On January 30, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe donated forensic training equipment to the Forensics Department and Academy of Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry.

According to the OSCE Programme Office, the donated equipment includes six compact bullet catchers, four metal hardness testers, four laboratory scales, one microscope, thirty handbooks on forensic topics, five desktops, one projector with screen, and two digital video cameras.

Major-General Ikrom Umarzoda, Deputy Minister of Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry; Major-General Farhodbek Shodmonzoda, the National Coordinator for Police Reform; Major-General Fayzali Sharifzoda, Head of the Interior Ministry’s Academy; Lieutenant-Colonel Yusuf Abdurahmonzoda, Deputy Head of the Interior Ministry’s Forensics Department as well as representatives of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe participated in the donation ceremony.

"This technical support will help to strengthen technical capacities of the Interior Ministry’s Forensics Department to effectively prevent and counter crimes and to protect the safety of the public,” said Major-General Ikrom Umarzoda, Deputy Minister of Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry.

Major General Fayzali Sharifzoda, Head of the Interior Ministry’s Academy noted the importance of the OSCE’s help for practical training of police officers.

“The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe supports the Tajik law enforcement forces in increasing their capacity to conduct evidence-based investigations, in accordance with modern approaches to policing,” said Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Fejzo Numanaj.  “In close co-operation with the Interior Ministry, the OSCE offers systematic training for police officers and prosecutors on forensics-related topics, leadership and management, respect for human rights and gender mainstreaming.  The Ministry’s forensic units play an important role in providing fair and timely criminal proceedings, and protecting the rights of citizens.”