On 4 March 2024, the Council of Europe in co-operation with the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan launched the HELP course “International co-operation in criminal matters” in Tashkent. 31 law enforcement officials from numerous regions of the country attended the event, which took place in the premises of the General Prosecutor’s Office.

The course, translated in Uzbek and adapted to the national legal framework, provides participants with in-depth knowledge on the topic. Following the completion of the course, they will be equipped with practical tools for dealing with criminal cases with an international element, applying the human-rights approach of the Council of Europe.

Svetlana Artykova, Deputy General Prosecutor of the Republic of Uzbekistan underlined the importance of international cooperation both to punish criminals and to support Uzbek nationals abroad. Givi Bagdavadze, Head of the international co-operation Unit of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Georgia, presented the international framework related to international co-operation and shared good practices from Georgia. Natalia Vorobyeva, senior lawyer at the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights, offered a comprehensive overview of extradition standards, as well as the application of interim measures (Rule 39 of the Rules of Court) by the Court.

Participants to the course will be supported by two national HELP tutors and will receive HELP certificates issued by the Council of Europe following the completion of the course.

The activity was organised by the action "HELP in Central Asia" in the framework of the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme 2020-2024, a joint initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.