ASTANA — Kazakhstan has proposed establishing a United Nations regional center to combat cybercrime in Astana, as representatives from 27 countries and international organizations gathered in the capital on Nov. 4-5 to discuss cross-border investigations, digital fraud and new tools to counter online criminal networks.
According to the Astana office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the proposed center would help authorities identify links between international criminal networks, analyze emerging threats and adopt new investigative technologies. It would also provide specialized training for law enforcement and judicial personnel and support joint cyber exercises.
The initiative has received support from UN leadership, while Kazakhstan and UNODC are developing the concept for the center. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the necessary infrastructure is already in place. International cooperation against cybercrime The International Conference on Combating Cybercrime, jointly organized by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and UNODC with support from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), brought together law enforcement officials, digital security experts, financial institutions and technology companies from Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the United States.
Addressing the conference, Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov said criminal groups are increasingly using artificial intelligence, voice and image impersonation technologies, anonymous online platforms and cryptocurrencies to carry out fraud and conceal illicit transactions.
“Cybercrime knows no borders. A criminal may be in one country, the victim in another, and the stolen money can pass through bank accounts in several countries in a matter of minutes. That is why we need to act together,” said Sadenov. He also proposed making the Astana conference an annual event to maintain regular dialogue among international partners.
UNODC Regional Representative for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan Oliver Stolpe welcomed Kazakhstan’s proposal for a regional center, noting that tackling cybercrime requires involvement beyond law enforcement. “Cybercrime is evolving rapidly, and our response must evolve even faster.
No country can meet these challenges alone. Success depends on cooperation among governments, law enforcement and judicial authorities, the private sector, academia, civil society and international organizations,” said Stolpe. Expanding international legal cooperation Kazakhstan has expanded its participation in international agreements governing cybercrime investigations and access to electronic evidence.