OSCE and UNODC Strengthen Capacities of Law Enforcement Officials in Countering the Financing of Terrorism in Kyrgyzstan

Terrorist financing encompasses the means and methods used by terrorist groups to finance their activities that poses serious threats to national, regional and international stability and economic growth.

To support Kyrgyzstan in its efforts to counter the financing of terrorism (CFT) the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek conducted a three-day basic investigation training course on CFT for over 15 officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Financial Intelligence Service under the Ministry of Finance, Prosecutor General’s Office, and the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic from 6-8 April, 2022 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The participants had a chance to identify existing gaps in detection, investigation and prevention of terrorism and its financing as well as gain practical knowledge and skills on efficient practices of conducting investigations of financial crimes. The course will enable them to advance their work in the effective fight against money laundering and terrorist financing and intensify coordinated cross-agency co-operation.

Notably, the course is part of the joint UNODC and OSCE multi-year programme on CFT which aims to strengthen capacities of competent authorities and improve the effectiveness of inter-agency work. It also aims to strengthen domestic CFT framework in line with the recommendations of the Eurasian group on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism (EAG) mutual assessment for compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards.