University of Mannheim: DFG Grants Support to Ukrainian Lawyers for Research on Combating Money Laundering

Litkevych was conducting research in the Ukrainian city of Bucha before leaving the country two days after the outbreak of war in February 2022. After being on the run for several weeks, he came to Germany and initially worked as a visiting scientist at the University of Giessen. He then managed to obtain funding from the Walter Benjamin Program.

“Germany is one of the most important banking centers in the world and I hope that my research on combating money laundering will be useful for Ukraine in the future,” says the international lawyer. “After the war, the destroyed country will need a well-functioning administration and also knowledge of how to rebuild financial structures.” He completed his doctorate on the subject of “Legal regulation of transnational corporations” at the University of Kiev in 1993.

In his current project, Litkevych wants to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the German anti-money laundering system. How are anti-money laundering laws developed and implemented? What role does Germany play in protecting the international financial system and in developing international and national AML (Anti Money Laundering) rules? The so-called AML regulations are intended to prevent criminals from making money illegally or moving illegal funds.

Litkevych will begin his position on June 1, 2024.