Here is the rewritten article in Markdown format:

Financial Crime Investigation Techniques in Azerbaijan Need Improvement, Says MONEYVAL Report

======================================================

A recent report by the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body, MONEYVAL, has highlighted the need for Azerbaijan to strengthen its measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Compliance with International Standards

While Azerbaijan has taken steps to improve its legal and institutional framework since 2014, MONEYVAL notes that major improvements are needed to pursue investigations and prosecutions effectively. The country’s law enforcement authorities have access to financial intelligence and other information, but they would benefit from increased domestic cooperation at an operational level.

Investigation and Prosecution

Inconsistencies in Investigations and Prosecutions

The report highlights the need for more consistency in investigations and prosecutions, with most cases prosecuted being related to self-laundering. Legal persons have not been investigated for money laundering, which is a major concern.

Tracing Assets

Azerbaijan needs to do more to trace assets by conducting systematic parallel financial investigations in all proceeds-generating crimes, including terrorist financing.

Targeted Financial Sanctions

MONEYVAL notes that Azerbaijan has a sound legal framework in place for implementing targeted financial sanctions without delay both for terrorist financing and proliferation financing. However, concerns were identified about the implementation of those measures by the private sector, as well as the adequacy of supervision of compliance.

Non-Profit Organisations

The report calls on the authorities to swiftly apply preventive, targeted, and proportionate risk mitigation measures to prevent Non-Profit Organisations from being abused for terrorist financing purposes.

Supervision of Financial Institutions and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions

MONEYVAL calls for fundamental improvements in supervision, including strengthening enforcement and sanctioning powers for breaches of professional anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing obligations.

Roadmap for Improvement

Azerbaijan will report back to MONEYVAL on progress achieved in improving the implementation of its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures by December 2025.