2. Devices authorized for use by lawenforcement officials in the Caucasus and Central Asia The types of device authorized for use by law-enforcement officials that fall within the scope of this report have been chosen because they have been listed in the laws of states in the Caucasus and Central Asia. While a range of systems has been authorized for use, including firearms, all of which can be used in the commission of human-rights violations, this report focuses on certain specific categories of equipment that either feature prominently in concerns highlighted by international monitors or have a questionable legitimacy or utility in law-enforcement operations. Concerns have also been raised that national and international standards relating to the trade, development and use of such devices are not adequate enough to reflect the current situation in states in the Caucasus and Central Asia. There is now substantial evidence of the use of less-lethal lawenforcement equipment by governments in the Caucasus and Central Asia to violate human rights, notably through torture and as a means to repress political opposition to the region’s non-democratic governments. The equipment discussed in this report falls under six major categories. Each of these categories is discussed in greater detail below. Table 2.1 summarizes the equipment authorized for use by law-enforcement personnel in selected Eurasian states. I. Mechanical-restraint devices Mechanical-restraint devices are pieces of equipment applied to the body in order to restrict the movement of an individual. In extreme cases, they are used to prevent movement altogether. While it is sometimes necessary for restraints (such as handcuffs) and restraint methods to be used to detain suspects, prevent escape or control dangerous individuals, concerns about the misuse of such equipment (e.g. over-tightening, holding individuals in ‘stress positions’, prolonged or long-term application of cuffs) have arisen. A wide variety of restraints are available to law-enforcement and correctional officials in the Caucasus and Central Asia. These include metal handcuffs that are a staple of most law-enforcement agencies worldwide. Over the past decade, the deployment of single-use plastic handcuffs has also become more widespread globally, especially for use in times of unrest when one police or security officer can hold many pairs in a small easy-access pouch or strap and deploy them at speed. Concerns arise in the use of these