Terrorism financing

Türkiye has successfully completed technical studies to be removed from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) gray list, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek has said.

The process will be finalized with an on-site assessment to be conducted in June, the minister wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The Higher Education Council (YÖK) has collaborated with the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) to inform students about the dangers they may face if their bank accounts are used for illegal purposes.

The Turkish financial system operates in full compliance with international obligations, the Treasury and Finance Ministry has said in a statement in response to allegations in a recent New York Times article.

Amid the investigations into money laundering and tax evasion targeting numerous influencers, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)'s comprehensive 60-article judiciary bill to be submitted in the upcoming year will include regulations addressing high-profile accounts suspected of criminal activities.

The annual terrorism report for 2022 from the US Bureau of Combating Terrorism has spotlighted Bulgaria's vulnerabilities, citing foreign terrorist groups leveraging the nation's illegal smuggling and trafficking networks to infiltrate Europe.

Türkiye is committed to combating global money laundering and terrorist financing, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek said, adding that the country should be removed from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) gray list.

Ljubljana – The information commissioner has asked for constitutional review of part of the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing act that is based on two inspection proceedings and related to processing of personal information by the Office for Money Laundering Prevention.

Council of Europe conference in Podgorica, Montenegro. Photo: Council of Europe.

Yngve Engstrom, head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, told the conference that the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing system in Montenegro must be improved.

Turkey's Ministry of Treasury and Finance said the grey listing of the country on Oct. 21 by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was unfair.  

"Despite coordination studies, putting our country on the grey list has created a result that is unwarranted," the ministry said in a statement. 

Turkey on Sept. 30 put into force an agreement with Malta to cooperate on investigating financial crimes.