Iraq, Russia forge alliance against corruption

Iraq and Russia have inked a vital anti-corruption agreement aimed at tackling financial malfeasance and repatriating illicitly acquired assets. The announcement came from Haider Hanoun, the Head of Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity (COI), during a press conference on Monday.

According to an official statement released by the COI, Haider Hanoun held discussions with Igor Levitin, the Assistant to the Russian President, to finalize a memorandum of understanding. This memorandum is set to formalize collaboration between the COI and Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office, with a specific focus on combating corruption.

Hanoun elaborated on the significance of this agreement, highlighting its alignment with Iraq’s overarching mission to combat corruption and bring fugitive criminals to justice. He emphasized that establishing such cooperative agreements with foreign governments is a vital step in overcoming the challenges that Iraqi authorities face when pursuing criminals outside the nation’s borders.

In response, Igor Levitin expressed Moscow’s unwavering commitment to working closely with Iraq in its battle against corruption. He pledged support in prosecuting corrupt individuals and facilitating the extradition of those sought by the Iraqi judiciary. Levitin acknowledged the daunting task faced by Iraq’s COI, especially in light of the relentless efforts by corrupt individuals to obstruct the work of anti-corruption agencies.

This collaborative initiative marks a promising step forward in the global fight against corruption, as two nations come together to address this pressing issue and bring wrongdoers to justice.