18 December 2025, Dushanbe. UNODC, under the Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters (RFTF) Programme – Phase II funded by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism, handed over a modernized CCTV surveillance system to the Prison Service of Tajikistan. The event was attended by senior representatives of the Prison Service of Tajikistan and the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, demonstrating partnership in strengthening prison security and mitigating terrorist threats within prison walls.
The new equipment complements the initial CCTV network installed in Vahdat Prison 3/2 in 2024. The decision to further expand the system emerged through joint analysis of the 3 February 2024 incident as well as the findings of the prison security audit, which was developed in partnership with UNODC. This collaboration helped to identify blind spots in surveillance coverage and strengthen overall security and operational readiness of the prison service to prevent and manage prison security incidents.
The newly delivered equipment expands monitoring coverage, enhances data storage, and integrates additional cameras into the existing network-based video system. The modernized CCTV system strengthened the ability of prison officials to monitor high-risk prisoners and sensitive areas, enhanced preventive and response capabilities to reduce the likelihood of security incidents and/or escapes, and improved capacity of prison administration to gather and share prison intelligence. By combining these technological upgrades with the skills of trained personnel, UNODC and the Prison Service of Tajikistan have strengthened security and safety mechanisms and capacities in prison and amongst prison staff, improved coordination and information sharing and facilitated national stakeholders’ ownership and continued political commitment to program’s results.
Mr. Mansurjon Umarov, Head of the Prison Service of Tajikistan stressed that “This additional CCTV upgrade directly addresses weaknesses identified after the 3 February 2025 incident. With UNODC’s support and the continued partnership of the U.S. Government, we are significantly improving the safety of staff, prisoners, and the overall integrity of Tajik penitentiary system.”
The handover marks another milestone within joint Tajikistan-US-UNODC program, which combines infrastructure modernization with targeted capacity building. Over the past two years, more than 100 front-line prison officers across Tajikistan have been trained by UNODC on dynamic security and prison intelligence and effective prevention of recruitment efforts and spreading terrorist ideologies in prisons.
According to prison officials, digitalized solutions combined with capacity-building efforts increased confidence among staff to manage high-risk prisoners convicted for terrorism and violent extremism related crimes in line with international standards and promising practices “Our joint work shows that meaningful progress comes from investing both in people and in systems. Enhanced prison staff capacity and additional CCTV upgrades can help prison administration to maintain safe and humane environment in prisons, assess existing risks and prevent prisons from becoming potential incubators for radicalization to terrorism and terrorist recruitment.” -emphasized Ms. Madina Sarieva,UNODC International Programme Coordinator.
UNODC reiterated its commitment to work with Prison Service of Tajikistan and international partners to strengthen safety, operational readiness, human-rights compliance, and effective management of high-risk prisoners convicted of terrorism-related offences. This initiative directly supports the implementation of the National Strategy on Countering Extremism and Terrorism of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period of 2021-2025 by strengthening prison security, preventing radicalization to violence, and improving the management of high-risk prisoners. It also aligns with the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022–2027 through its focus on counterterrorism and secure, human-rights-compliant prison management.
Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan mentioned that “The United States is committed to supporting Tajikistan in strengthening prison security and countering violent extremism. Today’s handover is a practical investment in preventing future incidents and ensuring facilities have the tools required for safe and lawful management.”
This initiative is part of UNODC’s Returning Terrorist Fighters Detention Program, funded by the Counterterrorism Bureau of the U.S. Department of State, aimed at supporting Central Asian counterparts to mitigate security threats and counter the risk of radicalization to violence and related terrorist recruitment efforts in prisons.
