OSCE helps strengthen skills of anti-corruption investigators in Yerevan

The effective investigation of money laundering crimes was at the center of a technical workshop held by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) with the support of the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia (ACC).

This event, held in Yerevan on 20 April, was attended by 15 investigators from the ACC. The investigators acquired new tools and skills in criminal investigation, intelligence collection, and the analysis of corruption and money laundering crimes. Participants also discussed money laundering typologies and the application of financial investigative techniques in combating corruption and money laundering. 

“The Armenian Anti-Corruption Committee as a newly established agency combating corruption attaches great importance to studying the advanced international experience in the subject field and adopting its best elements for ensuring tangible results. We appreciate the support of the OSCE and remain confident that this workshop will contribute to the development of professional skills of investigators”, said Mushegh Babayan, Acting Deputy Chairman of the ACC.

Participants applied crime simulation techniques and money laundering investigations methods during practical exercises. In addition, investigators actively discussed and identified the interconnection between corruption, money laundering, and fraud.

“We are excited to be a part of this practical workshop, especially since the OSCE has been instrumental in the establishment of ACC before it became a fully operational governmental agency in Armenia in the fall of 2021. We are pleased to develop the capacity building and technical advice in the most effective methods to investigate money laundering to the ACC as it has already launched activities to combat corruption in Armenia”, said Lorenzo Rilasciati, Acting Deputy Co-ordinator at OCEEA.

This workshop is the final exercise in the online training programme that started in March 2022 and aims to assist Armenia in the institutionalization of the anti-corruption reform in the country.

The event was supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Embassy of Switzerland in Armenia and organized in the framework of the OSCE Project on strengthening anti-corruption reform in Armenia, financed by Switzerland, Italy, and Germany.