Opening of the Regional Expert Forum

• Representative of the Executive Office of the President of Tajikistan
• Mr. Sulaimon Davlatzoda, Chairperson of the Committee on Religion, Regulation of the National Traditions, Celebrations and Ceremonies under the Government of Tajikistan
• Ms. Petra GAŠPÁROVÁ, Head of Political, Press and Information Section, EU delegation to Tajikistan
• Ms. Gerrit Zach, Acting Deputy Head of OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe
• Mr. Abakhon Sultonazarov, Director to the Institute for War and Peace Reporting in Central Asia

During this session the experts will have an opportunity to discuss the most recent trends of how violent extremists and terrorists use online channels in Central Asia to advance their agendas. The session will also address the existing legal challenges and issues related to the coordination of relevant responses at both national and regional levels. The participants will also address questions related to relevant technical challenges, gaps and needs for effective strategic responses in dealing with violent extremists group operating online

Moderator: Mr. Grachev Dmitriy, Director of the Eurasian Integration Institute

• Mr. Zayniddin Jurazoda, Senior prosecutor of the Department on Preventing Terrorism, Extremism and Control for the National Security Law Enforcement, General Prosecutor’s office of Tajikistan, “Countering use of the Internet for extremist and terrorist purposes within the National Strategy of Tajikistan on Preventing Extremism and Terrorism for 2016-2020 years”
• Mr. Rafal Rohozinski, SecDev Group, Canada (video performance)
• Mr. Otabek Rashidov, OSCE Secretary, Austria, “Countering and preventing the use of internet for terrorist purposes: effective responses”;
• Representative of the SCO Secretariat
• Ms. Juliet McMurren, SecDev Group, Canada, «Digital aspects of violent extremism: Central Asia 2019»

This session will address the legal and policy challenges of a coordinated response to violent extremism in the region. It will discuss the specific challenges at a national and regional level, and options for coordination through bilateral cooperation and regional organizations such as UN, OSCE, ATC, SCO, CSTO, and others.

Moderator: Mr. Daniyar Narymbaev, PF CIIP

• Mr. Dilshod Eshnaev, Vice-chairperson of the Committee of Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, “Actual issues of countering violent extremism ideology on the Internet”
• Representative of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Secretariat (TBD)
• Representative of the National Security State Committee of the Republic of Tajikistan
• Ms. Gulnaz Isaeva, Head of analytics department State commission on religious affairs under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, «State policy in the sphere of ensuring religious security: experience, lessons learned and prospects»
• Mr. Marat Torobekov, PF CIIP, Kyrgyzstan, «Content regulation of  violent extremism online in Central Asia»

This panel will discuss national gaps and needs for cybersecurity awareness and digital literacy in order to work with operators of social media platforms within the region and globally.

Moderator: Mr. Asomudin Atoev, the SecDev Foundation

• Mr. Alexandr Bulavin, Kaspersky Lab in Central Asia and Mongolia, “Deployment of the technologies for the violent extremism purposes:Where will their efforts directed? Social media and their use by criminals”
• Mr. Sherali Rizoyon, Research analytics, “Violent extremism as a phenomenon of “soft power”: adequate ways to counteract them”
• Mr. Khilvatshoh Mahmudov, PF CIPI, “The use of Internet space and social media in the prevention of violent extremism”
• Mr. Hussain Ehsani, researcher of AISS (Afghan institute for strategic studies) “Why violent extremist groups use social media: Case Study ISIS”
• Mr. Rustam Gulov, Representative of the Internews in Tajikistan, “Media literacy as a protective factor against threats of violent extremism”

This panel will focus on recent programs and activities at the national and regional level to address the causes of violent extremism in the region. It will look at different approaches that have been taken to address risk factors and to police violent extremism content online.

Moderator: Mr. Dilshod Eshnaev, Vice-chairperson of the Committee of Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan

• Mr. Amanzhol Urazbayev, Head of  Presidium of the Public Union “Counter-terrorist Committee”, Kazakhstan, “Journey of formation of anti-terrorist consciousness in Central Asia”
• Mr. Ikbalzhan Mirsaitov, Regional Advisor on preventing conflicts, Internews Kyrgyzstan, “Falspanels and simulacra as risks factors of VE growth”
• Mr. Dmitriy Zavyalov, Representative of the IWPR in Tajikistan, The Role of Local Communities in PVE
• Mr. Bizhigit Koishiev, Muslim Spiritual Board of Kazakhstan (MSBK), Advisor to the Supreme Mufti, “On activity of the MSBK for formation of constructive religious consciousness and counter extremism narratives among believers”
• Ms. Nurgul Esenamanova, expert freelancer, Kyrgyzstan, “Classification in risk assessment of those convicted of extremism and terrorism”
• Mr. Arman Abdrasilov, Director of the Centre for Analysis and Investigation of Cyber Attacks, Kazakhstan, “Religious messages on social media: marketing analysis”

This session will discuss the importance of the multi-stakeholder partnership involving the public sector agencies and civil society institutions. including mass media, for creating and dissemination of positive narrative on the Internet among local communities in the region to prevent threats of  ideas and views of narratives produced and distributed online by the banned extremist groups

Moderator: Mr. Ikbalzhan Mirsaitov

• Mr. Timur Oganov, Internews. “Multi-stakeholder partnership and cooperation on the example of “Contributing to stability and peace in Central Asia” project funded by the European Union.
• Mr. Christopher Schwarz, American University in Central Asia and  Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, “A Proposed Project for Understanding Audience Receptivity Toward Radicalizing Disinformation”
• Mr. Gaybullo Bohiri, Programm manager at Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia, Tajikistan «Experience of civil society institutions in countering violent extremism among young people in Tajikistan» (on example of EFCA Tajikistan)
• Mr. Asomudin Atoev, SecDev Foundation, “Preventing Violent Extremism Without Mentioning It: Positive Video Narratives for Using Protective Factors Against the Threats of Violent Extremism”

Moderators from each sessions will present key findings and summaries of the panel discussions