ASHGABAT - The 32nd meeting of the Council of Heads of Financial Intelligence Units of the CIS countries, dedicated to combating financial crimes and shutting down terrorist financing channels, concluded in the capital of Turkmenistan, Orient.tm reports.
The heads of relevant agencies from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan participated in the forum. Representatives from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and specialized counterterrorism agencies of the Commonwealth also attended as observers and delegates.
The participants focused on new challenges in financial security related to the digitalization of the economy and the development of electronic payment instruments. The discussions focused on modern money laundering schemes and their detection mechanisms.
Of particular interest was Uzbekistan's experience in preventing illegal financial transactions through so-called "drop cards"—bank cards issued to proxies for the withdrawal and laundering of funds. Participants noted the effectiveness of the measures taken and the potential for similar practices to be adopted in other countries in the region.
Kazakhstan's initiative aimed at promptly identifying risks in instant money transfer systems that could be used to finance extremist and terrorist activities also received support.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to expand information exchange between financial intelligence units, approved a plan for joint investigative measures to identify financial criminals, and agreed to hold a specialized CIS Counter-Terrorism Forum. The decisions adopted are expected to improve the effectiveness of regional cooperation in financial security and combating transnational crime.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
May 22, 2026