Russian forensic DNA scientists visit ICMP

[:en]

19 October 2011: Two of Russia’s most reputable scientists from the Federal Center of Forensic Medical Expertise (FCFME) at the Ministry of Health of Russian Federation completed their two-day visit to the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). Dr. Pavel Ivanov, Deputy Director and Director of Forensic DNA Unit of the Federal Center of Forensic Medical Expertise (FCFME) at the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and M.D. Elena Zemskova, Head of Casework DNA Typing Lab, toured ICMP’s Sarajevo HQ and the DNA forensic facilities where they were informed about ICMP’s DNA identification efforts and its scientific work methods.

The FCFME is the Russian Federation’s central forensic DNA institution with a workload of many thousands of cases per year. FCFME’s scientists successfully helped in the identification of victims of numerous terrorist attacks, airplane crashes and large-scale disasters, some of which are: the 2009 Sayano-Shushenskaya hydro plant accident, the 2010 Polish airplane crash that killed Polish president Lech Kaczyński, the February 2004 Moscow Metro bomb attack and many other terrorist attacks on Russian soil, as well as the DNA testing of possible living heirs to the Russian Czar Nicholas II.

«We are thankful to our host for this extremely informational visit. ICMP’s experience is unique in the world and we feel privileged to have seen its activities first hand. Although our laboratories work on thousands of cases each year, for us this is a new concept and one that we will try to replicate in our future work, especially when it comes to our ambitious plans in the North Caucasus and the planned creation of Russia’s central DNA database. To witness ICMP’s impressive protocols of DNA extraction from old bones, the powerful and effective system that ensures an unbiased approach in politically sensitive regions, the methods of data collection from family members of missing persons in addition to a robust DNA laboratory system – proved very useful in our short visit and we look forward to continued cooperation with ICMP», said Dr. Pavel Ivanov, Deputy Director and Director of Forensic DNA Unit of the Federal Center of Forensic Medical Expertise (FCFME) at the Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, following the visit to ICMP facilities.

«ICMP is delighted to have received a visit from such preeminent Russian forensic experts, especially as they come from a highly acclaimed and successful institution such as FCFME. This further demonstrates ICMP’s readiness to share knowledge and expertise that ICMP has collected over the years. We are looking forward to expanding our cooperation with the Russian forensic DNA scientists», said Dr. Tom Parsons, ICMP’s Director of Forensic Sciences.

ICMP is actively involved in helping governments and other institutions in various parts of the world address social and political issues related to missing persons and establish effective identification systems in the wake of conflict or natural disaster.

ICMP endeavors to secure the co-operation of governments and other authorities in locating and identifying persons missing as a result of armed conflicts, other hostilities or violations of human rights and to assist them in doing so. ICMP also supports the work of other organizations in their efforts, encourages public involvement in its activities and contributes to the development of appropriate expressions of commemoration and tribute to the missing.[:bs]

Dva od najuglednijih ruskih naučnika iz Federalnog centra sudsko-medicinske ekspertize (FCFME) pri Ministarstvu zdravstva Ruske Federacije danas su okončali dvodnevnu posjetu Međunarodnoj komisiji za nestale osobe (ICMP). Dr. Pavel Ivanov, zamjenik direktora i šef odjela za forenzičku DNK FCFME-a, i dr. Elena Zemskova, rukovodilac laboratorije za tipizaciju DNK, obišli su međunarodno sjedište ICMP-a u Sarajevu i objekte za forenzičku analizu, gdje su informisani o ICMP-evim aktivnostima DNK-identifikacije i naučnim metodama kojim se ICMP služi u svojem radu.

FCFME je vodeća institucija u Ruskoj Federaciji na polju forenzičke DNK analize sa nekoliko hiljada slučajeva godišnje. Naučnici iz FCFME-a su uspješno pomogli u identifikaciji žrtava brojnih terorističkih napada, padova aviona i velikih prirodnih katastrofa, od kojih vrijedi izdvojiti nesreću na ruskoj hidrocentrali „Sayano-Shushenskaya“ 2009. godine, pad poljskog aviona 2010. godine usljed kojeg je život izgubio poljski predsjednik Lech Kaczyński, bombaški napad na moskovski metro 2004. godine, te brojne druge terorističke napade na tlu Rusije, ali i testiranje DNK mogućih živih nasljednika ruskog cara Nikolaja II.

„Zahvaljujemo našim domaćinima na iznimno informativnoj posjeti. ICMP-evo iskustvo je jedinstveno u svijetu i osjećamo se privilegiranim jer smo dobili priliku da se neposredno upoznamo sa njegovim aktivnostima. Iako naše laboratorije obrađuju hiljade slučajeva svake godine, za nas je ovo novi koncept koji ćemo pokušati primijeniti u našem budućem radu, naročito kad su u pitanju naši ambiciozni planovi za Sjeverni Kavkaz i planirano kreiranje ruske centralne baze podataka DNK. Za nas je od velike koristi bilo uvjeriti se u ICMP-ove impresivne protokole za ekstrakciju DNK iz starih kostiju, ICMP-ov snažni i efikasni sistem kojim se osigurava nepristrasan rad u politički osjetljivim regionima, zatim metodologiju prikupljanja podataka od članova porodica nestalih osoba uz robustan DNK laboratorijski sistem te se stoga radujemo nastavku saradnje s ICMP-om“, izjavio je dr. Pavel Ivanov, zamjenik direktora i šef odjela za forenzičku DNK Centra sudsko-medicinske ekspertize (FCFME) pri Ministarstvu zdravstva Ruske Federacije, nakon posjete ICMP-u.

«ICMP-u je bila velika čast ugostiti tako etablirana imena ruske forenzike, naročito jer dolaze iz visokocijenjene i uspješne institucije poput Federalnog centra sudsko-medicinske ekspertize (FCFME). Na ovaj način ICMP nastavlja demonstrirati svoju spremnost da podijeli znanje i ekspertizu stečene tokom dugih godina svojeg rada. Radujemo se nastavku i proširenju naše saradnje sa ruskim naučnicima iz polja forenzičke DNK“, izjavio je dr. Thomas Parsons, direktor ICMP-ovog odjela forenzičkih nauka.

ICMP je aktivno uključen u pružanje pomoći vladama i drugim institucijama širom svijeta na rješavanju društvenih i političkih problema vezanih za nestale osobe. ICMP pomaže i u uspostavi efikasnih sistema za identifikaciju poslije sukoba i prirodnih nesreća.

ICMP nastoji obezbijediti saradnju vlada i drugih organa vlasti pri lociranju i identifikovanju osoba nestalih tokom oružanih sukoba, drugih oblika neprijateljstva ili kršenja ljudskih prava, te nastoji pružiti pomoć u provođenju ovih aktivnosti. ICMP podržava rad drugih organizacija, te podstiče javnost da se uključi u ove aktivnosti i na taj način da svoj doprinos odavanju počasti nestalim osobama.
[:ar][:es][:]