A Russian penitentiary delegation, under Lieutenant General Alexander Khabarov, visited Namibia to assess the correctional service’s security. They admired the NCS’s low escape rates and suggested adding service dogs for contraband control. The exchange aimed to enhance both services’ operational insights without any inmates from either side being in custody in the other’s country.
A delegation from Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service, headed by Deputy Director Lieutenant General Alexander Khabarov, completed a two-day exchange program with the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) on February 26. During their visit, Khabarov praised the NCS’s impressively low escape rates, the fostering of positive relations between staff and inmates, and the comprehensive security measures in place. He proposed that the NCS could further bolster its security practices by implementing a service dog training program aimed at mitigating contraband issues within correctional facilities.
The NCS emphasized that the exchange allowed for valuable sharing of operational insights regarding correctional management. They noted, “It is worth noting that there are currently no Russian inmates in Namibian correctional facilities in Namibia, and no Namibian inmates are in custody in Russia.” The visiting delegation toured the Windhoek Correctional Facility and discussed strategies for offender rehabilitation, secure custody practices, and staff training and development.
Concluding the program, the delegation visited Heroes’ Acre to honor Namibia’s fallen heroes and expressed condolences for the passing of His Excellency Dr. Sam Nujoma. This visit followed Commissioner-General Raphael Hamunyela’s previous trip to Russia in October 2024, which resulted in a signed agreement to implement a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Corrections sector.
The Russian delegation’s visit highlighted the strengths of Namibian correctional measures, particularly their effective security protocols and positive inmate-officer dynamics. This exchange fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing between the two nations, paving the way for further innovations like pet training programs to enhance security. Overall, the interaction marked a significant step in strengthening international cooperation in corrections.
Original Source: economist.com.na
