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Leadership Montgomery Selects Rokas Beresniovas for the 2025 Core Program

Montgomery County, MD (August 13, 2024) – Rokas Beresniovas, Senior Director of Commercial Business & Investments at Montgomery County Green Bank, has been selected to participate in the 2025 Connecting Our Region’s Execs (CORE) program of Leadership Montgomery (LM). With over two decades of diverse experience spanning business-to-business, community engagement, and retail sectors, Rokas Beresniovas excels in team leadership, relationship cultivation, market analysis, and client asset expansion.

“We are excited for Rokas to participate in the 2025 Leadership Montgomery CORE program. Throughout his tenure at the Green Bank, Rokas has demonstrated exemplary leadership among peers and a deep connection to community and partnerships,” says Stephen Morel, CEO of Montgomery County Green Bank.

LM, a Montgomery County-based community leadership organization, fosters cross-sector collaboration to address complex county issues through its programs and services. Beginning in September, class participants will attend monthly sessions to connect and prepare them to build thriving and inclusive communities in Montgomery County and beyond.
“LM is thrilled to convene such a diverse group of leaders to participate in the leadership programs,” said Dana Pauley, President and CEO of Leadership Montgomery. “By gathering cross-sector leaders to advance thinking around regional issues, they can examine challenges and solutions from multiple perspectives.”

The organization’s flagship program, CORE, is geared toward seasoned public, private, and nonprofit leaders. In addition to CORE, LM offers other individual and organizational leadership programs, training, and consulting services.

The 35th cohort of the CORE program will run from September 2024 until May 2025.

About Leadership Montgomery

Leadership Montgomery (LM) is an award-winning organization that supports public, private, and nonprofit leaders in Montgomery County, MD, and beyond. Connecting the community for over thirty years, LM is committed to unlocking the potential of cross-sector leaders in understanding and addressing complex issues in our region. LM mobilizes leaders to build thriving and inclusive workplaces and communities through curriculum-based leadership programs, meaningful alumni engagement, and impactful corporate activation. Please visit our website at www.leadershipmontgomerymd.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to learn more.

Media contact: Kaarmin Ford, Senior Director, Communications and Engagement

About the Montgomery County Green Bank

The Montgomery County Green Bank is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping businesses and residents affordably implement energy efficiency, clean energy, and climate-resilient solutions. The Montgomery County Green Bank supports Montgomery County, MD by driving investment into energy efficiency and clean energy through lending and investment partners in the region. These efforts include working with homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and commercial entities of all varieties. For more information, visit www.mcgreenbank.org. Read more.

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Rokas to speak at 10th Annual Wharton Club of DC Innovation Summit

Rokas Beresniovas will be featured on two panels at the 10th Annual Wharton Club of DC Innovation Summit

With over 40 incredible panelists covering topics from sustainability/energy to healthcare/biotech, disruptive technologies like AI, and innovation funding workshops, this is an event you don’t want to miss.

Join us and dive into the future of innovation!

📅 Date: Thursday, June 20, 2024
🕒 Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Tysons Corner, VA
👉 Event details: https://lnkd.in/d2_KxNk

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Region’s leaders set sights on solar, renewable energy to advance climate goals

Clean energy initiatives already underway in the region take many different forms and address a diverse set of priority issues, such as ensuring solar energy is accessible and convenient to residents across all income levels. 

MCGB a nonprofit chartered by Montgomery County and funded through a municipal energy tax, leverages private funds to bring clean energy projects to historically underserved communities.

Rokas Beresniovas, Director of Commercial Business & Investments for the MCGB shared details regarding the organization’s recently completed Seneca Village Apartments project in Gaithersburg, MD. The property includes 684 units, with 90 percent of those available as affordable, multi-family housing. Read more.

