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As terrorist groups increasingly exploit digital technologies, the ability of criminal justice institutions to identify, collect, analyze, and use digital evidence has become essential for effective investigations and prosecutions. Strengthening these capabilities requires sustained investment in national institutions, practical training, and cooperation across the criminal justice chain.

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Office of Counter-Terrorism (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT), through the EU¨CÄ¢¹½ÊÓƵ Global Terrorism Threats Facility (the Facility) - a strategic initiative of the European Union and the United Nations -reached an important milestone in its partnership with the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Working with the Institute of Prosecutorial Development under the General Prosecutor¡¯s Office (Institute), Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT delivered a tailored pilot training on digital evidence for prosecutors, established a dedicated digital forensics training classroom, and handed over specialized IT and digital forensics equipment. Equipped with 20 trainee workstations, a trainer workstation, an interactive display and specialized hardware and software, the classroom provides a sustainable national capability to deliver practical, scenario-based digital evidence training.

The activities form part of a support package jointly implemented by the Facility and the Institute and the Republican Centre for Forensic Expertise and Criminology (Forensic Centre) under the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). While the Facility supports the Institute in strengthening prosecutors¡¯ capacity to use digital evidence in criminal proceedings, the Forensic Centre focuses on enhancing national digital forensic capabilities. This joint support package contributes to building sustainable national capacity across the criminal justice chain-from forensic examination to prosecution before the courts.

Jointly developed and delivered by Facility experts and Institute lecturers, the pilot training was the first course on digital evidence in terrorism-related cases to be delivered in Tajikistan. It was organized on 13-17 July 2026 and brought together 22 prosecutors from across the country. With the approval of the Prosecutor General, the training has now been included in the Institute¡¯s regular curriculum, enabling the Institute to independently train future generations of prosecutors.

The initiative reflects Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT¡¯s commitment to strengthening national institutions in a sustainable manner through long-term partnerships that combine expert advisory and mentoring support, tailored training, and targeted equipment provision.

Building on these achievements, the Facility will continue supporting the General Prosecutor¡¯s Office and the Ministry of Justice through sustained expert mentoring and advisory support. The Facility will also support the establishment of a dedicated digital forensics laboratory at the Forensic Centre, to strengthen sustainable national capacities for managing digital evidence across the criminal justice chain.