OSCE hosts crypto training for Armenian and Georgian investigators

The OSCE organized a three-day training in Warsaw for Armenian and Georgian law enforcement officers to improve their cryptologic investigation skills.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe announced in an August 14 press release that it held a special training session in Warsaw on “countering blockchain obfuscation techniques” aimed at improving the investigative skills of law enforcement agencies in Armenia and Georgia.

The OSCE noted that the course, hosted by the Polish Ministry of Finance, was the second session organized by the organization as part of broader efforts to combat illicit activities facilitated through cryptocurrencies.

“This course, delivered by a team of experts with significant experience, helped me gain skills that I could apply directly to my work environment, making it very practical.”

A participant from the Financial Monitoring Service of Georgia

The training addressed the challenges of detecting and tracking crypto transactions that cybercriminals reportedly use to conceal their illicit activities. Participants were trained on advanced techniques bad actors use to hide their digital footprints on-chain and explored ways law enforcement can effectively counter these tactics, the press release said.

OSCE says the course is designed to provide researchers with the tools needed to navigate the complexities of blockchain technology in real-world scenarios. The course also “encouraged researchers to exchange information on trends, challenges, and good practices across different beneficiary countries.”

The initiative is part of an OSCE extrabudgetary project supported by Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which aims to combat money laundering and other financial crimes facilitated by virtual assets. In November 2023, the OSCE also hosted a similar training for Ukrainian authorities aimed at improving their capacity to monitor crypto transactions.

In a separate effort, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service announced in September 2023 that approximately 40 Ukrainian law enforcement officers completed advanced training in crypto surveillance using blockchain analytics tools from CipherTrace and BlockTrace.