Omega Research Foundation as well as in other countries including Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Vietnam.33 According to its promotional material, March Group “is official supplier for all the military structures in Russia: Ministry of Internal Affairs, Special Police Forces, Head Department of the Penitentiary, Federal Bailiff Service, Federal Security Service, Federal Drug Control Service and etc.” In an interview with the “Military-Industrial Courier” published in December 2016, the Chief of the Military Police, of the Russian Ministry of Defence, said that the Military Police which currently are equipped with unspecified electroshock devices, will in future acquire the March Group AIR-107U electric shock baton.34 Above left: March Group (Russia) electric shock batons on display at the Interpolitex 2011 exhibition, 24-29 October, 2011 in Russia (©Robin Ballantyne, Omega Research Foundation); Above right: HPE Polska (Poland) electric shock baton on display in company catalogue distributed at IDEX 2017, 19-23 February 2017 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Note: image shows electric shock baton being applied on handcuffs. HPE Polska is one of several companies based in the European Union that manufactures and/or markets electric shock batons for the military and police communities. These are included in the company’s “Tactical & Military Accessories Division” products. Since 2014 HPE Polska has exhibited its products at trade fairs in countries including Germany, Kazkhstan, Poland and the United Arab Emirates. c. Chemical irritants While Omega believes that the previous types of equipment discussed have no legitimate law enforcement purpose, it is also necessary to consider equipment which could have a legitimate function if used appropriately but which is often used in human rights abuses. Chemical irritants is one example of such equipment. Chemical irritants (also referred to as Riot Control Agents [RCAs]35) are designed to deter or disable an individual, by producing temporary irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract and are often 33 http://russian-shockers.com/contacts/predstaviteli.html accessed 11 May 2017. Ivanovsky, V. and Falichev, O. Russian Military Police: With A Shield and the Law, Interview with Chief of the Military Police of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant-General Vladimir Ivanovsky, “Military-Industrial Courier.” (VPK), undated. An English translation of this interview was published on 27 December 2016 in South Front, https://southfront.org/russian-military-police-with-a-shield-and-the-law/, accessed 11 May 2017). 35 Article 2 of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) defines Riot Control Agents as: “Any chemical not listed in a Schedule, which can produce rapidly in humans sensory irritation or disabling physical effects which disappear within a short time following termination of exposure.” 34 11