Macedonia is a net contributor to regional stability and security, setting a good example for its neighbours and beyond,” said Schmid.

During her visit, Schmid also met with representatives of local civil society and discussed gender based violence, social cohesion, youth engagement, good governance issues and the impact of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable groups of citizens, such as persons with disabilities. “Co-operation with civil society is a key element of the OSCE’s work. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn about existing challenges and discuss how the OSCE can further support in addressing them,” said Schmid.

Schmid also visited the OSCE Field Office in Tetovo, met the staff and discussed the Mission’s field engagement aimed at strengthening inter-ethnic relations and social cohesion.

Clemens Koja, Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, who accompanied Schmid, said: ”We at the Mission to Skopje will continue supporting key strategic reforms in the country and look forward to co-operating with the government in preparing for the OSCE Chairpersonship.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 169 ceasefire violations, including 70 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 120 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 71 ceasefire violations, including 39 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded ten ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM corroborated reports of a man injured in non-government-controlled Oleksandrivka.
• The Mission observed that the gathering in front of the hotel where Mission members reside in non-government-controlled Donetsk city continued. There was no patrol movement in and out of its premises on 21 October, except one administrative patrol to government-controlled areas. The gathering continued on 22 October.*
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.* It observed one illumination flare inside the disengagement area near Zolote.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repair of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including a truck blocking road M-04 near non-government-controlled Korsun, Donetsk region. Its UAVs again experienced instances of jamming and probable jamming.*

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

The 2021 presidential election in Mongolia was administered efficiently and candidates were able to campaign freely, but excessive limitations on the right to nominate and stand as a candidate, as well as restrictive media rules, adversely affected voters’ ability to make an informed choice. These are some of the main conclusions from the final report on Mongolia’s 9 June presidential election, published today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).  

The report offers 30 recommendations to bring elections in Mongolia closer in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections.   

Key recommendations include: 

• Continuing the revision of the electoral legal framework, with broad and inclusive consultations with electoral stakeholders, to address ODIHR recommendations;

• Revising undue restrictions on the right to stand, including on the basis of disability, residency or descent;

• Providing for the possibility of independent candidates and for nominations from non-parliamentary parties;

• Providing a less restrictive framework for campaigning, including the type of activities permitted, as well as the assets and resources that can be used, and permitting campaigning between the first and second rounds;

• Publishing contestants’ campaign finance reports for public scrutiny and requiring the disclosure of contestants’ income prior to election day to enhance transparency and voters’ ability to make an informed choice.

• Revising disproportionate sanctions for libel and provisions on the dissemination of false information;

• Shortening timelines for complaints and appeals and aligning them with the electoral calendar to allow effective and timely redress of election disputes.

ODIHR deployed a Special Election Assessment Mission on 21 May 2021 to observe the presidential election. All 57 participating States across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.