OSCE Centre in Bishkek, State Finance Intelligence Service launch project on combatting money laundering, terrorism financing

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek, and the State Finance Intelligence Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (SFIS) on 15 May 2014 in Bishkek signed an agreement on the launch of a joint project on combatting money laundering and terrorism financing.

The Memorandum of Understanding provides for  increasing the capacity of the SFIS and other authorities to adopt modern investigative and preventative methods, and implementing legislation that addresses the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

It also envisages the provision of  training courses for staff of the SFIS and other law enforcement agencies, in co-operation with the Basel Institute of Switzerland – a leading international centre specializing in corruption prevention in the public sector, corporate governance, anti-money laundering, criminal law enforcement, and the recovery of stolen assets.

“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between our organizations represents a new stage of mutually beneficial co-operation,” said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. “The OSCE Centre will further assist the Government and the SFIS in establishing and developing a sound financial system and anti-money laundering regime for the benefit of the Kyrgyz Republic and its international partners.”

Melis Mambedjanov, SFIS Chairperson, said: “We strongly support our co-operation with the OSCE and take serious measures in increasing the capacity of our staff to adopt modern investigative and countering methods, and implement legislation that addresses the recommendations of the FATF.”

The activities are being implemented as part of an OSCE-supported project on assisting the Government in combatting money laundering and the financing of terrorism.