By KYIV. May 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance expresses concern over reports of Russia’s attempts to blackmail Financial Action Task Force (FATF) member states on ahead of the FATF Paris plenary on June 19-23, where the inclusion of the Russian Federation in the black or grey lists may be considered.
“Russia’s bullying behaviour is concerning but unsurprising. When faced with hard evidence of noncompliance with the FATF standards, russia turned to blackmailing and political pressure,” Minister Serhiy Marchenko was quoted by the Finance Ministry on Wednesday.
He said that this is yet another example of russia’s gross violation of the commitment to international cooperation and mutual respect upon which FATF members have agreed to implement and support the FATF Standards.
Marchenko said that FATF blacklisting would increase universal compliance and enhance due diligence that will allow for more effective countering of money laundering and terrorism financing risks russia poses to the global financial system.
According to the minister, Russia has been violating FATF’s most important recommendations, presenting a serious risk to global financial security. Russia creates obstacles to international cooperation in preventing money laundering and fighting financial crime. It cooperates with Iran and North Korea – both under the UN sanctions and on the FATF blacklist.
Russia fosters terrorist organisations across the globe and turns to nuclear terrorism. It also fails to counter money laundering, organised crime and corruption, Marchenko added.
The Ministry of Finance said that since FATF’s decision to suspend russia’s membership in February, the risks russia poses to global financial security have only grown, including increased malicious cyber activities, intensified military and financial cooperation with UN-sanctioned states, deployment of terrorist organisations in Ukraine and Africa, intensified effort to circumvent sanctions and repeated actions which threaten the world with a nuclear disaster.
“We strongly believe in the integrity of the international community and are convinced that FATF member states will do what’s right to protect themselves and the global financial system from russia’s malicious influence and the risks of money laundering and terrorism financing, no matter what dirty tactics russia tries to employ,” Marchenko said.
As reported, In February 2023, in light of Russia’s continued reported arms trade with United Nations-sanctioned jurisdictions and Russia’s malicious cyber activity, FATF announced its decision to suspend Russia’s membership. FATF recognised Russia’s actions were unacceptable and ran counter to the organisation’s mandate and core principles.