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Rokas to speak at the University of Maryland: Green Building Solutions in Real Estate Development

Colvin Webinar Series: Green Building Solutions in Real Estate Development (Virtual)

Wednesday, November 3, 2021/ 6pm – 7:30pm
Join us as our panel explores best practices in green building, sustainability, design and financing followed by a Q&A. 

PANELISTS:


Rokas Beresniovas
Director of Commercial Business
Montgomery County Green Bank

Jessica Jones, (MRED ’09), LEED AP BD+C
Senior Real Estate Development Manager
Enterprise Community Development, Inc.

Member of the DC Building Energy Performance Standards Task Force

Kyle J. Wacyra, PE,CEA,LEED AP BD+C
Principal
Energy Engineer at Capital Efficiency, LLC

Registration required. 

REGISTER TODAY!

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Rokas to speaking at the Founder Institute on How to Start a Global Startup in DC in 2020, featuring Techstars and local growth hackers

Tuesday Jul 28, 2020

How to Start a Global Startup, featuring Techstars and DC Growth Hackers (Webinar)

If you would like to hear the experiences of people with deep startup experience, then join us for this ‘Global Startup’ panel event. Hear candid talks by successful entrepreneurs, sharing best practices, strategies and mistakes to avoid from those who have done it before. How do you get started on your entrepreneurial journey? How do you appeal to global markets? How should you structure your business? How do you find talented people to join your team? What is it really like to build a successful company, and what are the steps necessary in 2020, and eventually the post-Coronavirus world?

FREE ONLINE EVENT

Register below to get the login details

  • Start Date: Tue Jul 28, 2020
  • Starts at: 05:00 PM
  • Ends at: 06:00 PM

About the Event

Guest Speakers include:

Steven Rodriguez
Steven is the Techstars Startup Programs Regional Manager for US and Canada, Founder / Managing Director of SUEGO™ and Chief Culture Officer at BloomShift™. He co-leads various ESHIP programs through his non-profit InnovateCoalition™; is a Business Development & Digital Marketing Mentor & Contributor for WeWork Labs and Coach for the DC Department of Employment Services Innovation Lab; and is a Board Member to the International Council on Trade and Development. He was Director of Community Engagement for 1863 Ventures, a business development program, and community strategist for the Global Entrepreneurship Network and NextGen Venture Partners. He is currently a community strategist leading various world renowned entrepreneurship programs and initiatives in the Greater Washington, D.C like the Global Entrepreneurship Week celebration and the Techstars Startup Programs through DC Startup Week, Startup Weekend DC and Startup Digest DC. Region.

Rokas Beresniovas
Rokas has over 20 years of experience in business to business, community, and retail environments where he manages teams, builds relationships, monitors market conditions, and expands client assets. Rokas was awarded the 2016 SmartCEO Washington DC Executive Management Award and was a finalist for the 2015 SmartCEO Washington DC Money Manager Award. He also won a Global Tassels Community Innovator Award (2015) and The Eurasia Center Golden BRICS Award (2014).

Who Should Attend?

  • Anyone who is launching or thinking about launching a global startup
  • Anyone who wants to meet local investors, accelerators, co-working spaces, and founders
  • Anyone who wants to learn about the resources available for local entrepreneurs

Click here to Register: https://fi.co/event/how-to-start-a-global-startup-in-washington-dc-in-2020-online-event-washington-dc-virtual-2020.

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Rokas to moderate a panel on Economic and Regional Security for the BRICS: Global Growth Regions

Rokas to moderate a panel on Economic and Regional Security for BRICS

THE EURASIA CENTER / EURASIAN BUSINESS COALITION
The 6th Annual “DOING BUSINESS WITH THE BRICS” CONFERENCE

Thursday, May 17, 2018 | Washington, DC | 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Evening Reception 5:30-7:00 pm)

Conference Agenda

EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA (Morning Session)
3051 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008

9:00 – 9:15 am – Welcome:  South African Ambassador Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu
Keynote Speaker:  Mikhail Kalugin, Representative for Russia to the BRICS, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

