DUSHANBE, August 4, 2016, Asia-Plus – The Basel AML (Anti-Money Laundering) Index 2016 has ranks Tajikistan 3rd among 149 countries in terms of money-laundering/terrorism financing risk.

It is to be noted that the Persian-speaking countries top the list – Iran (8.61), Afghanistan (8.51) and Tajikistan (8.12).

The list of the top ten countries in terms of money-laundering/terrorism financing risk also includes Uganda, Guinea-Bissau, Cambodia, Mozambique, Mali, Sudan, and Myanmar.

The countries having the lowest money-laundering/terrorism financing risk are Finland (149th), Latvia (148th), and Estonia (147th) 

Meanwhile, Tajikistan’s neighbors Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are ranked 101st and 60th respectively, and Kazakhstan is ranked 71st.   

The 2016 edition is the fifth annual release of the Basel Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Index developed by the Basel Institute on Governance through its International Center for Asset Recovery (ICAR).

The Basel AML Index 2016 edition covers 149 countries and provides risk ratings based on the quality of a country’s framework for AML and countering terrorism financing (AML/CFT) and related factors such as perceived levels of corruption, financial sector standards and public transparency. 

The Basel AML Index measures the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing of countries based on publicly available sources.  A total of 14 indicators dealing with AML/CFT regulations, corruption, financial standards, political disclosure and rule of law are aggregated into one overall risk score.  By combining these various data sources, the overall risk score represents a holistic assessment addressing structural as well as functional elements in the AML/CFT framework.

The Basel Institute on Governance is an independent not-for-profit competence centre specialized in corruption prevention and public governance, corporate governance and compliance, anti-money laundering, criminal law enforcement and the recovery of stolen assets.

Based in Switzerland, the Basel Institute''s multidisciplinary and international team works with public and private organizations around the world.

The Basel Institute is composed of four divisions: the International Center for Asset Recovery (ICAR); the division for public governance; the division for corporate governance and compliance; and the International Center for Collective Action (ICCA)

The Basel Institute is affiliated with the University of Basel and regularly works with international organizations and other institutions, including the World Bank, United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Council of Europe, International Monetary Fund, the Egmont Group and Interpol.