The INJ organized a new specialized training in combating crime involving virtual assets, with the support of the OSCE

The National Institute of Justice, in partnership with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), organized the fourth edition of the workshop "Investigation methods and tactics of crimes committed through the use of electronic/virtual currencies. Admissibility, relevance and assessment of evidence in criminal proceedings", intended for judges and prosecutors from the Republic of Moldova.

The event was opened by Ramona Strugariu, director of INJ, together with Erlin Agich, representative of the Economic Governance Unit within the OSCE Secretariat, and Lorna Hicks, head of programs at the United Kingdom Embassy in Chisinau. In their interventions, the speakers highlighted the need for continuous adaptation of the judicial system to the transformations generated by new technologies and to the risks related to their use in criminal activities.

The sessions were supported by international experts from Slovenia, Romania and North Macedonia, as well as from Interpol. During the two days, participants covered concepts and definitions regarding virtual assets, including cryptocurrencies, tokens, digital wallets and blockchain technology, as well as the relevant international regulatory framework. The discussions focused on the situations in which virtual assets can appear in criminal proceedings, the role of the institutions involved and the measures that can be ordered to identify and secure them.

The practical dimension of the workshop included practical exercises and case studies, which allowed participants to practice virtual asset preservation and seizure measures, as well as to analyze the common challenges encountered in the instrumentation and adjudication of such cases. At the same time, examples of good practices from the member states of the European Union were presented, emphasizing the importance of operative cooperation and efficient exchange of information.