Russia not included in "black list" of FATF regarding financial measures to combat money laundering

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) did not include the terrorist country russia in its "black list".

The former director of Transparency International Russia, Illia Shumanov, announced this, citing a source from the FATF plenary meeting, which was held in Paris this week.

According to Shumanov, the initiative to put russia on the "black list" promoted by Ukraine faced resistance from the BRICS countries and the Persian Gulf. Participating countries voted against and could not reach a consensus. In particular, China, India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa opposed it, three knowledgeable sources told Reuters.

Adding russia to the FATF blacklist could deprive it of access to the global financial system, as banks would have to increase checks on all transactions related to russia and stop them.

Currently, the discussion of proposals is postponed to February 2025. Then other claims of Ukraine will be considered again: financing and interaction with the PMC Wagner and Taliban, as well as cooperation with countries on the FATF blacklist (Iran, North Korea, Myanmar). However, the position of the countries that voted against the inclusion of russia in the black list, most likely, will not change, notes Shumanov.

The FATF, founded by the G7, includes 39 countries, including russia. The member countries include China, India and South Africa, which refrained from imposing sanctions and restrictions on russia.

In 2022, the FATF publicly condemned russian aggression, calling it unacceptable and contrary to its core principles. In February 2023, russia's membership in the FATF was suspended indefinitely.

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