Assistance to Kyrgyzstan

On 4 May the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) donated modern law enforcement equipment (cameras, digital voice recorders, body armor) to the Ministry of Interior and the National Security Service of the Kyrgyz Republic.

This immediate UNODC assistance was provided upon request of the Interim Government in Kyrgyzstan to help restore the Rule of Law in the country. The assistance aims at strengthening the capacities of law enforcement agencies in countering illicit drugs and organized crime, which have a high potential to destabilize the country and the entire region. In this respect, the UNODC expects that the equipment will be used in international cooperation initiatives, such as controlled delivery operations.

The hand-over ceremony for the National Security Service was organized at NSS premises on 28 April 2010. The NSS representative expressed appreciation to UNODC for providing the equipment at a time when it is needed to counter illegal activities in the country.

The hand-over ceremony for the Ministry of Interior was organised at MoI premises on 4 May 2010. The hand-over Protocol was signed by Mr. A. Botobaev, Head of the MoI Counter-narcotics department and Ms. Z. Akisheva, Head of UNODC Programme Office. Mr. A. Otobaev expressed appreciation to UNODC for the donation of equipment to the Ministry of Interior, as well as for the assistance in countering illicit drugs and organised crime provided to the Government of Kyrgyzstan over the last years. He also informed the participants of the ceremony on the achievements made by Kyrgyzstan in implementation of the National Drug Control Programme which is coming to an end in 2010. He made an assurance that the Ministry of Interior will strengthen its efforts in countering drugs both at the national and regional levels, including through controlled delivery operations.

The ceremony was followed by a meeting of the Working Group on elaboration of the National Drug Control Strategy for the period of 2011-2015.