By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

WARSAW, Poland — On Friday, the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) wrapped up a 10-day training exercise simulating a Russian attack on Poland.  NATO sent over 30,000 troops, military vehicles, aircraft, and ships from over 20 countries to the military base in Wederzyn, Poland to take part in military drills and exercises.  This joint-military effort is the largest since the end of the Cold War, and is a part of Anakonda 2016 – a Polish national exercise which seeks to train national forces into an allied, multinational environment.

American units, as well as non-NATO forces such as Sweden and Finland, participated in the training drills in Poland.  Drills included collaborative helicopter attacks which included communications between Polish pilots and American air traffic controllers, hiking through dense forests, clearing houses room-by-room, and live fire drills.  The goal of these training exercises was to train Poland, along with other Eastern-European forces which used to be allied with the Soviet, to work together with the United States and Western European troops.

Many view the joint-military effort as one of prudent preparation.  Polish Defense Minister Antoni Maciarewicz states that they now feel prepared for “the worst” and for “any bad eventualities.”  Evelyn Farkas of the Atlantic Counsel characterized this joint-military effort as one which will send a message to Russia that NATO is prepared to respond if Russia attempts to “step…into one of our allied countries.”  NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said the alliance has maintained communication with Russia throughout Anakonda 2016, however “practical cooperation” has been suspended since the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Some leaders view the preparation and training as dangerous.  John Mearsheimer, a University of Chicago political scientist who specializes in European security issues, calls the training a dangerous “poke at the Russian bear,” and thinks it will be perceived by Russia as a threat which will give them more motivation to invade the Baltic States.   German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeir categorized the NATO training as “counterproductive to regional security,” and instead urged NATO to replace the training drills with more cooperation with Russia.

Russia has also spoken out against Anakonda 2016.  Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that the “war games” of Anakonda 2016 “do not contribute to the atmosphere of trust and safety on the continent.”

For more information, please see:

NBC — Huge NATO Drills in Poland Prepare West for Possible Conflict with Russia — 19 June 2016

BBC — German Minister Warns NATO Against ‘Warmongering’ — 18 June 2016

NPR — NATO War Games in Poland Get Russia’s Attention — 17 June 2016

U.S. Army Europe — What is Anakonda?

By Sarah Lafen
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

PARIS, France — This past week at the Euro 2016 championship football tournament in Marseille, France, English and Russian fans engaged in violent fights at a match between the two countries.  After the match ended in a tied 1-1 score, Russian fans jumped over the barriers separating the two nations’ fans and swarmed the section where the British fans sat.  Some Russians were equipped with fireworks and flares which were subsequently set off within the stadium.  Witnesses stated that some attackers wore mouth guards and fighting gloves during the brawls.

According to Marseille’s emergency services, over 30 people were injured in the riots, including three police officers.  As a result of the riots, multiple head wounds were sustained, a significant amount of blood was shed, one man was knocked unconscious, and another suffered a heart attack.  Police used tear gas to break up the riots.

In anticipation of potential violent outbursts, France took extra security measures to prevent riots of this exact nature.  The Minister of Interior denied 3,000 people entry to the country, based on lists of people banned from stadiums in different countries, on suspicions they would bring disruption to the national order of France.  Bars in the Vieux-Port area of Marseille closed hours earlier than they normally do.

The Union of European Football Association (UEFA) has threatened to disqualify both England and Russia if these violent riots continue.  UEFA has already begun taking disciplinary actions against the Russian Football Union, charging them with crowd disturbances, racist behavior, and for the use of fireworks within a stadium.  A decision in regards to the sanctions will be made within a few days, once all evidence has been considered.

Both England and Russia have condemned the fighting.  Russia displayed its support for the launch of an investigation into their participation in the riots, and the United Kingdom Government has offered to send British police to the England’s next match against Wales in Lens, France.  Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), the governing body of the sport, has also condemned the violence.  FIFA released a statement calling the riots “wholly unacceptable.”

So far, 17 people have been arrested in connection with the riots.

For more information, please see:

BBC — Euro 2016: England and Russia Given Disqualification Warning — 12 June 2016

CNN — Euro 2016: Dozens Injured as Crowds of Rival Fans Brawl — 12 June 2016

CNN — Euro 2016: Russia, England Threatened with Disqualification Over Violence — 12 June 2016

The Guardian — Euro 2016: England and Russia Fans Clash Before and After Match — 12 June 2016

The Guardian — England and Russia Could be Thrown out of Euro 2016 if There is More Violence — 12 June 2016

NY Times — Russia and England Fans Clash Repeatedly at European Championships — 11 June 2016

 

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

BERLIN, Germany — This past Thursday, a near-unanimous vote by the German parliament officially recognized the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 as a genocide.  Germany is home to an estimated three million Turks, two thousand of which demonstrated in Berlin opposing the German parliament’s ability to pass judgment.  France passed similar legislation in 2011, to which Turkey responded to by recalling its ambassador in Berlin and freezing military cooperation between the two countries.

This declaration by the German parliament comes at a time in which strong foreign relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) are vital, as the EU as a whole needs Turkey’s help in managing the refugee migrant crisis.  As a result of a recent migrant deal between Turkey and the EU, a Syrian refugee in Turkey is resettled in the EU for every Syrian refugee that is returned to Turkey from Greece.  Turkey also agreed to take necessary measures to prevent open migration routes between Turkey and the EU.

