The Republic of Tajikistan strengthens the national system for combating money laundering and terrorism financing

On 11 September UNODC conducted the first working meeting with national partners in Tajikistan on technical assistance within the project “Enhancing the efficiency of parallel financial investigations”.

In 2020 UNODC held a meeting with national counterparts in the Republic of Tajikistan to discuss the project plan on technical assistance to the Republic of Tajikistan in implementing the recommendations of international experts, which were provided within the frame of the mutual assessment of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG). UNODC expressed readiness to provide technical assistance in improving the effectiveness of parallel financial investigations by the country’s law enforcement authorities. 

The main objectives of this project are to improve the efficiency of the national system for countering money laundering and terrorism financing, and the implementation of the provisions of the UN conventions and the Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF). The key partners of the project are the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Financial Monitoring under the National Bank of Tajikistan. Among the participants of the meeting there were heads and experts of the profile departments of the General Prosecutor’s Office, State Committee of National Security, Anti-Corruption Agency, Drug Enforcement Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Department of Financial Monitoring under the National Bank of Tajikistan.

Considering the current situation with the global spread of COVID-19 pandemic, the working meeting was held online. In his opening speech, UNODC GPML Advisor Mr. Oliver Gadney provided a successful example of parallel financial investigations. Mr. Gadney emphasized the importance of close inter-agency cooperation by terms of live communication. In international expert’s opinion, the provision of the financial information for operational actions is the key to a successful investigation.

Mr. Yusuf Ruziev, the representative of the General Prosecutor’s Office, thanked UNODC for organizing the workshop and for the expert assistance. Mr. Ruziev noted that according to the outcomes of the 29th Plenary meeting of the EAG, the mutual assessment report of Tajikistan was approved, which contains the recommendation of international experts, including the recommendation on increasing the efficiency of parallel financial investigations. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan approved the plan “On Eliminating Technical Compliance Deficiencies and Improving the Effectiveness of the AML / CFT System”. In this regard, the General Prosecutor's Office and other law enforcement agencies plan to establish a unified procedure for conducting parallel financial investigations.

During the meeting, the Director of the Financial Monitoring Department under the National Bank of Tajikistan, Farhod Bilolov, expressed a high level of interest in cooperation with UNODC in developing a procedure for conducting parallel financial investigations, since the organization possesses significant expert capacity and has an integrated approach to work.

Mr. Aliaksandr Vadziany, UNODC Regional Advisor on AML/CFT, emphasized that UNODC cooperates closely with the Republic of Tajikistan and provides technical assistance on an ongoing basis in strengthening the capacity of national AML/CFT partners. The main objectives of the project are to improve knowledge in conducting parallel financial investigations, strengthen inter-agency cooperation and, as a result, increase the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies and financial intelligence units in AML/CFT.

During the meeting national partners expressed an interest in cooperation with UNODC within this project, the parties identified further steps in its implementation, and, as a result, a working group was established.

This project is implemented within the framework of the UNODC Central Asia Program with the participation of the Global Program Against Money Laundering and with the financial support of the Bureau of the US Department of State on International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in Kazakhstan.

 

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