9:30 – 10:15 am – 1st Morning Panel
New Developments in the BRICS – Multinational Investment Support for Businesses:
Moderator: Charles Sills, Senior Advisor, The Eurasia Center/EBC
Rita Ramalho, Manager, Doing Business Unit, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Bart W. Édes, Representative of the North American Office, ADB

Keynote Speaker: Professor Xiaochen Chen from RDCY, China

10:15 – 11:15 am – 2nd Morning Panel
Expanding Market Share & Trade Development with the BRICS: Opportunities for Product & Service Sector Growth, Moderator: Richard Trifan, VP, Government Relations & Trade, EC/EBC
Arunish Chawla, Minister, Economic Affairs, Embassy of India
Malose Letsoalo, Minister, Economic & Commercial Section, Embassy of South Africa
Sameer Somal CFO, Blue Ocean Global Technology

11:15 – 11:30 am – BRICS Networking Break

11:30 am – 12:30 pm – 3rd Morning Panel & Lunch
New Infrastructure, Transportation Projects & Joint Ventures with the BRICS
Moderator: Earl Rasmussen, Executive Vice President, Eurasia Center/EBC
Ian Twinn, Head, Infrastructure Portfolio EMENA at IFC (International Finance Corporation)
Secretary Ricardo Daskal Hirschbruch, Head, Trade & Investment Bureau, Embassy of Brazil
Richard Coyle, Principal, The Denrich Group

Reston Limousine Bus Service available to Paid Conference Participants (transfer) 1:00 pm

2:00 pm – Welcoming Remarks: Major General Luis Rodriguez Bocio, Chairman of the IADB, Council of Delegates

2:15 – 3:15 pm – 4th Panel Afternoon
Initiatives for Technological Innovation with the BRICS: The New Energy Grid
Moderator: Ralph Winnie Jr., VP Global Development, Director China Program, EBC
Andre Bondarov, Head, Russian Economic Division
Counselor Lucinia Mancini, Head, Science & Technology Office, Embassy of Brazil
Igor Danchenko, Expert on Russian and Eurasian Energy and Economics Issues

3:15 – 4:15 pm – 5th Panel Afternoon
BRICS: Managing Political/Financial Risk, Legal Developments and Challenges
Prospects for Improving East and West Relations, The Way Forward
Moderator: Tom Thomson, Managing Principal, T. Thomson & Associates
Mikhail Usubyan, Special Legal Counsel, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLC
Michael Skopets, Attorney, Miller & Chevalier Chartered
Rajen Ranchhoojee, Special Legal Counsel, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

4:15 – 4:30 pm – BRICS Networking Break

4:30 – 5:30 pm – 6th Panel Afternoon
Economic and Regional Security for the BRICS: Global Growth Regions
Moderator: Rokas Beresniovas
Elena Beier, B&P Beier and Partners
Gene Burd, Partner, Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP
Robert Galiullin, Trade Representative of the Republic of Tatarstan

5:30 – 7:00 pm – Evening Reception and Golden BRICS Awards

Register here.

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Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Measures in Lithuania

Core Legislation and Responsibilities of Anti-Money Laundering Laws in Lithuania

Anti-money laundering legislation was established in the country of Lithuania, a member of the European Union, on June 19, 1997 through the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Law [herein the “AML Law”]. The Financial Crimes Investigation Service (FCIS) under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania is responsible for overseeing, monitoring and preventing money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/TF) in the country. FCIS is also the designated financial intelligence unit (FIU) of Lithuania (DOS, 2015).

The codification of the AML law came from guidance of the European Union, to which Lithuania was seeking accession at the time. As an EU country, transnational AML directives are intended to supersede local laws, although member countries can refuse to implement them presuming they accept negative reporting, fines, and potential sanctions from EU agencies. However, Lithuania is on the EU White List of Equivalent Jurisdiction, meaning that AML laws are expected to be similar throughout all EU member states (KYC, 2016).

