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The Russian Federation is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which is an inter-governmental body focused on the development and promotion of policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
In October 2002 after the FATF’s on-site mission the Russian Federation was de-listed from the list of Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories (NCCT) for its immense progress made in the AML/CFT sphere since 2000. At the next session in February 2003 the Russian Federation became an observer and in June 2003 it became a FATF member.
Rosfinmonitoring representatives actively participate in the FATF plenary and its working groups’ meetings, as well as in the development of the international standards in the AML/CFT sphere, have participated in discussion on issues of the FATF membership and program of its activity for 2005-2006.
For further information about the FATF see its website:
www.fatf-gafi.org
IRAN
The FATF welcomes Iran’s initial engagement with the international community on money
laundering. However, the FATF remains concerned by Iran’s failure to meaningfully address the
ongoing and substantial deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of
terrorism (AML/CFT) regime. The FATF remains particularly concerned about Iran’s failure to
address the risk of terrorist financing and the serious threat this poses to the integrity of the
international financial system. The FATF urges Iran to immediately and meaningfully address its
AML/CFT deficiencies, in particular by criminalising terrorist financing and effectively
implementing suspicious transaction reporting (STR) requirements.
The FATF reaffirms its call on members and urges all jurisdictions to advise their financial
institutions to give special attention to business relationships and transactions with Iran,
including Iranian companies and financial institutions. In addition to enhanced scrutiny, the FATF
further calls on its members and urges all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures to
protect their financial sectors from money laundering and financing of terrorism (ML/FT) risks
emanating from Iran. Jurisdictions should also protect against correspondent relationships being
used to bypass or evade counter-measures and risk mitigation practices, and take into account
ML/FT risks when considering requests by Iranian financial institutions to open branches and
subsidiaries in their jurisdiction.
The FATF remains prepared to engage directly in assisting Iran to address its AML/CFT
deficiencies, including through the FATF Secretariat.
UZBEKISTAN
The FATF welcomes the process undertaken by Uzbekistan to adopt comprehensive AML/CFT
measures within a specific timeframe. Nevertheless, given that concrete measures to address
the identified deficiencies have not yet been implemented, the FATF reiterates its statement of
16 October 2008, calling on its members and urging all jurisdictions to strengthen preventive
measures to protect their financial sectors from the ML/FT risk emanating from Uzbekistan.
TURKMENISTAN
Despite a prolonged dialogue with the FATF and other international institutions, Turkmenistan
has not yet made progress in adopting AML legislation. Financial institutions should remain
aware that the lack of an AML/CFT regime in Turkmenistan constitutes an ML/FT vulnerability in
the international financial system and should take appropriate measures to address this risk.
Turkmenistan is urged to adopt without further delay a comprehensive AML/CFT regime that
meets international AML/CFT standards. Turkmenistan is encouraged to continue to work
closely with the Eurasian Group and the International Monetary Fund to achieve this.
PAKISTAN
The FATF reaffirms its public statement of 28 February 2008 regarding the ML/FT risks posed by
Pakistan. The FATF welcomes the process underway in Pakistan to improve its AML/CFT regime.
The FATF encourages Pakistan to continue to fully co-operate with the World Bank and the Asia
Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) on its mutual evaluation process.
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
The FATF welcomes Sao Tome and Principe’s recent steps toward addressing identified AML
deficiencies, in particular, through the adoption of an AML law in November 2008. The FATF
urges Sao Tome and Principe to address the remaining AML/CFT deficiencies, particularly
relating to terrorist financing.
IRAN The FATF welcomes Iran’s recent engagement with the international community on anti-money laundering, notes the initial steps taken towards remedying the deficiencies in this area, and urges Iran to address the remaining weaknesses. The FATF is particularly concerned that the lack of corresponding effort by Iran to address the risk of terrorist financing continues to pose a serious threat to the integrity of the international financial system. Urgent action to address this vulnerability is necessary. The FATF calls on its members, and urges all jurisdictions, to strengthen preventive measures to protect their financial sectors from this risk. The FATF is prepared to engage directly in assisting Iran in decisively addressing the weaknesses in its AML/CFT regime.
