Thanks to Russia, Cross-Border Sanctions Collaboration at All-Time High

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Russia's unprovoked invasion and continued aggression in Ukraine has led to an unprecedented level of collaboration by sanctions stakeholders across jurisdictions, agencies, and sectors. IFI is publishing a series of blogs to highlight this increased collaboration. In this first blog, we take a look at cooperation across borders and most notably by the REPO Task Force and Price Cap Coalition.

Beyond The Hype: The True Role of Virtual Assets in Russia Sanctions Evasion

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With the onset of stringent sanctions against Russia in 2022, US officials and financial analysts began to speculate about the potential for cryptocurrencies to serve as a means for evasion. But can virtual assets enables a nation's efforts to evade sanctions?

Ukraine’s War on Two Fronts – Fighting Corruption Amidst Russia’s Continued Attacks

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As the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression in Ukraine approaches, winning on the battlefield remains the top mission objective for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, and Ukraine’s international partners. While the full-scale invasion began two years ago, addressing systemic governmental and economic corruption has been an enduring battle for Ukraine since it gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Pig Butchering on the Rise: When Romance Goes Wrong

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What is pig butchering and how does it work? Read on to explore the global regulatory response to this rising scam, identify scam tactics and key mitigation strategies.

Exhausting Russian Resources by Sanctioning Western Software

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Despite the Kremlin's attempts to reduce reliance on Western software for crucial systems, this transition is advancing slowly, presenting significant opportunities to hinder Russia's military effectiveness and economic activities. Read on for more information on the current role of Western technology and guidance for governments and companies formulating sanctions proposals.

Evading Export Controls – Russia’s Key to Success

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Russia has used third-party intermediaries to evade sanctions and export controls for years and has disguised the involvement of SDNs or sanctioned entities in transactions to obscure the true identities of end users. This activity has increased since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 due to Russia’s need for military equipment.

Bad News for Corruption in 2023, Along with Some Bright Spots

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Transparency International released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public-sector corruption. Explore the highlights within.