GOV.KZ – Single platform for the digital resources of government agencies
A Regional Meeting on the creation of a new regional branch of the GlobE network, which took place in Almaty 18-20 of June, 2024, has ended today.
The participants of the event shared their successful experience in the field of anti-corruption, including asset recovery, and also discussed the possibilities of using existing channels and interaction networks to exchange information between asset recovery offices and other competent authorities of foreign countries.
The Chairman of the Asset Recovery Committee Nurdaulet Suindikov expressed gratitude to the co-organizers and participants of the meeting for their joint work and confirmed the readiness to implement projects in the field of asset recovery.
The Press Service of the Prosecutor General's Office
During the 12-14 of June, 2024, in Vienna (Austria) a delegation from the Asset Recovery Committee attended the eighteenth session of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Asset Recovery of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
Representatives of law enforcement and other government agencies from over 150 countries took part in it.
This event is dedicated to studying best practices in detecting, containing and preventing corruption risks, returning stolen assets, as well as problematic issues of international cooperation.
Representatives of the Prosecutor's Office of Kazakhstan highlighted the main provisions of the Law «On the return of illegally acquired assets to the state» and the directions of the Committee's activities.
The presentation was received positively by the event participants and published on the UNODC Secretariat website as a successful work experience.
The Committee staff made a number of proposals to develop, under the auspices of the above-mentioned working group, recommendations to improve the efficiency of information exchange in cases of unjust enrichment, to create a platform for sending electronic requests, as well as the use of modern IT tools to search for and return illegally withdrawn assets.
Also on the sidelines of the event, negotiations were held with representatives of the European Union, Interpol, UNODC, Switzerland, Singapore, USA, Malaysia, Panama, Russia, Malta, Austria, Ukraine and a number of other countries and international organizations.
Asset Recovery Committee
Prosecutor General’s Office
Republic of Kazakhstan
A representative of the Committee took part in the 9th meeting of the ARIN-AP Interdepartmental Network for Asset Recovery of the Asia-Pacific Region, which took place in Seoul (South Korea).
The main purpose of the meeting is to discuss strategic cooperation on the development of regional networks, exchange of experience and asset recovery.
During the event, issues of non-conviction based confiscation, payment of compensation to victims of criminal proceedings, strengthening international cooperation through the «ARIN-AP» network were discussed, as well as the successful cases of participating countries for asset recovery.
Information on the adoption of the Law «On the return of illegally acquired assets to the state» and the creation of an Asset Recovery Office in Kazakhstan was presented to the attention of foreign partners.
The Asset Recovery Committee
of the Prosecutor General’s Office
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The Annual Plenary Meeting of the Judicial Legal Cooperation Network for Central Asia and Southern Caucasus (CASC), organised by UNODC and the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held on 2-3 May in Astana.
Mrs. Aigerim Nurmukhambetova, Head of the ARC’s International Legal Cooperation Division, presented her speech at the 6th session of the meeting devoted to international co-operation in money laundering, corruption cases and in asset recovery.
Highlighting the significant contribution of UNODC, she outlined the main provisions of the Law “On the Return of Illicitly Acquired Assets to the State” and the current pillars of the ARC.
The Speaker also expressed the readiness of the Committee to support the UNODC initiative (announced in 2023) to establish the CASC Secretariat in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Asset Recovery Committee
Prosecutor General’s Office
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
During the visit to Vienna, the Asset Recovery Committee’s delegation took part in the annual general meeting of ARIN-WCA (West and Central Asian Asset Recovery Network) on the topic: «Asset recovery – related investigations and asset recovery office activities».
The Kazakh delegation made a report on the work of the Committee aimed at implementing Law «On the return of illegally acquired assets to the state» and also took part in the negotiations.
The meeting participants received the Kazakh experience with interest, noting that rules on the confiscation of assets of inexplicable origin will be implemented in the countries of the European Union.
An agreement was reached to establish direct cooperation with the head of the European asset recovery network «CARIN», representatives of the authorized departments for asset recovery of Belgium, the Netherlands, Guernsey, Pakistan and other participants in the event.
This visit highlighted the Committee's interest in participating in international dialogue regarding strengthening asset recovery measures, and also confirmed its readiness to strengthen cooperation with foreign partners.
The Asset Recovery Committee
of the Prosecutor General’s Office
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
On April 11, 2024, in the framework of the visit of the Asset Recovery Committee’s delegation to Vienna several meetings were held with representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
At a meeting with the Coordinator of the Global Operational Network of anti-corruption law enforcement agencies UNODC (GlobE) with Ms.Rozica Zakhariyeva, the issues of further interaction of the Committee with the GlobE Secretariat as a new member of the Network were discussed.
Thanking for the support in joining the GlobE network, Chairman of the Committee N.Suindikov proposed to hold joint events on the Network site, including consideration of the possibility of organizing training workshops and sessions of Globe on the successful experience of member countries and regional forums in the field of asset recovery.
Ms.R.Zakhariyeva, for her part, noted the important role of GlobE in building close cooperation between the Committee and the law enforcement agencies of 113 jurisdictions all around the world and organizing operational meetings between representatives of various state bodies in the framework of future plenary meetings of the Network.
The visit also included a bilateral meeting with senior adviser to the UNODC Section Mr.Tim Steele and coordinator of the working group on asset recovery Ms.Sophie Maingast.