Subsequent to the law’s original inception, 22 amendments have been added. The primary rationales for adding the amendments were EU compliance requirements that would better reflect current market conditions. The most recent implementation of an amendment occurred in January 2015. The changes made included the addition of CDD (Customer Due Diligence) obligations (covered in Section V) and record keeping and STR (Suspicious Transactions Reporting) systems (covered in sections III & IV) which MONEYVAL saw as shortcomings in the previous laws. FCIS also began implementation of new, more efficient procedures for electronic reporting measures.

Article 3 of AML Law (IBA, 2014) identifies the financial and non-financial institutions responsible for the prevention of AML/TF. In Lithuania, the law applies to more than just financial institutions, and through amendments added in 2009 & 2010 it now includes under its purview the transactions of government institutions, banks, lawyers, notaries, and cultural agencies, including:

Table 1. AML/TF Required Institutions

Entity Inclusion Legislation

Customs Departments and those overseeing the importation/exportation of goodsOriginal law

Department of Cultural Heritage and those trading in movable cultural properties and/or antiquesAML Law guidelines issued on February 9, 2010

Gaming Control Authority and those supervising gaming companiesAML Law guidelines issued on February 28, 2009

Chamber of Notaries AML Law guidelines issued on June 23, 2009

Chamber of Auditors and those in regulatory rolesAML Law guidelines issued on June 10, 2009

Lithuanian Chamber of Bailiffs AML Law guidelines issued on June 10, 2009

Lithuanian Assay Office and those trading in precious stones and/or metalsAML Law guidelines issued on May 15, 2009

Lithuanian Bar Association and those who supervise lawyers and assistantsAML Law guidelines issued on July 2, 2009

Source: MONEYVAL, 2012, pp.26-27

Lithuanian Participation in International Bodies Overseeing AML

Lithuania is a small country of only 2 million people. It has a strong economy, but suffered considerably during an economic downturn beginning in 2008/9, which lead to an increase in organized crime (FCIS, 2015; Gutasukas, 2011). Therefore, there are still challenges in the implementation of its AML laws because it lacks logistical and legal mechanism in some areas of enforcement, especially in terms of terrorist financing (CoE, 2006). Much guidance and pressure of Lithuanian practices to combat money laundering comes from its membership in several organizations, especially the European Union agencies.

Currently, Lithuania is a member of MONEYVAL, a committee within the EU’s Council of Europe that oversees Anti-Money Laundering measures and ensures member state compliance with EU directives. MONEYVAL is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and, as such, oversees compliance in European countries that may not necessarily be members of FATF, such as Lithuania. One of the more significant FATF recommendations is for the countries to assess their national risk levels for money laundering and terrorist financing (2012). This recommendation was adopted by the EU as directive on May 20, 2015 making it applicable in Lithuania even though it is not a FATF member. As an EU member, Lithuania has to report to EU’s MONEYVAL committee on how it implements the FATF recommendations. As part of this requirement, Lithuania conducted a national risk assessment in 2015 by creating a working group of government agencies, as well as Deloitte Lietuva, a respected third-party auditing organization. According to the FCIS in Lithuania, such assessments will be conducted every 3 years with another one due next year (2018).

Lithuania is considered to be FATF AML compliant or largely compliant in 30 of the FATF 40+9 recommendations, with the “plus 9” have less applicability given that Lithuania is considered to be “low risk” in terms of potential money laundering associated with terrorist financing (FCIS, 2014). As of 2006, Lithuania reported no known cases of terrorist financing funneled through Lithuania. Lithuania predominantly relies on the UN and EU to investigate, identify, and freeze assets related to terrorist financing (CoE, 2006).

Some concerns highlighted in the IMF Report for Lithuania from 2014 found that, in accordance with the FATF 2012 report, there were “several deficiencies” with due diligence measures and transparency, especially within the financial intelligence unit and with regard to Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs; discussed in Section VI). As a response, the autonomy of the FCIS was enhanced (IMF Report, 2014).

