Osh, 7 12 October 2024 – The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek facilitated the organization of The III Inter Agency K9 Competition

A dog handler and his service dog participating in the III Inter-Agency K9 Competition. Osh, Kyrgyzstan. (OSCE) Photo details

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek is supporting a series of joint inter- and intra-agency exercises designed to enhance collaboration between the Border Service and law enforcement agencies in combating the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, conventional ammunition, and explosives in southern Kyrgyzstan.

These scenario-based exercises are vital in reinforcing co-operation between the Border Service's internal structures and units, while also fostering stronger partnerships with law enforcement agencies. By working together, participants will become familiar with each other's operational procedures, improving their ability to respond swiftly and effectively to security threats.

For three days, the teams, composed of K9 units from the Correctional Service under the Ministry of Justice, the State Customs Service, the Drug Trafficking Control Service, and the Border Guard Service, competed in a series of rigorous tasks. These included detecting narcotics in luggage, vehicles, and indoor environments, as well as overcoming obstacle courses and demonstrating general obedience training. German and Belgian Shepherds, renowned for their agility and training capacity, were the star participants.

"Until the final moments, it was difficult to predict the winner," said Colonel A. Abdyldaev, Chief Judge of the competition. "Initially, the team from the Ministry of Internal Affairs Drug Trafficking Control Service and the State Customs Service was in the lead. However, yesterday, the team from the Border Guard Service of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) took the lead."

The judges assessed not only the execution of the tasks but also the dogs' behaviour and their responsiveness to the handlers' commands. In addition, special attention was paid to the technique of performing the elements. The "Obedience" stage of the competition was judged by Josef Schützenhofer, an invited expert from Austria in the field of K9.

The team from the Border Guard Service of the State Committee for National Security claimed victory in a highly competitive final stage, securing first place. The Ministry of Internal Affairs' Drug Trafficking Control Service team claimed second place, while the State Customs Service team finished third. The Corrections Service under the Ministry of Justice took fourth place.

In the individual competition, Warrant Officer N. Sultanov from the Border Guard Service, along with his dog Zakat, took first place. Lieutenant B. Batyrkul uulu and his dog Tina, representing the Ministry of Internal Affairs, secured second place, and Major N. Gladkova with her dog Gerda from the State Customs Service earned third place.

Winners received special awards, including medals, diplomas, and valuable gifts provided by the OSCE Programme Office. In addition, the winning teams were presented with specialised backpacks for dog handlers and dry food for their service dogs.

This marks the third consecutive year that the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek has supported the inter-agency K9 competition, reinforcing its dedication to enhancing security co-operation in Kyrgyzstan through capacity building and professional training initiatives.

The III Inter-Agency K9 Competition is implemented within the framework of the extrabudgetary project "Reducing risk of illicit small arms and light weapons,

ammunition and explosives proliferation across border of Kyrgyz Republic," funded by the US, Germany, Norway, UK, and supported by Austria and Poland.