Techniques of negotiation in hostage and crisis situations, has been the focus of a five-day training organized by the EU-funded project LEICA in Dushanbe.  The training took place on April 25-29, 2022.

The European Union Delegation to Tajikistan says the training participants included 20 officers of the Prosecutor-General Office, the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), the Interior Ministry, and the Ministry of Justice (Department of Execution of Sentences).

Two expert trainers from France reportedly provided the participants with practical information and techniques on how to conduct negotiations in difference crisis scenarios, like barricades in prisons, terrorist hostage / attack, hostage during riots, and negotiations in case of suicide attempt or with mentally disabled people.

The participants practiced the role of negotiators and perpetrators in different scenarios, and assessed in groups about approaches to situations when life of people is threatened by terrorist or other criminals.

This type of LEICA activities allow, while conducting the training, for an interaction between law enforcement officers of the European Union Member States and their counterparts in Central Asia, promoting further operational cooperation.

Petra Gašpárová, Deputy Head of EU Delegation in Dushanbe, expressed appreciation for the active participation of the Tajik officers and said: “The regional capacity building project for law enforcement officials is unique in its approach.  Specific trainings bring European experts and law enforcement officers in active service to discuss with their peers highly topical issues - from prevention of money-laundering to preparedness to threats of terrorism.  Trainings identified in close cooperation with Tajik stakeholders not only build a knowledge base, but allow professionals on both sides to exchange views and experience on methodology and practices of  their services in the view of current security challenges, shared by many countries.

The Project LEICA (Law Enforcement in Central Asia) is funded by the European Union, and it is led by the consortium made of French CIVIPOL and Slovak ISEMI, supported by Interpol.

The purpose of the project is to improve the capacities of key government agencies in Central Asia in their fight against terrorism, by providing technical assistance at national level based on In-depth Needs Analysis of each country, as well as thematic trainings at regional level.