UNIPATH STAFF
Turkmenistan has established a police aviation service to better protect citizens from crime and disasters. The aviation service, which falls under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, was created by presidential decree in May 2013.
New helicopters are being purchased for anti-crime surveillance and as rescue transport for injured or stranded victims of fire or other disasters.
“Units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan are provided with up-to-the-minute technology and special equipment, as well as modern transportation facilities for road surveillance and fire safety services, the passport system, the public security center, forensics and medical services,” according to a report from the ministry’s news center.
Earlier in 2013, police, security and airport officials took part in an aviation emergency response drill in Ashgabat organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The goal was to standardize and coordinate responses to crime and natural disasters.
“As Turkmenistan expands its aviation and other transport resources, the importance of an enhanced emergency planning and response program increases,” said Ambassador Ivo Petrov, who heads the OSCE center in Ashgabat.
Sources: Trend News Agency, OSCE