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Cooperation with Global and Regional Asset Recovery Networks

  2. International cooperation
 

Today, national agencies from all over the world specializing on the recovery and management of assets derived from corruption and other crimes cooperate with each other through universal and regional networks/initiatives.

ARMA is a partner of the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) and actively cooperates with the network in terms of sharing information and experience, conducting joint events, including training.
  

StAR

StAR is a partnership initiative of the World Bank Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which supports international efforts to stop the concealment of assets derived from corruption.

StAR Initiative:

  • works with developing countries and financial centers to prevent the laundering of proceeds of corruption and the timely recovery of stolen assets;
  • assists countries in developing legal frameworks, building the institutional knowledge and skills needed for asset recovery, and works with partners across the world to develop effective tools for preventing asset theft;
  • cooperating with all relevant agencies, including financial centers and anti-corruption agencies, provides States with technical and legal assistance in finding, returning and confiscating of assets, as well as facilitates international cooperation in this field;

innovates the global fight against corruption by developing strategies and methods for finding assets derived from corruption, in collaboration with a number of international institutions, such as: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, G8, G20, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

САRIN

The establishment of working contacts and effective mechanisms of interaction between ARMA and foreign counterparts within the framework of Camden Asset Recovery Interagency Network (CARIN) is one of the priority areas of ARMA’s activity. In accordance with Article 16, paragraph 3 of the Law of Ukraine “On the National Agency of Ukraine for finding, tracing and management of assets derived from corruption and other crimes”, ARMA ensures cooperation with the Camden Asset Recovery Interagency Network (CARIN) and represents Ukraine in this organization.

In 2017, ARMA was authorized by CARIN. Representatives of ARMA systematically participate in the work of CARIN, in particular in the annual general meetings.

Camden Asset Recovery Interagency Network is the informal network of law enforcement and judicial practitioners, specialist in the field of asset tracing, freezing, seizure and confiscation.

The purpose of CARIN is to increase the effectiveness of its members' efforts, on a multi-agency basis, to deprive criminals of their illicit profits.

CARIN currently has 54 registered member jurisdictions, including 28 EU Member States and nine international organizations.

CARIN’s key objectives are to:

  • establish the network of contact points;
  • establish itself as a center of expertise on all aspects of tackling the proceeds of crime;
  • promote the exchange of information and the best practices;
  • undertake to make recommendations to bodies such as the European Commission and the Council of the European Union, relating to all aspects of tackling the proceeds of crime;
  • act as an advisory group to other appropriate authorities;
  • facilitate, where possible, training in all aspects of tackling the proceeds of crime;
  • encourage members to establish national asset recovery offices.

 

 

An important area of international cooperation in the field of asset recovery is cooperation with regional asset recovery practitioner networks (by analogy with CARIN), which work on a reciprocal basis not only within their region but also with other universal networks on asset recovery and third countries through the CARIN. ARMA started the dialogue with such regional networks as:

  • Asset Recovery Interagency Network Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP);
  • Asset Recovery inter-agency network for Southern Africa (ARINSA);
  • Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network-East Africa (ARIN-EA);
  • Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network-West Africa (ARIN-WA);
  • Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for the Caribbean region (ARIN-CARIB).

These regional networks, establishing sustainable international network, act as an advisory group for bodies working in the sphere of finding the illicit assets and facilitate the exchange of information and the best practices in this area.

It should be noted that on November 19-20, 2019, the Annual General Meeting of the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network in West and Central Asia (ARIN-WCA) took place in Almaty (Kazakhstan). During this meeting ARMA gained observer status at ARIN-WCA.

BAMIN

On December 11, 2018, ARMA gained observer status in the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN). It is an informal network of experts and practitioners in the field of management of criminal asset.

Cooperation with this network will improve cross-border and inter-agency cooperation in the context of information exchanging on the management of illicit assets between ARMA and other similar institutions, both within the Balkan region and beyond.

BAMIN currently includes 11 jurisdictions. Belgium, Ireland and the United Kingdom (Wilsons Auctions) also have observer status in the network.

The main tasks of BAMIN are to:

  • enhance international cooperation between asset management offices, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary;
  • systemize, create and disseminate the best global practice in the sphere of management of criminal assets;
  • facilitate the management, sale and returning of criminal assets in various jurisdictions;

strengthen the cooperation between public authorities and the private sector in this area.

Interpol

In 2017, ARMA was authorized by the Interpol Global Focal Point Network on Asset Recovery as a contact point from Ukraine, and gained access to the Interpol Secure Communications for Asset Recovery (I-SECOM).

The Interpol Global Focal Point Network provides a secure information exchange platform for the recovery of criminal assets.

The immediate strategic goal of this initiative is to exchange the information on finding criminal assets and to facilitate their returning to the countries of origin. The status of contact point also allows for direct exchange of information on asset recovery with other contact points.