Cooperation with OPCW

2011. Mariya Kanina, the teacher of Elimination of Emergencies Chair had passed the OPCW Basic training course on Chemical Weapons Protection in Spies, Switserland.

2012. Mariya Kanina, the teacher of Elimination of Emergencies Chair had passed the OPCW Advanced training course on Chemical Weapons Protection in Beijing, China. Later Ms. Kanina had completed the training cycle by passing the training on Train-the Trainer Chemical Weapons Protection Course at the OPCW Technical Secretariat in the Hague, the Netherlands.

In December 2012 the IRPD and the Institute for Command Engineers was attended by senior officer of Assistance and Protection Brunch of the TS OPCW Ms. Ditta Ciganikova. High potential of training abilities which allows to organize training in accordance with international requirements was shown during the visit.

2013. Mariya Kanina, the teacher of Elimination of Emergencies Chair took part at in the Experts Training Course with Live Agents in Zemianske Kostolany, Slovakia.

In September 2013 first time in the Republic of Belarus “ Rescue Operations In Chemically Contaminated Areas ”Basic Training Course was held, which was attended by 19 experts from 13 member states.

2014. In 2014 the IRPD had hosted «Rescue Operations In Chemically Contaminated Areas» Advanced Training Course, which was attended by 16 experts from 11 states.

August-September 2014 Ms Mariya Kanina had participated as an instructor in the OPCW Assistance and Protection Training Course in the Hague, the Netherlands.

In September the Head of the Institute colonel Vadzim Sihnevich and International Relations Officer major Tatsiana Surykava took part at the Training Centers Meeting held by APB TS OPCW in Bratislava, Slovakia.

2015. Two training courses of the OPCW member states representatives were held:

-Combined Basic and Advanced Training Course for 21 experts from 10 states;

- Train the Trainer Course - 11 experts from 8 states.

June 09 2015 the Institute hosted the visit of the Director of the International Cooperation Department of the OPCW Mr.Mark Albon. He awarded the IRPD the Certificate on Recognition of the Institute’s contribution to the implementation of the Article 10 of the Chemical Weapons Convention. .

July 14-17 2015 Mr Barys Kazakou, Senior Teacher of the Elimination of Emergencies Chair participated at the Chemical Safety 2015 Exercises held jointly with OPCW and Emergency Situations Department of Jambyl region, Republic of Kazakhstan.

In November Acting Head of the Elimination of Emergencies Chair Captain Dzmitry Bulyha took part at the Advanced Laboratory Course on Chemical Incidents Response in Zemianske Kostolany, Slovakia.

In November The First Deputy Head of the Institute on Education Lieutenant Colonel Sviatlana Marshyna took part at the 20th Conference of OPCW Member States in the Hague, the Netherlands.

2016. In April the Institute held Combined Basic and Advanced Training Course for 21 experts from 13 states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Libya, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. Course was attended by APB Officer Guy Valente and Secretariat Officer Maria Elena Bruno.

In June the Institute held the Exercises on Rescue Operations in Chemically Contaminated Areas with the participation of 21 experts from 11 states - Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Uzbekistan and Ukraine together with the representatives of the TS OPCW – APB Director Shawn Decaluwe and Senior Officer Ditta Ciganikova.

From August 30 to September 8, 2016, Acting Head of the Elimination of Emergencies Chair Captain Dzmitry Bulyha participated in the 5th OPCW Assistance and Protection Training Course for instructors in The Hague, the Netherlands.

In June 24-28, 2019 jointly with OPCW a Train-the-Trainer course on “Assistance and protection against chemical weapons” for Russian speaking participants was held at the IRTcentre.

In December 08-15, 2019 the head of IRTcentre Valery Rudolf and head of the chair Vitaly Babich took part in field exercises on emergency response in the chemical industry, held under the auspices of the OPCW in the Republic of Singapore. Among other participants were representatives of Bangladesh, the Czech Republic, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka.

In 2020 IRTcentre in partnership with the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW held a basic online training course on protection against chemical weapons in the Russian language. The course was attended by the representatives from the OPCW member states: Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

The online basic training course "Protection against chemical weapons" (in Russian language ) in collaboration with the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW was held from 23 to 26 November 2020. The course was attended by the representatives from the OPCW member states: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, and Tajikistan.

The IRTcentre in partnership with the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW held a Russian language version of the basic online training course on protection against chemical weapons from 14 to 18 December 2020. The course was attended by the representatives from the OPCW member states: Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

On May 25-27, 2021 The Technical Secretariat of the OPCW and the International Rescuers Training Center (IRTcentre) MES Belarus held the on-line training course "Chemical Emergency Response: Personal Protection Equipment - Online Training Program for Russian Speaking First Responders.

This on-line course is a part of a new capacity-building initiative within the framework of Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention - Modular Online Training Program "Protection Against Chemical Weapons and Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC)" aimed to support the OPCW Member States in the region to strengthen their capacity in responding to incidents involving Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs) and Toxic Industrial Chemicals.

On December 15-17, 2021, in collaboration with the OPCW Technical Secretariat, the fifth online training course of the Modular Program "Protection against chemical weapons and toxic industrial chemicals," "Decontamination of personnel and casualties" under Article X, CWC was held for representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. 59 specialists have been successfully trained.

In 2021 IRTcentre, in collaboration with the OPCW Technical Secretariat held the online training course "Chemical Emergency Response: Personal Protection Equipment” for Russian Speaking First Responders.

In February 2022, the IRTcenter conducted training for Russian-speaking representatives of OPCW Member States on the Modular Program on Defense Against Chemical Weapons and Toxic Industrial Chemicals online course. This course was completed by 108 specialists.

On November 27, 2023 the Head of the IRT Centre, , Lieutenant Colonel of the Internal Service Vitaly Babich, and Maria Alexandrovna Kanina, a lecturer at the Department of Special Training, participated in the online connection of experts to the presentation of the "Emergency Response Guidelines" conducted by the OPCW Technical Secretariat. This is a manual for emergency services intended for use in the initial stages of a transport accident involving dangerous materials/goods. The presentation took place at the Chemical Technology Centre (CHTC) of the OPCW.