On March 16, 2022, the International Court of Justice delivered its Order on the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Ukraine in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation).[1]

The ongoing aggression by Russia against Ukraine has been debated and considered at various fora: UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, UN Human Rights Council, Council of Europe, European Union, International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, and European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

On March 4, the sixth Plenary of the FATF, under the German presidency of Dr. Marcus Pleyer, concluded.  It was a hybrid meeting (in person and virtual).

On February 25, 2022, the English Court of Appeal overturned a decision by the High Court[1] that the common law revenue prevents the Danish Revenue Authority (“SKAT”) from recovering withholding tax (“WHT”) refunds on the basis that refund claims were fraudulently made. [2]

On March 3^rd, the Nigerian Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, filed an application to the Federal High Court for the extradition of former Nigerian “supercop” Abba Kyari to the United States for his alleged link to suspected money launderer Ramon Abbas.  Three weeks prior, Kyari and four other police officers were arrested for their alleged involvement in a cocaine smuggling cartel.  Now, he faces likely extradition to the United States for previous charges wherein he is suspected of taking bribes from alleged Instagram fraudster, Ramon Abbas.

On February 4, 2022, the Treasury Department released its findings concerning money laundering and terror financing in the art market.  More specifically, the study tackles the emerging New Fungible Token (NFT) markets that have exploded in recent months.

On February 15, 2022, Honduran law enforcement authorities arrested former President Juan Orlando Hernández on an extradition warrant from the United States.  The extradition warrant alleges he participated in a “violent drug-trafficking conspiracy.”[1]

On March 2, 2022, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the start of Task Force KleptoCapture to enforce sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeausres the U.S. has issued, in coordination with U.S. allies, in response to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.  Task Force KleptoCapture will aim to enforce these actions that are designed to isolate Russia from global markets.  In particular, the U.S. restrictions target the crimes of Russian officials, government-aligned elites, and persons who help or conceal their unlawful conduct.  On March 3, 2022, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the first indictment for Russian sanctions violations.

The conflict initiated by Russia in Ukraine has spouted one proceeding in an international tribunal and resulted in another monitoring the developments with an eye to starting an investigation.  On February 25, 2022, the International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC issued a statement on the situation in Ukraine. He said he has been “closely following recent developments in and around Ukraine with increasing concern.”  On February 27, Khan announced he decided to proceed with opening an investigation into the Situation in Ukraine, as rapidly as possible.  On February 27, Ukraine filed  an  application instituting  proceedings  against  the Russian  Federation  before  the International  Court  of  Justice (ICJ) concerning  “a dispute  .  .  .  relating  to  the interpretation, application  and  fulfilment of  the  1948  Convention on the  Prevention and Punishment of  the  Crime  of  Genocide” (the “Genocide Convention”).

On February 17, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice announced its first director of National Cryptocurrency Enforcement.  The announcement followed close on a settlement on February 14 between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and BlockFi for failing to register the offers and sales of its retail crypto lending product.  Meanwhile, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) are battling to authority to regulate cryptocurrency.