Today, the national agencies of the countries of the world on issues of return and management of assets obtained from corruption and other crimes cooperate with each other within the framework of universal and regional networks/initiatives.

ARMA is a partner of the Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative (StAR) and actively cooperates with the network in terms of exchanging information and experience, holding joint events, including educational ones.

САRIN 

One of the priority areas of ARMA's work is the establishment of working contacts and effective mechanisms for interaction between the National Agency and foreign colleagues within the framework of the Camden Asset Recovery Inter-agency Network (CARIN). In accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 16 of the Law of Ukraine "On the National Agency of Ukraine for identification, search and management of assets obtained from corruption and other crimes", ARMA ensures cooperation with the Camden Asset Recovery Inter-agency Network (CARIN), and represents Ukraine in this organization.

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

The Camden Asset Recovery Inter-agency Network is an informal of law enforcement representatives and legal practitioners, experts in the field of asset detection and tracing, freezing, seizure and confiscation.

The purpose of establishing CARIN is to increase the effectiveness of Member States' efforts in their activities aimed at depriving criminals of their illicit proceeds.

Today, CARIN has 54 registered member states in foreign jurisdictions, including 28 EU member states and nine international organizations.

Key tasks:

• create a network of contact points;
• to become a center of best practices in all aspects of combating proceeds of crime;
• promote the exchange of information and best practices;
• advise bodies such as the European Commission and the Council of the European Union on all aspects of combating the proceeds of crime;
• act as an advisory group with other specialized bodies;
• to contribute to the organization of training on combating the proceeds of crime;
• encourage network members to establish national asset recovery institutions.

An important direction of international cooperation in the field of detection and search of assets is cooperation with regional networks of expert practitioners in the field of detection and search of illegal assets (by analogy with CARIN), which work on a mutual basis not only within their region, but also with other universal networks on the identification and recovery of assets and by third countries through the CARIN network.

ARIN Regional Networks facilitate international cooperation through informal communication channels (e-mail) between requesting and requested States.

They bring together the relevant competent authorities and facilitate the exchange of information and best practices in the field of asset tracing, discovery and management.

ARMA has established forms of cooperation with the following regional networks, the activities of which are aimed at ensuring international cooperation in the field of identification, search and management of assets:

- Asset Recovery Interagency Network Asia Pacific - ARIN-AP, which includes 28 jurisdictions.

- Asset Recovery Interagency Network West and Central Asia (ARIN-WCA), which includes 8 jurisdictions;

- Asset Recovery inter-agency network for Southern Africa - ARINSA, which includes 24 jurisdictions;

- Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network-East Africa - ARIN-EA, which includes 8 jurisdictions;

- Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network-West Africa - ARIN-WA, which includes 17 jurisdictions,

- Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for the Caribbean region (ARIN-CARIB), which includes 34 jurisdictions.

These regional networks form a sustainable international network and act as a consultative group for authorities working in the direction of tracing illicit assets, facilitating the exchange of information and best practices in the field. 

In 2019, ARMA gained observer status in ARIN-WCA. 

BAMIN

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

Cooperation with this network will improve cross-border and inter-agency cooperation in terms of information sharing on the management of illicit assets between institutions like ARMA, both in the Balkan region and beyond.

BAMIN currently includes 11 jurisdictions. Belgium, Ireland and Great Britain (Wilsons Auctions) also have observer status in this network.

BAMIN's main tasks include:

- strengthening international cooperation between institutions for the management of illegal assets, law enforcement and judicial bodies;

- systematization, formation and dissemination of the best global practice of managing assets obtained illegally;

- promotion of increasing the efficiency of management, sale and return of assets obtained by crime in various jurisdictions;

- strengthening cooperation between state bodies and the private sector in this area.

21.09.2023, ARMA received the status of a member of the BAMIN Supervisory Board of the Interdepartmental Asset Management Network of the Balkan Region, which enables it to participate in the supervision of network management; consideration of applications for membership and representation of interests of network members during network management. The decision on ARMA's membership in the Supervisory Board was made during the BAMIN Annual Meeting in Chisinau (Republic of Moldova). ARMA regularly participates in BAMIN Supervisory Board meetings.

