The State Financial Monitoring Service report performance in combating terrorism (separatism) in anti-terrorist operation zone in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions
According to the Law of Ukraine the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine (FIU) together with law enforcement agencies are directly involved in preventing and counteracting the financing of terrorist activities (separatism).
Thus, following this cooperation 43 legal entities and 11 individuals were detected with respect to which suspicions exist that they may be accessory to separatist activities.
Consequently, the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine prepared and send to the Security Service of Ukraine for consideration and decision according to the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine 68 case referrals and additional case referrals (51 case referrals and 17 additional case referrals) on financing transactions conducted by legal entities and individuals that they may be related with separatist activities, 19 of these case referrals prepared the Security Service of Ukraine by itself. In particular, activities some of participants of financial transactions in above mentioned submitted case referrals were as follows:
in Lugansk region – 9 case referrals;
in Donetsk region – 11 case referrals and 6 additional case referrals.
The State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine has taken 250 decisions about suspension of financial transactions conducted by persons suspected of being involved in separatist activities. Among them 8 decisions taken according to paragraph 2 Article 17 of the Basic Law on further suspension by the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine after suspension by bank for 2 days; 129 decisions taken according to paragraph 3 Article 17 of the Basic Law on suspension of financial transactions for 5 days; 113 decisions taken according to paragraph 5 Article 17 on suspension of financial transactions for 7 days. Total amount of blocked funds that were sent to finance terrorist activities (separatism) is 2.05 billion Ukrainian hryvnia.
At the same time, the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine jointly with the Security Service of Ukraine, directly in zones of anti-terrorist operation in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, conducted a series of coordinated investigative operations and counter-terrorism actions to combat the financing of terrorism.
There were banking entities, legal entities and individuals suspected of financing terrorism activities in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions identified; as well as financial investigations were conducted andfunds were blocked.
Note:
Article 4 of Law of Ukraine on Combating Terrorism establish that the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine is entity that involve to the measures related to prevention, detection and suppression of terrorist activities.
Pursuant to Article 18 of the Law of Ukraine on Prevention and Counteraction to Legalization (Laundering) of the Proceeds of Crime or Terrorist Financing the State Financing Monitoring Service of Ukraine shall:
1) collect, process and analyse of the information concerning the financial transactions related to CTF suspicions;
2) submit to law enforcement and prosecution agencies generalized materials in the case of suspicion transactions that may be related to terrorist financing;
3) facilitate cooperation, collaboration and information exchange with government agencies in the areas of prevention and counteraction to the terrorist financing.
However, according to Article 6 the Law of Ukraine on Combating Terrorism the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine, within jurisdiction shall:
- take measures on prevention, detection and suppression of acts of terrorism and terrorist activity;
- give to the proper units during conducting of counterterrorist operations also information necessary for implementation of tasks regarding the combating terrorism.