From 5 to 9 June, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, organized an introductory training course on cybercrime and digital evidence at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Around twenty representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Office of the Prosecutor General took part in the course delivered by two international experts from Moldova and Uzbekistan. The participants were introduced to key concepts regarding cybercrime and digital evidence, and learnt how to identify, seize and secure potential sources of digital evidence at a crime scene and on the Internet.
"Tajikistan, just like other countries in Central Asia, has witnessed rapid digitalization in all spheres of society over recent years. Criminals have been increasingly using digital technologies as well. It is therefore crucial for law enforcement officers to be familiar with these technologies and their role in conducting or facilitating crime," said Deputy Head of the Academy, during the course's opening.
This was echoed by Jukka Tuononen, Head of the Politico-Military Department of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe. "With the continuous evolution of digital technologies and their role in our daily life, every criminal justice actor needs at least a basic understanding and knowledge of these issues. Systematic and long-term education on this topic for criminal justice actors is key for building and sustaining capacities of the OSCE participating States to investigate and prosecute contemporary forms of crime".
The training was delivered under the extra-budgetary project "Capacity Building on Combating Cybercrime in Central Asia", which is funded by the United States of America, Germany and the Republic of Korea. This was the first national training event in Tajikistan under the project. Two additional training courses for the same group of participants are scheduled for autumn this year.
