OSCE study visit supports Central Asian participating States in strengthening practical mechanisms for requesting electronic evidence across borders

On 3 and 4 June 2026, the OSCE brought together 20 participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in The Hague for a study visit on practical mechanisms for requesting electronic evidence across borders for investigating online criminal matters, including terrorism. The study visit was organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) in partnership with the National Police of the Netherlands.

Representatives from the five participating States gained practical insights into how electronic evidence requests are prepared, validated, transmitted, and used in criminal proceedings. Particular focus was placed on the development of Standard Operating Procedures, 24/7 emergency co-operation mechanisms, interagency co-ordination, judicial oversight, data protection safeguards, and co-operation with foreign-based service providers.

“For the Netherlands, effective digital investigations and the protection of human rights must go hand in hand. Timely access to electronic evidence is essential for investigating serious crime and terrorism. At the same time, such access must be based on clear procedures, legality, necessity, proportionality, data protection, and judicial safeguards,” shared Sanne Löwenhardt, Deputy Director of the Europe Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, while highlighting the importance of and her appreciation for co-operation between the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

The two-day programme included exchanges with representatives of the National Police of the Netherlands, Europol, Eurojust, and more. Sessions covered the full cycle of cross-border electronic evidence requests, from initiating a request to collection and evidentiary use, as well as practical workflows, staffing models, technological tools, and international good practices.

The initiative followed a series of activities organized within the framework of the project E-VIDENCE, including national needs assessments conducted across Central Asia in 2024 and 2025, as well as a regional workshop held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in November 2025. These activities identified a shared need among national counterparts for first-hand exposure to functioning models that can help translate ongoing legislative reforms into operational practice. 

Participants also exchanged updates on national processes for requesting electronic evidence and the development of Standard Operating Procedures in Central Asian participating States. These discussions are expected to inform practical recommendations for refining national procedures and support further capacity-building activities under the project E-VIDENCE.

The study visit marked another step in supporting Central Asian participating States in developing practical, accountable, and human rights-compliant mechanisms for accessing electronic evidence across borders.

The OSCE TNTD's extrabudgetary project “E-VIDENCE: Requesting Electronic Evidence Across Borders for Investigating Online Criminal Matters, Including Terrorism” aims to strengthen national and regional capacities to request electronic evidence for investigating online crimes, including terrorism, while upholding human rights, the rule of law, and data protection standards. The project is supported by Germany, the Netherlands, and San Marino.