Fifty criminal justice practitioners from the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine successfully completed the training course "Building a Case for the Prosecution of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Crimes" held in Chișinău from 2 to 6 November 2026. The course was organized by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) as part of the THEMIS project, co-funded by the Governments of Canada and Norway.
Over five intensive days, prosecutors, investigators, judges, law enforcement officers, forensic experts, and other criminal justice professionals examined the entire lifecycle of a CBRN criminal case, from the initial response at a crime scene through investigation, charging, trial proceedings, sentencing, and appeal. The comprehensive capacity-building programme included 50 substantive sessions, six practical exercises providing more than seven hours of hands-on training, and more than ten real-world case studies drawn from completed investigations and prosecutions across multiple jurisdictions. These practical examples enabled participants to gain valuable insights into the legal, operational, and evidentiary challenges associated with investigating and prosecuting CBRN-related offences.
The course was officially opened by Mr. Dumitru Obadă, President of the Superior Council of Prosecutors of the Republic of Moldova, followed by Mr. Alexandru Machidon, Prosecutor General of the Republic of Moldova, who welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of strengthening national capacities to address CBRN threats through effective criminal justice responses. Representing the National Institute of Justice of Moldova, Mr. Octavian Bivol, Head of the Continuing Training Section, reaffirmed the Institute's support for the initiative and its commitment to integrating selected CBRN-related courses into the national training curriculum for investigators, prosecutors, and other justice sector professionals.
A distinctive feature of this edition was its focus on reaching practitioners beyond the capital cities and strengthening capacities in regional and local jurisdictions across both beneficiary countries. The vast majority of participants work in provincial and local institutions rather than central government bodies. This approach reflects a shared understanding that CBRN incidents can occur anywhere and that the capacity to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate such cases must be developed and maintained across the entire national territory. By equipping frontline practitioners across Moldova and Ukraine with specialized knowledge and practical skills, the programme contributes to stronger national preparedness and more effective criminal justice responses to CBRN threats.
Building on proven results
The THEMIS project is co-funded by Global Affairs Canada and the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority and implemented by UNICRI. It supports Moldova and Ukraine in their remote regions in strengthening capacities to prevent, investigate and respond to CBRN threats, especially the misuse of hazardous materials by non-state actors.
THEMIS builds on the earlier CBRN Investigation, Prosecution and Adjudication (IPA) project, fully funded by the European Union under its CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative. That project was successfully completed in Moldova and Ukraine in 2025. It trained more than 60 beneficiaries and certified over 25 professionals from both countries, establishing the first cohort of national instructors.
One of the most tangible results of this initial first phase was demonstrated during the training in Chișinău this week. Experts who participated in the first phase of CBRN investigation and prosecution training delivered the training themselves. Prosecutors from the Prosecutor General's Office of Moldova and the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, along with a professor from the Training Centre of Prosecutors of Ukraine, led numerous sessions alongside UNICRI's international experts.
Both countries have also integrated selected training modules into their respective national training curricula: through the National Institute of Justice of the Republic of Moldova and the Training Centre of Prosecutors of Ukraine. This reflects national ownership of the training and ensures its continuity beyond the competition of externally funded projects.
The Building a Case for Prosecution course is part of UNICRI's wider training package on CBRN investigation, prosecution and adjudication. Versions of the course have been delivered in Moldova, Ukraine, Poland, the United Arab Emirates, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The package draws on two EU-funded UNICRI prosecutor's guides: one on chemical and biological crimes (2022) and one on radiological and nuclear crimes (2023).
A five-day journey from the crime scene to the courtroom
Following the lifecycle of a CBRN criminal case, the course provided participants with a comprehensive overview of the full spectrum of activities of the criminal justice response to CBRN crimes, from initial incident response and crime scene management to investigation, prosecution, trial, and appeal. Through a combination of expert-led lectures, practical exercises, and real-world case studies, participants explored topics including the identification and handling of CBRN materials, evidence collection and preservation, forensic analysis, intelligence gathering, undercover operations, expert witness testimony, and evidentiary requirements in court proceedings.
The programme also addressed the prosecution of serious international crimes, strategic trade controls, international legal cooperation, mutual legal assistance and extradition, witness protection, media engagement, and national CBRN policies and action plans. By bringing together operational, forensic, legal, and policy perspectives, the training strengthened participants' ability to effectively investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate complex CBRN-related offences in accordance with national and international legal frameworks.
More practical exercises and real-world cases
UNICRI adapted this edition of the course in response to feedback and recommendations from previous participants and partner institutions, placing greater emphasis on practical, scenario-based learning. As a result, the hands-on component was significantly expanded, enabling participants to apply theoretical knowledge to realistic investigative and prosecutorial situations. Through seven dedicated practical exercises, participants strengthened their skills in CBRN forensic investigations and crime scene management; the detection and identification of hazardous materials; the development of investigation plans and procedural frameworks; the collection, preservation, and handling of CBRN-related evidence; the effective use of CBRN forensic experts; strategic media and communication management, and the application of mutual legal assistance mechanisms in the investigation of CBRN crimes. These exercises provided valuable opportunities to address operational, forensic, legal, and communication challenges encountered in complex CBRN cases, while promoting multidisciplinary cooperation across the criminal justice system.
In addition to the practical exercises, the programme featured more than ten case studies drawn from actual investigations and prosecutions conducted in Germany, Hungary, Iraq, Malaysia, Moldova, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Ukraine. These real-world examples enabled participants to examine the challenges faced by investigators and prosecutors, identify effective practices and lessons learned, analyse mistakes and shortcomings, and benefit from the experiences of criminal justice practitioners from different jurisdictions.
The course also introduced an innovative training scenario supported by four specially produced video briefings. Built around a realistic fictional case that could arise in any country, the scenario guided participants through the criminal justice process, from the initial incident response and investigation to prosecution and trial preparation. This new training format will be further refined based on participants' feedback and recommendations to enhance its relevance and effectiveness in future editions of the course.
Looking ahead
On the final day of the course, participants reviewed the training modules that national instructors from the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine will integrate into their respective training programmes to sustain capacity-building efforts over the long-term. Participants were also briefed on the next phase of the THEMIS programme, including the organization of CBRN mock trials as the next stage of the training cycle. The overall objective of the project is to enhance cooperation and coordination among investigators, prosecutors, judges, forensic specialists, law enforcement officials, and other criminal justice practitioners involved in responding to CBRN crimes in both countries.
Building on the knowledge and skills acquired through the combination of theoretical instruction and practical exercises, participants will apply their learning in a series of realistic mock trial exercises based on three fictional CBRN-related cases. Working within their respective national legal frameworks, procedures, and operational practices, participants will investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate these cases from start to finish. Two national mock trials will be conducted in Moldova and Ukraine in early 2027, bringing together practising investigators, prosecutors, judges, and forensic experts to simulate the full criminal justice response to complex CBRN incidents. These exercises will provide a unique opportunity to test interagency cooperation, apply newly acquired skills in realistic settings and identify areas for further strengthening national preparedness and prosecutorial capacities.
