Experts from Georgia Assess the Level of Preparation of the State Forensic Service of Kyrgyz Republic for International Accreditation ISO 17025

The State Forensic Service under the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic is the only government executive body, independent of the criminal justice sector, responsible for carrying out the practical and scientific research in the field of forensic science and forensic expertise, and performs more than 80 percent of expertise in the Kyrgyz Republic.

“At present, the State Forensic Service plans to get the international accreditation of three structural divisions: forensic examination of materials, substances and products; forensic examination of documents; and forensic ballistic, traceological and explosive technical examinations  in compliance with the international requirements of ISO / IEC 17025 (2019) and ISO / IEC 17020 (2013), said Mr. Imanill Kochkorbaev, Chairman of the State Forensic Service under the Ministry of Justice.

UNODC invited international experts from Georgia to conduct an assessment of the State Forensic Service for international accreditation. The assessment mission of the international experts will last from September 7 to 11, 2021. Based on the assessment mission, the experts will provide professional advice to the State Forensic Service in preparing the main documents for applying for accreditation to the Kyrgyz Accreditation Center under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic.

“Our goal is to strengthen forensic services in the Kyrgyz Republic as a key component of an effective and fair criminal justice system. Our support is aimed at preparing laboratories for international accreditation in line with ISO standards”, highlighted Mr. Koen Marquering, UNODC International Programme Manager in Central Asia.

During the mission, experts from Georgia assessed the activities of the above-mentioned departments, analyzed the management documentation developed by the departments. Based on the assessment mission, they will draft a final assessment report with main findings, key recommendations and follow up activities with the goal to obtain first ISO17025 accreditation.

ISO 17025 accreditation is necessary for laboratories to determine the correctness of the measurements performed and the degree of their conformity determined by the standards. ISO17025 accreditation means that the results are not only justified, but also a recognized standard that will not change when laboratory personnel or any other circumstances change.

Earlier, in 2014-2015, experts from Georgia visited the State Forensic Service laboratories twice, when the laboratory was still located in the old building, built in 1940, which did not comply with the international requirements. Based on the recommendations of experts from Georgia, UNODC, with financial support from the US Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL),  completed reconstruction of a new 1,300 square meter building and created new laboratory facilities for the State Forensic Service, as well as purchased and installed new equipment for a total amount of US $ 685,000. All rooms and laboratories were equipped with modern equipment, in particular, gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector and spare parts were purchased.

Story in Russian language 

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