This week, from 25-29 September, the Estonian Forensic Science Institute welcomes colleagues from the Kharkiv Forensic Science Institute – Head of the International Department Olena Agapova, forensic scientists Ihor Sych and Oksana Bernadska and forensic scientists from the State Forensic Science Bureau of Latvia (SFSB) Olha Pashkova and Iryna Zhuk.
During the week-long visit, Estonian and Ukrainian forensic experts will exchange experience and knowledge in the field of human DNA examination, which is one of the most important areas in documentation of the war crimes committed by the Russian Federation.
This is the second of four experience exchange visits planned in the project "Support for Ukrainian Forensic Experts in documentation of the war crimes committed by the Russian Federation " (ForUkraine). Three visits will be held in Riga, Latvia, and one - in Tallinn, Estonia.
In the ForUkraine project, the SFSB will support Kharkiv forensic experts with
• necessary equipment and materials;
• experience exchange visits;
• assistance in the development and testing of new forensic methods.
The project ForUkraine or " Support for Ukrainian Forensic Experts in documentation of the war crimes committed by the Russian Federation " received funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2023 from the development cooperation budget.
Ukrainian law enforcement agencies do significant work in documentation and investigation of the war crimes committed by the Russian Federation. Forensic experts make a significant contribution to this process.