The parties discussed the areas and prospects of cooperation relevant to the Committee in the work of the subsidiary bodies of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
The main areas of cooperation include technical assistance to the Committee in the StAR Initiative processes and the active participation of the agency in the forthcoming expert meetings of the UNODC working group on asset recovery.
Noting the special interest in the Committee's activities, the Section representatives expressed their hope that Kazakhstan would increase its participation in the work of the UNCAC Conference of States Parties in the area of asset recovery.
Asset Recovery Committee
Prosecutor General's Office
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
On April 10, 2024 the so-called meeting of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Committee was held in Vienna (Austria) on the topic: «Challenges and opportunities in the fight against corruption and promotion of asset recovery through the effective use of digital tools».
Chairman of the Asset Recovery Committee of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.Suindikov acted as one of the speakers.
Head of the Office presented the Law «On the return to the state of illegally acquired assets» and the activity of the Asset Recovery Committee.
Having highlighted the significant contribution of the OSCE, he shared information on achievements in the field of international legal cooperation in the field of search, collection, processing and analysis of information on the origin of assets, as well as capacity-building of the Committee's staff.
Within the framework of this visit, a bilateral meeting was held with the OSCE Coordinator on economic and environmental activities Mr.Bakyt Jusupov and the Coordinator of OSCE activities to combat transnational threats Mrs.Elena Kupchina.
The parties discussed topical issues related to ensuring asset recovery, including the possibility of implementing a comprehensive project in Kazakhstan and Central Asia in the field of asset recovery.
Asset Recovery Committee
Prosecutor General's Office
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
On March 27, 2024, a meeting was held at the Asset Recovery Committee of the Prosecutor General’s Office with a delegation of the Council of Europe led by the Head of the Department for Combating Economic Crime and Cooperation of the Department for Combating Crime Mr. Mustafa Ferati.
The parties discussed the implementation of modern digital technologies for searching, collecting and analyzing data, as well as the possibility of organizing trainings for Committee employees with the involvement of experienced international experts.
Representatives of the Council of Europe expressed their readiness to assist in the implementation of these initiatives.
In addition, in order to exchange experience and improve the system in the field of asset recovery, at the end of May this year the Council of Europe will organize a visiting mission of the Kazakh delegation to the Netherlands and Belgium.
This event will provide a unique opportunity to discuss current issues and establish new methods for fruitful cooperation.
Preliminary agreement was reached on the development and implementation of a joint action plan on the return of illegally acquired assets.
The parties also touched upon the importance of Kazakhstan’s accession to the Council of Europe conventions in the field of criminal proceedings.
As a result of the meeting, specific plans for the implementation of the above-mentioned measures are outlined.
The Asset Recovery Committee
of the Prosecutor General’s Office
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Today in the capital of Kazakhstan, we held the 20th-anniversary meeting of the Prosecutors General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (hereinafter – SCO) member states.
The Prosecutors General of the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan participated in the meeting, and the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of China, the Solicitor General of India, and the Additional Attorney General of Pakistan joined the meeting online.
Opening the meeting, the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan – Berik Asylov, acknowledged the organisation’s role, which has steadily become a high-profile expert platform to discuss measures focused on combating transnational crime in the region.
Gizat Nurdauletov, the Assistant to the President and the Secretary of the Security Council, delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
In his speech, Zhang Ming, the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, emphasised the importance of cooperation between supervisory authorities to protect human rights and respond to modern challenges and threats.
It is worth reminding that the central topic of the meeting was the experience exchange and discussion of best practices and issues in recovering illegal assets.
It has been highlighted that transnational economic crime is a global threat that encroaches on security and undermines the financial sector’s stability, transparency, and efficiency.
According to international experts, the annual difference in the trade turnover of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states with other countries is about 675 billion US dollars.
It is possible that some of these cash flows are redirected for criminal purposes, including financing terrorism and extremism.
Given this background, the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan shared his experience in the repatriation of criminal capital.
Specifically, he informed his colleagues about the activities of the Interdepartmental Commission chaired by him to combat the illegal concentration of economic resources established by the Decree of the President of Kazakhstan.
As Berik Asylov highlighted, criminal activities annually cause irreversible damage to the economies of our countries. Only through close cooperation and joint work can the countries create an undefeatable barrier to such challenges.
Shri Tushа́r Mehtа́ spoke about the measures adopted in India to combat transnational economic crimes.
Zhang Jun – the Prosecutor General of China, informed the participants of the meeting about the mechanisms and instruments used in the People’s Republic of China to recover assets acquired by illegal means and transferred abroad.
Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov also shared the Russian experience in this sphere.
Prosecutor General of Tajikistan Yusuf Rahmon presented the measures to prevent the illegal transfer of funds and other valuables acquired by illegal means and transferred abroad.
Kurmankul Zulushev, Prosecutor General of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Nigmatilla Yuldashev, Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan, talked about the work of interdepartmental commissions for the search and recovery of assets illegally transferred abroad.
As part of the discussion, the delegates reached a unanimous opinion regarding the necessity to build partnerships between law enforcement agencies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states and join efforts to improve communication for efficient work to combat transnational economic crimes.
As a follow-up to the event, the heads of the Prosecutor General’s Offices signed a meeting protocol that specifies priority tasks for further cooperation and exchange of best practices on the stolen asset recovery.
Following signing the protocol, Berik Asylov held bilateral meetings with foreign colleagues on the further development of international cooperation.
Press service of the General Prosecutor’s Office