EPAC/EACN

The European Partners against Corruption (EPAC) and the European Network of contact-points network against corruption (EACN) are networks that unite more than a hundred anti-corruption and police supervisory authorities from 38 European countries.

EPAC is an environment where practitioners can share experiences, explore opportunities and collaborate across national borders to develop common strategies and high professional standards. Each year, EPAC members organize a professional conference, jointly with EACN since 2008, and have a number of working groups that operate throughout the year.

On November 3, 2023, ARMA became a member of the European Partners against Corruption.

The decision to include the Agency was adopted during the meeting of the 22nd Annual EPAC/EACN Professional Conference in Dublin (Ireland).

Joining EPAC/EACN opens up new opportunities for the Agency. Membership will strengthen its institutional capacity in identifying and tracing assets, as well as contribute to the effective work of the department in the fight against corruption.

Europol (European Police Office) 

ARMA cooperates with the European Police Office (Europol) in the implementation of the function of identifying and searching for assets that can be seized in criminal proceedings.

On July 12, 2017, Law of Ukraine No. 2129-VIII ratified the Agreement between Ukraine and the European Police Office on operational and strategic cooperation.

The purpose of the Agreement is to establish cooperative relations between Ukraine and Europol to support Ukraine and the member states of the European Union in preventing and fighting organized crime, terrorism and other forms of international crime.

After completion of domestic procedures and consultations with Europol, ARMA was included in the list of competent bodies of Ukraine cooperating with the Office.

The inclusion of ARMA in the list of competent bodies for the transfer of information from Europol to Ukraine and the transfer of information in Ukraine significantly expands the format of cooperation, facilitates the exchange of operational information within the framework of criminal proceedings and participation in joint measures to investigate a much wider range of crimes, ensures participation in the analysis of operational data .

ARMA employees completed a practical course on the basics of secure information exchange on the SIENA platform. The full functionality of SIENA was connected on August 11, 2023.

SIENA was introduced by Europol for the purpose of police cooperation between EU member states, third countries with which Europol has memorandums of cooperation, in the fight against terrorism and other cross-border crimes.

In 2024, ARMA representatives took part in a meeting of the Europol working group on the implementation of Operation Oscar at the Europol headquarters.

 «Oscar» Operation is an operation launched on 11 April 2022 by Europol together with EU Member States, Eurojust and Frontex to support EU Member States' financial investigations into criminal assets belonging to individuals and legal entities sanctioned in connection with Russian invasion of Ukraine. «Oscar» Operation is also aimed at supporting criminal investigations by member states into the circumvention of EU trade and economic sanctions.

Interpol

In 2017, ARMA was authorized in the Global Network of Interpol Contact Points for Asset Tracing, as a contact body for Ukraine, and also received access to Interpol's secure communications system for the exchange of information on asset tracing (I-SECOM).

The Interpol Global Focal Point Network is a platform for information exchange in the area of ​​tracing and recovery of illegal assets. 

The immediate strategic goal of this initiative is the exchange of information regarding the identification of illegal assets and facilitating their return to their countries of origin. Focal point status in this initiative also allows for direct sharing of asset tracing and asset recovery information with its other focal points.

StAR 

StAR is a partnership initiative of the World Bank Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime that supports international efforts to end the practice of concealing the proceeds of corruption.

StAR initiative:

• works with developing countries and financial centers to prevent laundering of proceeds from corruption crimes and timely return of stolen assets;
• assists countries in developing the regulatory and legal framework, building institutional knowledge and skills necessary for asset recovery and works with its partners around the world to develop effective tools related to the prevention of asset theft;
• cooperating with all relevant institutions, including financial centers and anti-corruption agencies, provides technical and legal assistance to states in the direction of detection, return and confiscation of assets obtained through crime and promotes the strengthening of international cooperation in this area;
• innovates in the global fight against corruption by developing strategy and methods for identifying assets derived from corruption crimes, cooperating with a number of international institutions, in particular, such as: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, G8, G20, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).