As part of the final week of the V International Olympiad on Financial Security, Siberian Federal University in Krasnoyarsk hosted a high-level panel discussion titled “International Cooperation in Financial Security.”
The session was moderated by Herman Neglyad, State Secretary and Deputy Director of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service. He noted that international cooperation is key to the stability of the global financial system:
“Criminals exploit the speed and anonymity of the digital world, and our protective measures must be equally swift and global. The future of financial security depends on our collective ability to join forces and educate the next generation of professionals.”
Speakers included Sergey Teterukov, Executive Secretary of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG), Arvind Saran, First Secretary and Head of the Trade Department of the Embassy of India in Russia, Biniyam Tareken, Head of the Secretariat of the Ethiopian Financial Intelligence Service, and Tahmina Salimova, Deputy Director of the Financial Monitoring Department under the National Bank of Tajikistan. Ambassadors of the International Movement on Financial Security, Amna Mansoor and Aeman Masood, also participated in the discussion.
Experts stressed that modern threats to financial security transcend national borders and require coordinated efforts by governments, international organizations, and the private sector. Special focus was given to the risks associated with the use of new technologies, from virtual assets and artificial intelligence to social engineering and deepfakes.
Mr. Teterukov spoke about international instruments for combating money laundering and terrorist financing crimes, including EAG initiatives in this area. An example of such work are projects to assist member states in implementing FATF Recommendations and developing relevant methodological recommendations.
Mr. Saran highlighted India's contribution to regional and global financial security in the context of technological advancement, emphasizing the crucial role of international cooperation in addressing modern challenges.
The discussion also explored the role of youth as both potential protectors of the financial system and, conversely, possible targets of criminal recruitment. The speakers emphasized the importance of educating students, involving them in problem-solving processes, and training them as future financial security specialists.
Mr. Tareken shared Ethiopia’s comprehensive approach to preventing youth involvement in financial crimes, based on collaboration between financial intelligence unit, law enforcement agencies, banks, and educational institutions. The national strategy includes financial data analysis, criminal prosecution of recruiters, public education initiatives, and cyber security lessons in schools.
Ms. Salimova presented Tajikistan's measures to combat fraud and enhance interagency cooperation in financial crime prevention.
Ambassadors of the International Movement on Financial Security talked about their motivation to pursue careers in financial security, noting the Olympiad’s contribution to their professional growth.
An interactive survey conducted during the session revealed the topic’s strong relevance among participants: 75% reported that their relatives had encountered threats to financial security associated with new technologies; 100% agreed that technology itself is neutral and that users’ intentions are decisive; and 59% demonstrated awareness of how financial intelligence units operate to safeguard financial stability and investigate cybercrime – evidence of growing interest in financial security among young people.
