Images of Zeus electric shock projectile weapon promoted on the Oberon-Alpha website [downloaded
November 2017].
A number of companies based in the CoE have promoted electric shock projectile weapons
manufactured by companies outside the region. Taser International Inc. is the most prominent
manufacturer and supplier of projectile electric shock weapons for law enforcement agencies
across the globe. Although it is a US company, its European headquarters are in the
Netherlands.127 A number of CoE companies such as the Cypriot company, Carriar El
Limited have also promoted its products.128
In addition to projectile electric shock weapons firing a single projectile at a time, one CoE
company and one non-CoE company, have reportedly developed and/or promoted weapons
which fire multiple electric shock projectiles simultaneously thereby potentially
incapacitating a group of individuals. Because the individual projectiles cannot be accurately
aimed at specific individuals, such devices are inherently indiscriminate in nature.
Consequently, their employment risks injuring bystanders. Furthermore, there is also the risk
that multiple projectiles or barbs will impact one individual.
According to a Russian TV news report broadcast on 17 October 2017, an unnamed Russian
company recently promoted a multiple electric shock projectile mine called the MEN-5/10,
which it presented at the Interpolitex-2017 security exhibition held in Moscow. According to
the mine’s designer, the weapon is intended to “defeat, deter, limit the movement of
offenders, including in residential and non-residential premises.”129 The electric shock mine
can reportedly be installed on the ground on skids or on legs, fixed to objects with a clamp, or
hung onto the walls of premises. The device can be installed with a motion sensor connected
to a tripwire or can be remotely activated; which when activated can fire a volley of 20
electric shock projectiles.130
Previously, Taser International Inc. developed and promoted a similar multiple electric shock
projectile weapon, the Taser Shockwave. Although it appears that this device has now been
discontinued, it was promoted by a Macedonian company, Micei International, on the
“police/military/law enforcement” section of its website until at least 1 April 2017.131
127
TASER to Open New International Office in Amsterdam, 29 April 2014,
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/taser-to-open-new-international-office-in-amsterdam-nasdaq-tasr1903944.htm (accessed 9 January 2018).
128
Carriar El Limited, https://www.carriar.eu/products-services (accessed 24 October 2017).
129
Rychagov, M. Electroshock mine, firing volley, presented at an exhibition in Moscow, tvzvezda.ru, 17
October 2017,
https://tvzvezda.ru/news/opk/content/201710171617-649c.htm (accessed 16 November 2017).
130
Ibid.
131
Micei International, police/military, law, available from
https://web.archive.org/web/20170401234129/http://www.micei.com.mk/default.aspx?item=menu&itemid=158
&desc=&rootthemeid=97 (archived 1 April 2017, accessed 16 November 2016).
30
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