OSCE Baku Office holds training seminar on non-violent methods for crowd control

A two-week training seminar on non-violent methods for crowd control, organized by the OSCE Office in Baku for police and internal troops began Monday in Ganja, the second largest city of Azerbaijan, said in the OSCE statement.

"Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right in a democratic society," said Marco Kubny, Senior Police Adviser at the OSCE Office in Baku. "These two weeks of intensive training will highlight appropriate use of measures and proportional methods of public assembly management in line with OSCE commitments, international standards and human rights practices."

The seminar for 70 senior officers comprises theory and practical exercises. It forms part of an OSCE Office programme to strengthen Azerbaijani police and internal troops' ability to effectively manage public assemblies with non-violent methods.

The seminars cover topics such as the role of police during demonstrations, the respect and protection of human dignity, police operations at major demonstrations, handling of detainees and freedom of speech. Practical exercises will include police action to de-escalation situations and management of various assembly situations.

The training programme, financed by Germany, is conducted by German police officers.


/Trend/