OSCE trains border officers from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to verify security documents

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe held a learning course on verifying the authenticity of security documents from 19 to 23 October 2026 in Guliston, Sughd Region. Fourteen border officers, seven from the Border Service of Kyrgyzstan and seven from the Border Troops of Tajikistan, participated in the course. The officers serve at neighbouring border crossing points along the Tajik-Kyrgyz border. 

Delivered by four international experts in document security, the course helped participants strengthen their skills in document authentication, security feature design and verification techniques. It covered graphic and printing security features, document personalization methods and the security features of polycarbonate data pages. Practical sessions focused on identifying forged and counterfeit travel documents, including imitated paper security features, altered personal data, photo substitutions and facial morphing.

The learning course forms part of the OSCE’s efforts to strengthen border security and cross-border co-operation in Central Asia. By involving officers from both countries, it promoted a shared understanding of document fraud and strengthened professional contacts between border services. The knowledge and skills acquired will help officers identify falsified documents at border crossing points, contributing to more secure border management and the prevention of transnational crime.