UZBEKISTAN The FATF takes note of the action plan prepared by Uzbekistan to address deficiencies in its AML/CFT regime. The FATF is increasingly concerned that the continuing failure by Uzbekistan to restore its AML/CFT regime poses a serious threat to the integrity of the international financial system. Urgent action to address this vulnerability and to meet international standards is necessary. The FATF calls on its members, and urges all jurisdictions, to strengthen preventive measures to protect their financial sectors from this risk. The FATF, along with the Eurasian Group, is prepared to engage directly in assisting Uzbekistan in developing a robust AML/CFT regime.
TURKMENISTAN The FATF notes Turkmenistan’s efforts towards adopting AML legislation. However, financial institutions should be aware that the lack of an AML/CFT regime in Turkmenistan constitutes a money laundering/terrorist financing vulnerability in the international financial system. Turkmenistan is urged to continue its efforts to establish a comprehensive AML/CFT regime that meets international AML/CFT standards and to work closely with the Eurasian Group and the International Monetary Fund to achieve this.
PAKISTAN AND SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE The FATF reaffirms its public statement of 28 February 2008 regarding the money laundering and financing of terrorism risks posed by Pakistan and Sao Tome and Principe.
AML/CFT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF CYPRUS The FATF welcomes the significant progress made in the northern part of Cyprus and notes that the northern part of Cyprus has substantially addressed the AML/CFT deficiencies that the FATF had identified. FATF encourages the northern part of Cyprus to continue to improve its AML/CFT system. Implementation will be monitored through appropriate mechanisms.
UZBEKISTAN
The FATF is particularly concerned that a series of presidential decrees in Uzbekistan has effectively repealed the anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime in that country and generates a money laundering/financing of terrorism (ML/FT) vulnerability in the international financial system. The FATF calls upon Uzbekistan to restore its AML/CFT regime and to work with the Eurasian Group to establish an AML/CFT regime that meets international standards. The FATF calls on its members and urges all jurisdictions to advise their financial institutions to take the risk arising from the deficiencies in Uzbekistan’s AML/CFT regime into account for enhanced due diligence.
IRAN
Since its October 2007 Plenary meeting, the FATF has engaged with Iran and welcomes the commitment made by Iran to improve its AML/CFT regime. Consistent with its Statement on Iran, dated 11 October 2007, the FATF confirms its call to its members and urges all jurisdictions to advise their financial institutions to take the risk arising from the deficiencies in Iran’s AML/CFT regime into account for enhanced due diligence. Iran is encouraged to continue its engagement with the FATF and the international community to address, on an urgent basis, its AML/CFT deficiencies.
PAKISTAN
The FATF notes Pakistan’s recent progress in adopting AML legislation. However, financial institutions should be aware that the remaining deficiencies in Pakistan’s AML/CFT system constitute a ML/FT vulnerability in the international financial system. Pakistan is urged to continue its efforts to improve its AML/CFT laws to come into closer compliance with international AML/CFT standards and to work closely with the Asia Pacific Group to achieve this.
TURKMENISTAN
The FATF is concerned with deficiencies in the AML/CFT regime of Turkmenistan. The FATF welcomes the recent steps this jurisdiction has taken to address these concerns and calls upon Turkmenistan to continue to engage with the international community on these issues.
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
The FATF is concerned with deficiencies in the AML/CFT regime of Sao Tome & Principe. The FATF welcomes the recent steps this jurisdiction has taken to address these concerns and calls upon Sao Tome & Principe to continue to engage with the international community on these issues.
TRANSACTIONS WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OPERATING IN THE NORTHERN PART OF CYPRUS
The FATF welcomes the recent progress in policies and practices to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in the northern part of Cyprus. However, given the existing deficiencies, the FATF calls on its members and urges all jurisdictions to advise their financial institutions to pay special attention to the ML/FT risks in transactions with financial institutions operating in the northern part of Cyprus. The FATF encourages further progress to address the deficiencies.
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