4.3 Mission in Kosovo
Activities Related to Threats
Posed by Criminal Activity
Financial Investigations, Anti-Money
Laundering and Seizures of Criminal
Proceeds
From 7 to 11 May, the Mission delivered an advanced training
on financial investigation, money laundering, intelligence
management, restraint and seizure of assets and confiscation,
to 12 representatives of the FIU, KP, Agency for Administration
of Confiscated or Sequestrated Assets (AACSA), and Special
Prosecution Office. The training mainly focused on the
categories of financial crime, difference between intelligence
and evidence, and the importance of case management logs.
The course participants identified detrimental differences in
the Kosovo setting, such as the absence of both credit reference
agencies and a functioning cash seizure scheme as powerful
measures at the disposal of law enforcement agencies in other
jurisdictions. All attendees agreed to promote the required
legislative amendments to remedy these shortcomings. From
the outset of the training, participants were engaged in a
series of case studies reflecting real life scenarios, whereas the
overall training has undoubtedly improved their abilities to
deal with financial crimes on an ad hoc basis in their future
engagements.
From 8 to 12 October, the Mission, in close co-operation with
the EU funded project “Further Support to Kosovo Institutions
in the Fight against Organized Crime, Corruption, and
Violent Extremism”, delivered an advanced training on money
laundering and asset seizure/confiscation to 18 criminal
investigators, prosecutors and judges. During the training,
facilitators focused greatly on practical case studies, thus
ensuring interactive co-operation between the members of
the three target groups who played respective fictitious roles
in applying investigative and financial orders. This method
has also taken into account the underdeveloped co-operation
between the main law enforcement actors and the judiciary,
with the latter reportedly the main reason for low confiscation
figures in Kosovo to date.
Counter-Terrorism & P/C VERLT
On 2 February, in Prishtinë/Priština, the DHRC of the Mission
supported the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
(MEST) in organizing a conference on the topic “Education
as a key to prevent online extremism and radicalisation”, on
the occasion of Safe Internet Day. The Conference aimed
to encourage institutions and civil society to reflect on the
effects of online extremism and radicalization, increase safety
and find ways for child protection against online threats. The
Head of the OSCE Mission, the Kosovo Prime Minister, the
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Minister of MEST, as well as four other ministers of different
ministries and two deputy Ambassadors gave introductory
speeches at the beginning of the conference. The event
gathered approximately 120 participants, such as Kosovo
Assembly members, Municipal Directors of Education, School
Directors, Education inspectors, community police officers,
members of the VERLT working group, Kosovo’s Islamic
community representatives, international organizations
present in Kosovo, as well as civil society representatives.
The discussion included very specific information from the
research done in schools across Kosovo, reflecting internet
use by children, as well as the possible threats from online
contacts with strangers. Furthermore, MEST promoted a
guidebook for children, teachers and parents, published
under the title “Travel across the internet”, aimed at educating
children about the use of the internet. The conference
concluded with the recommendations that MEST needs
to further co-operate with CSOs, parents and youth on the
prevention of online extremism and radicalization, empower
school teachers by training them on how to better fight online
extremism and radicalization, and to develop critical thinking
of children as a key aspect in preventing and countering online
extremism and radicalization. The conference was covered
extensively by local and central media in Kosovo.
From 16 to 20 April, in its efforts to support the KP in
effectively addressing issues related to P/C VERLT, the
Mission delivered a ToT on investigative interviewing
techniques, specifically designed for victims, witnesses and
individuals identified by the police with VERLT potential. The
training targeted 12 certified trainers from the KP CounterTerrorism Directorate and Training Division and aimed to
further develop their capacities to effectively and efficiently
deliver topics on prevention, investigation and combating
crimes and illegal activities related to terrorism, VERLT, and
FTFs. Moreover, participants learned to identify behavioural
indicators displayed by terrorists and extremists during
investigative interviewing; to effectively use techniques and
intelligence skills in interviewing individuals with VERLT
potential, victims and witnesses of terrorist acts; as well as to
plan, prepare, and apply adult teaching methods in delivering
such training courses in the future.
From 21 to 25 May, the Mission delivered a ToT on techniques
for collecting criminal intelligence with focus on individuals
involved in terrorist activities in different capacities. This
tailored training targeted 11 certified trainers from the
Counter-Terrorism Directorate and Training Division of the
KP, and equipped them with knowledge to effectively deliver
topics related to terrorism and P/C VERLT. Overall, the
training helped participants to enhance their understanding of
new trends of terrorism and VERLT and of FTF, and informed
them about the Mission’s support to relevant institutions in
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