From 5 to 7 October 2026, 29 government officials from Kazakhstan took part in a training course in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, on security planning and target hardening for critical infrastructure against terrorist threats. The event was organized within the framework of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Project PROTECT Phase II, together with the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and with support from Germany.
The new three-day training course was designed in response to a growing number of terrorist incidents targeting critical infrastructure across the OSCE area and beyond. Drawing on Chapter 7 of the Project PROTECT Technical Guide on Physical Security Considerations for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure from Terrorist Attacks, the course provided training on preparatory measures aimed at mitigating terrorist threats through structured planning and multi-stakeholder co-operation.
The course explored measures and plans for preventing and responding to terrorist threats such as attacks involving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear material, firearms or hostile vehicles, and guided participants through planning for evacuations, invacuations, lockdowns and hostage situations. All participants received a copy of the Technical Guide, providing them with a consolidated reference document for their future work in protecting critical infrastructure.
“In light of recent world events, ensuring counter-terrorism security has taken on particular importance,” said Denis Rudkovskiy, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Control over Security Activities, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, adding that Project PROTECT “would contribute to the further enhancement of staff capacities and the strengthening of security systems at critical infrastructure facilities”.
Participants included regional experts in critical infrastructure protection and practitioners from the Committee for Control over Security Activities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Anti-Terrorism Centre and the State Security Service of Kazakhstan. The training course was delivered by OSCE experts, who guided participants through scenario-based exercises, plenary discussions and real-life case studies.
“Protecting critical infrastructure remains an important focus of international counter-terrorism efforts. Contemporary threats are constantly evolving, and their nature requires not only reliable technical solutions, but also a systematic approach to assessing risks and vulnerabilities, planning protective measures and interagency co-ordination,” said Assel Karatayeva, Senior Politico-Military Officer of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana.
This course marked the fifteenth activity under Project PROTECT, which strengthens national approaches to protecting vulnerable targets from terrorist threats and other hazards in a human rights-compliant manner.