Explosive ordnance disposal training kicks off at OSCE-supported Regional Explosive Hazards Training Centre in Tajikistan

On 22 September 2025, an intensive three-week Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Level 1 training kicked off at the Regional Explosive Hazards Training Centre (REHTC) of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense.

The opening ceremony was attended by Tatiana Turcan, Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe; Colonel Anvar Hasanzoda, Head of the Engineering Department of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense; Colonel Abdulmumin Asozoda, Director of the Tajikistan National Mine Action Center (TNMAC); Major Adrian Lane Savage, Deputy Chief of the Office of Military Cooperation of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan; and Yoshiyuki Shiomi, Country Director of the Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD).

In their remarks, speakers emphasized the importance of regional co-operation in addressing explosive ordnance threats. They highlighted that joint action through knowledge-sharing, resource pooling and co-ordinated efforts strengthens the ability of Central Asian countries to work together toward a safer, mine-free future.

Supported by the OSCE and international partners, the training brings together 21 mine action professionals from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Over the next three weeks, participants will receive a blend of theoretical instruction, practical field exercises and realistic simulations, equipping them with the skills to identify, manage and safely dispose of explosive ordnance.

This initiative directly contributes to community safety and regional stability while underscoring the OSCE’s long-standing commitment to supporting Central Asian countries in building a more secure future for generations to come.