Until 2015, the last European money laundering directive issued by the EU Parliament and the Council of Europe fully implemented in Lithuania through the AML Law was the third directive, with its last amendments as of December 2011. An additional fourth directive is expected to be implemented by summer 2017. On May 15, 2015 the European Parliament and Council of Europe issued directive number 2015/849 regarding money laundering and terrorist financing perpetrated through financial systems. The main goal of this directive was to eliminate ambiguities that existed in former regulations by providing even more stringent obligations for reporting and due diligence to combat terrorist financing.

This directive, commonly known as “IV AML/TF,” is slated to go into effect on June 26, 2017, which means that all EU member states were expected to have implemented it by that date.

The IV AML/TF is not fully implemented in Lithuania yet, as many financial institutions report that they are still trying to assess the cost of this implementation (Ambrasas, 2017). However, not implementing this directive on time could resolve in fines as well as reputational risks for financial institutions. Abstaining from implementation thus could present institutions with even greater costs. Fines for non-compliance to EU-based directives (MONEYVAL and FATF) in Lithuanian are assigned as a percentage of an institution’s overall operating revenue. The current fine for sanction violations is 10 percent of a company’s annual revenue, to be not less than 5 million Euros. Violations also threaten the loss of a company’s license to do business in Lithuania and across the EU.

While Lithuania’s relationship with the EU proves most influential in shaping Lithuania’s legislation and enforcement regarding AML, it is also a member of the Egmont Group, which is body of 152 Financial Intelligence Units (FIU’s), and an observer to the EAG (Eurasia Group). Most recently, Lithuania became a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Anti-Bribery Convention. Lithuania is also reviewed by other external agencies for their AML compliance. In 2016, the US Department of State Money Laundering Assessment (INCSR, 2016), Lithuania was deemed a ‘Monitored’ Jurisdiction, which means it is considered by the INCSR report to be a country on the list of those worldwide viewed by the Department of State as a “Major Money Laundering Countries” (DOS, 2012). However, its status as a monitored country is much less severe than those on the list of “Primary Concern” and “Concern.” The report states that Lithuania, which is not a major financial capital, has “adequate legal safeguards against money laundering” although its geographic location makes it primary location for the movement of goods and capital illegally. Importantly, the Department of State found no evidence of government participation in corruption related to money laundering (DOS, 2012).

Principal Offenses for Laundering Money in Lithuania

There are generally three types of money laundering in Lithuania: cash transfers to fake accounts; transfers to fictitious companies; transfers of funds either into or out of Lithuania resultant of a crime (often offshore accounts), and the acquisition of assets and stakes in companies either real or fictitious. Money laundering is codified in Part 1 of Article 216 of the Criminal Code as a criminal offense involving the possession of and/or intent to conceal the source of ill-gotten gains, with knowledge of their criminality, as a means to legalize or legitimate them (Burnes & Munro, 2017). Most money laundering in Lithuania involves sources from international organizations, criminal enterprises, or individuals, which is particularly problematic in Lithuania given that it is the easternmost border of the European Union from which assets and cash are transferred in or out to other non-EU countries (Gutauskas, 2011). The offense of money laundering does not only include money or cash, but also property (CoE, 2006).

Enforcement of AML legislation, including the seizure of assets and international cooperation, is increasing in Lithuania. According to latest annual report published by Lithuania’s monitoring body, the FCIS, there has been an increase in the annual number of Suspicious Transactions Reports (STR) in Lithuania due to the provision of more resources allocated to AML/TF laws, including compliance and training. In 2016 there were 541 Suspicious Transactions Reports (STR) compared with 393 in 2013 (FCIS). About half of the STRs, the required reporting mechanisms, came from the banking sector with the most common type of laundering was the establishment of fictitious businesses, smuggling, and tax evasion.

