Recovery of Digital Evidence: Regional Workshop Empowers Western Balkans Investigators

A Regional Workshop on the Recovery of Electronic Evidence was successfully held in Skopje from 25 to 26 February, 2025, bringing together law enforcement representatives and investigators from across the Western Balkans to enhance their capacity in digital forensics and effective handling of electronic evidence.

Evidence is the cornerstone of any criminal justice case, yet properly identifying, collecting, documenting, preserving, and presenting various types of evidence often proves challenging in practice. To address these challenges, SEESAC organized the two-day workshop to strengthen participants’ ability to extract, analyze, and preserve electronic evidence, ensuring its reliability and admissibility in legal proceedings.

Sessions covered a broad range of topics including principles and procedures related to electronic evidence, identifying evidence sources such as computer systems and networks, and navigating issues related to internet evidence and the legal authorities required for its acquisition.

Practical, hands-on training sessions guided participants through online investigations, preparation and planning, as well as the search and seizure of electronic evidence.

Through workshops like this, SEESAC continues to enhance regional cooperation and strengthen institutional capacities in the region through the Regional IPA project in Support of Enhancing the Fight Against the Illegal Possession, Misuse, and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans funded by European Commission.