The Project  on “Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in Georgia” is one of the four National Components of the joint Council of Europe/European Union “Eastern Partnership Programmatic Co-operation Framework (PCF)” Programme “Fight against corruption and fostering good governance/Fight against money-laundering” covering the six Eastern Partnership countries. The Project aims at contributing to promote democracy and the rule of law through prevention and control of money laundering and terrorist financing, in accordance with European and other international standards.

PROGRAMME NEWS

Back Asset recovery training for Georgian judiciary and law enforcement representatives

Asset recovery training for Georgian judiciary and law enforcement representatives

On 19-20 November 2020, the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor General of Georgia organised an online training on “Seizure, confiscation and recovery of proceeds of corruption, money laundering and other economic crime”.

The activity, delivered by three international Council of Europe experts with a combination of academic and practitioners’ backgrounds, intended to familiarize Georgian law enforcement agencies and judges with international standards and best practices on tracing, seizure and confiscation mechanisms. Participants received detailed information on the asset recovery regime defined under the UNCAC (United Nations Convention Against Corruption) and analysed practical cases for its effective implementation. The Council of Europe experts also provided a comparative view of European asset management systems, emphasizing the importance of database for ensuring an efficient management and disposal of assets by the states.

The training involved 26 participants from the Prosecutor’s Office (including regions), Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance, State Security Service of Georgia and judges presented by the High School of Judges. Through breakout sessions in small groups, beneficiaries had the opportunity to discuss real cases and to exchange professional views on different possible solutions. Discussions between the representatives of a wide range of Georgian agencies and the Council of Europe experts helped identify the main barriers for creating an effective asset recovery system, and possible steps for its further improvement in Georgia.

This activity was organised within the EU/CoE Partnership for Good Governance Project “Enhancing the systems of prevention and combating corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing in Georgia” (PGG II-Georgia), launched in January 2019.

19-20 November 2020
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OBJECTIVES

Through its activities, the Project aims at achieving the following results:

  • Elaborate proposals aimed at ensuring compliance of Georgian legislation and sub-legal acts with applicable European and international standards;
  • Promote a better understanding of money laundering/terrorism financing at the national and sectorial level and to elaborate mitigating measures;
  • Reinforce the supervisory and regulatory framework of preventive measures for sectors such as insurance, casinos, lawyers, notaries, dealers in precious metals and stones, real estate agents and NPOs;
  • Enhance beneficial ownership and transparency of legal persons;
  • Enhance authorities’ capacities to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate money laundering and economic crime cases.
ACTIVITIES

Assistance activities in each field will include assessments, provision of expert advice, workshops, trainings, and roundtables, as agreed with Project beneficiary institutions. The Project scope and expected deliverables come as a result of discussions with key national institutions in the field of anti-money laundering and terrorist financing, such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, and the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia.

The Project will last until the end of 2017 and is being implemented by the Economic Crime and Cooperation Unit of the Council of Europe Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Department of Information Society and Action against Crime.

CONTACT

Senior Project Officer, Tea Zarnadze

[email protected]