Three representatives of the UNBA joined the Working group on financial monitoring at the Ministry of Justice

The Vice President of the UNBA, BCU Valentin Gvozdiy, Chairman of the Committee on FLA Oleksandr Drozdov and Chairman of the Committee on customs and tax law Yakov Voronin, have joined the Working group on regulatory and legal support in the field of financial monitoring at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

The relevant order was signed by Minister of Justice Denys Malyuska.

The Bar Council of Ukraine has repeatedly considered the implementation of the Law «On preventing and combating the legalization (laundering) of proceeds from crime, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction», which was adopted in December 2019. In particular, a working group was set up to develop recommendations for advocates who became subjects of primary financial monitoring under this law. The specifics of its application can be read here

«The UNBA and members of our working group carefully studied not only national but also international legislation in order to properly protect the status of advocates and one of the key guarantees of legal practice - advocate-client privilege. We interacted extensively with the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, which has experience in adapting financial monitoring requirements to the practice of law. Therefore, when implementing the recommendations of the FATF, the Council of Europe, and EU directives, the international standard of independence in the practice of law must be upheld. The UNBA has received sufficient expert advice from international bar organizations to ensure that this happens at the level of Ukrainian legislation», - comments Valentin Gvozdiy.

The working group was created by the Ministry of Justice to make sure the provisions of Law No. 361-IX «On preventing and combating the legalization (laundering) of proceeds from crime, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction» are properly implemented. It includes representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the State Financial Monitoring Service, the Notary Chamber of Ukraine and the Ukrainian National Bar Association.

As a reminder, On April 28, the Law of Ukraine «On preventing and combating the legalization (laundering) of proceeds from crime, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction» No. 361-IX (except for the third paragraph of subparagraph 9 of paragraph 6 of Section X) came into force.