From 12-13 October, by the joint initiative of the Financial Monitoring Center of the Central bank of Armenia and the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, a conference titled “Current issues of Investigations of Money Laundering” was held at the “Syunik” Reception House of the Central Bank of Armenia in the town of Shushi, in the Republic of Artsakh, with the participation of the Chairperson of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Artsakh, Ms. Narine Narimanyan, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Artsakh, Mr. Arthur Mosiyan, judges, representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office, Ministry of Finance, representatives of the Prosecutors General’s Office of the Republic of Armenia, the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia, Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia, Police of the Republic of Armenia, State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia, Interpol National Central Bureau in Armenia, the Commission on Ethics of High-Ranking Officials, as well as the employees of the Financial Monitoring Center of the Central Bank of Armenia.The opening remarks of the conference were given by the Head of the Financial Monitoring Center of the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Daniel Azatyan and the Director of the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Sergei Arakelyan.
Welcoming the participants, Daniel Azatyan expressed hope that within the framework of the conference, the participants will share their knowledge and experience on the subject. He also thanked the Academy of Justice and personally the Director Sergei Arakelyan for putting this initiative together. Sergey Arakelyan, in turn, thanked those present, noting that this conference is another pivotal step in the cooperation between the Academy of Justice and the Financial Monitoring Center.
During the conference, issues related to money laundering, including: financial investigation, information sharing for cases involving transnational components within the framework of mutual legal assistance, the use of information provided by the Financial Monitoring Center and examples of Armenian judicial acts on money laundering were presented and discussed. Attention was paid to the activities of the Anti-Corruption Commission, which will be set up in Armenia, including the principles, functions, issues of its operation and the exchange of experience and cooperation between the Committee, the Financial Monitoring Center and law enforcement agencies.
The "Methods of Examination of Money Laundering Crimes" methodological guideline, which was developed by the law enforcement agencies and coordinated by the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia was also presented during the conference. The Financial Monitoring Center, has also been actively involved in this work. The Guideline, is intended for inquirers, investigators and prosecutors, who investigate money laundering and predicate offences. An agreement was reached with the Academy of Justice to incorporate and include the material presented in the Guidance in a training program for investigators and prosecutors.
The participants highlighted the importance of the conference and the need for organizing comprehensive trainings, stating that the exchange of knowledge and experience is not only a prerequisite for a stable and developed AML/CFT system, but also for the effective pre-trial investigation, supervision over its lawfulness and judicature.
The Financial Monitoring Center of the Central bank of Armenia and the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Armenia expressed their willingness to organize more comprehensive trainings in the future.