UNODC and national partners in Kazakhstan step up cooperation in combating money laundering

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Representative for Central Asia, Ashita Mittal, and the Chairman of the Financial Monitoring Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Zhanat Elimanov, signed a work plan 2022-2023 on strengthening the capacity of competent authorities in Kazakhstan to implement UN Security Council resolutions and recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF). The joint work includes assistance from UNODC in developing and implementing institutional frameworks, building human and technical capacity, as well as developing international cooperation among national partners as part of the project on the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).

A working meeting which took place on 9 February 2022 between UNODC Regional Adviser on AML/CFT Aliaksandr Vadziany and First Deputy Chairman of the Agency Gabit Sadyrbekov became the logical continuation of this work. During the meeting the sides considered opportunities for further cooperation in strengthening the capacity of competent authorities to detect and suppress financial flows, carry out parallel financial investigations, and professional development of competent authorities in the field of AML/CFT.

Consultations and working meetings were also held with representatives of competent departments  of the Agency on 8-9 February, during which priority areas for cooperation and joint activities in the first half of 2022 were identified.

UNODC, within the framework of its global mandates and the Central Asia Programme 2022-2025, provides regular technical assistance to participating States, including Kazakhstan, to strengthen legal systems, policies and national strategies to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT).

A new Central Asia Programme was approved in November 2021 to support member states in achieving effective results in countering organised crime, corruption and other threats. The Programme focuses on improving the capacity and effectiveness of countries in preventing and disrupting illicit financial flows and combating money laundering and financing of terrorism.

The project is being implemented within the frameworks of the UNODC Reginal Programme for Central Asia jointly with UNODC Global Programme Against Money Laundering and with financial support of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the US. Department of State. 

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