German diplomats across the world have spoken out to encourage Turkey to maintain ties with Germany despite the decision.  The German Foreign Minister in Argentina, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, stated that he hoped the decision would not cause Turkey to overreact.  German lawmakers see the move not as a jab at the Turkish government, but rather as a way to strengthen reconciliation efforts between Turkey and Armenia.

This decision has caused significant unrest in Turkey.  Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan called this decision a “plot” against Turkey, and criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel for not intervening to prevent the vote (Merkel did not take part in the vote).  Erdogan stated that the decision would “seriously affect” Turkey’s ties with Germany, however would not affect Turkey’s ties with the EU.  Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim condemned the decision as “irrational” and predicted that it would put the friendship of the two countries to a serious test.  A spokesman for Erdogan went so far as to blame Germany for relying on “lies” about Ottoman Armenians.

Within two hours of the vote, Turkey recalled its ambassador in Berlin for “consultations” and summoned a German diplomat to the foreign ministry in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey.

For further information, please see:

CNN — Germany Declares 1915 Armenian Killings a “Genocide” — 2 June 2016

Reuters — Germany Triggers Turkish Outcry with Armenian Genocide Vote — 2 June 2016

The Guardian — Turkey Recalls Ambassador After German MPs’ Armenian Genocide Vote — 2 June 2016

The New York Times — German Parliament Recognizes Armenian Genocide, Angering Turkey — 2 June 2016

Business Standard — Turkey Says German Recognition of Armenian Genocide is a ‘Plot’ — 4 June 2016

PRI — Why Germany’s Recognition of Armenian Genocide is Such a Big Deal — 5 June 2016

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

ROME, Italy –This past week, more than 14,000 refugee migrants from Libya were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by European forces.  At least 65 migrants have died in shipwrecks associated with these rescue missions.  Spanish and Irish vessels, Spanish planes, Luxembourgian planes, and the Italian navy have all contributed to the rescue of these refugee migrants.

Warmer spring weather has led to a surge in migrants attempting the journey from the North African coast to Europe’s borders.  The crossing between Italy and Libya is now the main route used by migrants since a deal between the European Union (EU) and Turkey has decreased the number of migrants from entering Greece via the Aegean Sea.  Under the deal, all new “irregular” migrants crossing from Turkey to Greece must be returned to Turkey.  Turkey must also take all measures necessary to prevent any newly developed land or sea routes accessible to migrants from Turkey to the EU.

Many European nations have voiced reluctance to take in migrant refugees.  Some rescued migrants are taken to Porto Empedocle on the Sicilian coast, and some are placed in Sicilian and Greek shelters.  However, not all refugees will be granted asylum in the EU once they arrive.  Most rescued migrants are asked to leave the EU within seven days of their arrival.  To prevent the potential massive influx of asylum seekers, some have suggested sending these migrants straight back to Libya despite its currently being a war-zone.  Austria has gone so far as to change its laws to prevent migrants from applying for asylum at their border.  Germany has recently revealed plans to add Morocco and Tunisia to its list of “safe countries” which would prevent migrants from those countries to qualify for asylum in Germany.

These migrants pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to make this journey to Europe, and travel from a wide variety of countries including Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan.

For further information, please see:

CNN — 700+ Migrants Missing or Feared Dead in Mediterranean Shipwrecks — 30 May 2016

The Irish Times — Migrant Crisis: Shipwrecks ‘kill up to 700’ UN Agency Says — 29 May 2016

The Guardian — Dozens Feared Dead as Migrant Boat Capsizes in Mediterranean — 28 May 2016

BBC — Migrant Crisis: Many Feared Dead in Shipwreck off Libya — 26 May 2016

European Commission — EU-Turkey Agreement: Questions and Answers — 19 March 2016

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

EDINBURGH, Scotland —After a two year consultation process, over 600 male members of the Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland have failed to reach a two-thirds majority vote which would allow women to join the club.  While women can continue to use the club as guests and visitors, they will not be allowed to join as members.

This decision is a deviation from the recent trend set by other golf clubs in the United Kingdom.  The Royal & Ancient Club of St. Andrew’s and Royal St. George’s have both voted to admit women as members within the last two years.  As a result, Muirfield and the Royal Troon club are the only remaining traditional British Open host venues to maintain a ban against women members.  Royal Troon is currently reviewing their own membership policies to consider allowing women to join as members.

Among the reasons given for voting against women to join the club, dissenters have stated that they believe women would endanger the speedy play of the game, and would “feel uncomfortable” as members.  They also urged that the allowance of women members would go against the very nature of the club – “a gentlemen’s club where golf is played.”

Prominent golfers and various leaders have voiced their disagreement with the vote.  Scotland’s first female Prime Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, called the vote “simply indefensible” and urged the club to revisit the vote in the future.  Rory McElroy, former British Open champion, stated that the vote would damage golfs image.  Lesley Sawers, the Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland commissioner, estimates that the decision will cost the Scottish economy £100m as a result of loss of revenue generated from the Open.

In response to Muirfield’s vote, Royal & Ancient, the organizer of the British Open, has refused to host the British Open at the club for as long as they continue to ban women as members.  Muirfield has hosted 16 British Opens in the past.

For more information, please see:

BBC — Muirfield to lose right to host Open after vote against allowing women members — 19 May 2016

CNN — Muirfield banned from hosting British Open after refusing women members — 19 May 2016

New York Times — Muirfield Golf Club Picks Discrimination Over the British Open — 19 May 2016

The Guardian — Muirfield loses right to hold Open after voting to remain men-only — 19 May 2016