Annual report of the CARIN network for 2024: ARMA among the leaders of international cooperation. Ukraine has demonstrated a leading position in the global asset recovery network CARIN in 2024. According to the CARIN report, in 2024, Ukraine sent the largest number of international requests for asset identification and tracing among the 61 member states of the network, and ranked third in terms of the number of requests received. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the work of the National Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) and the high level of trust on the part of foreign partners, as ARMA is the official representative of Ukraine in the CARIN network.
According to the CARIN Report, international cooperation in the field of asset recovery has significantly intensified. During 2024, 2624 requests were processedthrough the CARIN network, which is 27.7% more than in 2023, when Ukraine was already noted as one of the most active participants. The total value of the assets identified in these requests exceeded EUR 670 million. These figures are a record for CARIN and demonstrate the growth of global efforts to recover illegally acquired property. This international trend is particularly important for Ukraine, which is actively seeking to recover its stolen assets due to Russian aggression.
It is worth noting that Ukraine's high activity in CARIN is backed up by concrete results. Thus, the CARIN report for 2024 presents examples of effective international cooperation in which ARMA was involved to identify and trace assets abroad:
The ARMA's achievements were made possible through established channels of information exchange within CARIN and other networks, as well as professional cooperation with law enforcement agencies abroad.
Thanks to changes in the approach to work of the new ARMA team led by the Head of ARMA Olena Duma, 2024 also brought an expansion of the geography of ARMA's international cooperation. The Basel Institute on Governance, a reputable international organization specializing in asset recovery and anti-money laundering, joined CARIN. ARMA has already held a working meeting with representatives of the Institute, laying the groundwork for the exchange of experience and joint projects in the future.
In addition, the global asset recovery network has been expanded with new regional platforms. In 2024, the MENA-ARIN (Middle East and North Africa Asset Recovery Interagency Network) was officially established for the Middle East and North Africa. The ARINCA (Asset Recovery Interagency Network for Central Africa) network, which brings together Central African states, was also launched. The launch of MENA-ARIN and ARINCA is an important step in expanding the global asset recovery infrastructure and opens up new opportunities for partnership. ARMA, as an active member of CARIN, receives additional channels for interaction, including the exchange of information and best practices with specialists from these regions.
Summarizing the year's international achievements, ARMA Deputy Head PavloVelykorechanin emphasized the strategic importance of global networks in the fight against economic crime and the National Agency's readiness to deepen such cooperation:
“For such a global search, ARMA cooperates with top international institutions and networks of which we are members: CARIN, BAMIN, EUROPOL, INTERPOL and others. The National Agency is an important bridge between Ukraine and international partners in the field of asset recovery and management, and we continue to strengthen this cooperation,” emphasized Pavlo Velykorechanin.
It should be noted that Ukraine's entry into the CARIN network in 2024 demonstrates that even in times of war, our country remains a reliable and proactive partner in the global fight against economic crime. The increase in the number of international requests and the involvement of new partners demonstrates the increased effectiveness of asset recovery stolen from the state and the people. The ARMA plans to further strengthen cooperation through CARIN and the newly created regional networks to ensure that criminals are brought to justice and their illicit assets are returned for the benefit of Ukraine.
At the end of November 2024, the ARMA delegation headed by the Head of the Agency Olena Duma took part in the 20th CARIN General Assembly in Paris. The event was attended by representatives of law enforcement agencies and judicial institutions from 61 countries, as well as leading international experts.
