Tajikistan Tackles Financial Crime with EU and Council of Europe Partnership
In a significant effort to strengthen the rule of law and combat economic crime, Tajikistan has launched a 48-month project in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe. The “Promoting Transparency and Action against Economic Crime” (CA TAEC) initiative aims to enhance business integrity and compliance in the private sector, as well as anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and asset recovery systems.
Key Challenges
Tajikistan faces several challenges in its fight against economic crime, including:
- Lack of Whistle-blower Legislation: Tajikistan does not have adequate legislation to protect whistleblowers in the business sector.
- Regulatory Inconsistencies: There are inconsistencies in conflict of interest frameworks that can hinder effective regulation.
- Limited Training for Law Enforcement: Key law enforcement agencies lack training on pursuing economic crime and recovering assets.
- Capacity Gaps at Financial Intelligence Unit: The financial intelligence unit has capacity gaps to undertake strategic analysis of suspicious financial flows.
Project Objectives
The CA TAEC project aims to achieve several intermediate and immediate outcomes, including:
Enhancing Business Integrity and Compliance
- Improve the business environment through enhanced integrity and compliance in the private sector
- Implement effective anti-corruption measures
- Foster a culture of transparency and accountability
Improving Anti-Corruption, Anti-Money Laundering, and Asset Recovery Systems
- Strengthen mechanisms to prevent corruption
- Enhance capacities to tackle corruption, money laundering, and economic crime
- Improve the effectiveness of anti-money laundering systems
Enhancing Capacities of Law Enforcement Authorities
- Provide training for law enforcement agencies on pursuing economic crime and recovering assets
- Build capacity at the financial intelligence unit to undertake strategic analysis of suspicious financial flows
Implementation Arrangements
The Council of Europe’s Economic Crime and Cooperation Division will be responsible for implementing the project through a delegation agreement with the European Union Office in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. International and national consultants will be engaged to carry out activities such as assessments, expert advice, conferences, training courses, and research.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact the CA TAEC team at the Council of Europe:
- Mr. Edmond Dunga (Head of Unit): edmond.dunga@coe.int
- Ms Alla Dyubanova (Project Officer): alla.dyubanova@coe.int
- Ms Sabina Sinjerean (Junior Project Officer): sabrina.sinjerean@coe.int