According to case study profiles of specific crimes committed in 2014, FCIS reported that most instances of money laundering in Lithuania were part of tax evasion “schemes” (also known as VAT fraud) primarily carried out in connection to organized crime’s association with the petroleum industry, human trafficking, smuggling of drugs and alcohol and other goods (Burnes & Munro, 2017; FCIS, 2015). Proximity to Russia, a major world supplier of oil, and Belarus, a closed totalitarian system, is one of the main reasons for schemes involving tax evasion and the smuggling or underreporting of goods over the border (DOS, 2012). In 2006, 88 known organized crime groups were believed to be involved in some type of money laundering activity in Lithuania (CoE, 2006). VAT fraud or embezzlement is of particular concern to the FCIS because the Lithuanian government receives most of its revenues through VAT (Eurasian Group, 2013), In addition to the trade of oil, fraudulent accounting affects the metals and timber industries—the largest export industries in Lithuania. Within such tax schemes are the creation of fictitious companies through which money is funneled and the falsification of documents to avoid taxation (CoE, 2006; FCIS, 2015)

With the increases in monitoring/reporting of potentially fraudulent transitions comes an increase in the amount of assets seized. Confiscation of property illegally acquired is covered by Article 72 of the AML law, including property directly or indirectly acquired through the commission of a crime (CoE, 2006). According to the FCIS report (2016), a total of 10.2 million EUR were seized in 2016, up from 9 million EUR the year before. The report also shows that in 2015 there were 57 prosecutions and 12 convictions related to money laundering in Lithuania, showing enforcement through the use of the legal system. There is no data for 2016 as of yet.

Lithuania has also increased their willingness to coordinate with other governments and agencies to monitor cross-national AML transactions. FCIS received 163 inquiries from other financial crimes watchdog groups in other countries (FCIS). More information about the success of Lithuanian enforcement and legislation should emerge in 2018 when the national working group assessment team (discussed in section I) undertakes its next three-year review.

Approaches to Money Laundering in the Context of “Predicate Crimes”

Money laundering is covered under several articles of the Criminal code, including 216 of the Penal Code and article 250 PC for the offense of terrorist financing. Lithuania applies an “all crimes” approach to criminalization of money laundering. As such, all criminal offenses that result in the generation of assets (cash or property) are considered “predicates” to the crime of laundering money. These include cases such as trafficking, racketeering, fraud, piracy, smuggling, extortion, and the like. Indirect and well as direct proceeds of the crime are covered, and in certain cases, the perpetrators of crimes related to money laundering can be tried under Lithuanian law even if they are not Lithuanian citizens. Prosecution of crimes inter alia are also covered by Lithuanian law when individuals arrange to commit a crime. Furthermore, a crime is prosecutable even if the predicates originated in states other than Lithuania. (CoE, 2006, p. 37-8). The consequences for money laundering are fines, arrest, and/or imprisonment for up to 4 years (Burnes & Munroe, 2017), with VAT fraud subject to up to 8 years in Lithuania (Eurasian Group, 2013).

The Regulatory Sector and the Obligation to Report “Suspicion”

The AML/TF law in Lithuania holds many kinds of entities responsible for reporting suspicious activities ranging from financial services institutions to insurance companies to postal providers. The reason including such as wide swath of kinds of agencies is in line with their “all crimes” approach that holds the purveyors of the crime accountable, not just those who hold the outcomes of the crime (such as the laundered money). All required entities and individuals are expected to report any suspicious activities by filing STR’s and submitted them to the FCIS for investigation (Ambrasas, T., 2017). Failure to do so will result in fines (most commonly) or imprisonment for up to a year (Burnes & Munro, 2017).

In Lithuania, financial and non-financial entities charged with prevention of such activities are broadly conceived. The law mandates legal accountability for Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBP) in addition to financial institutions, as Table 2 shows.

Table 2. Entities Obligated to Report

Financial service institutionsGambling service providersAuditorsPostal service providersInsurance companies (life insurance activities & broker firms included)Investment companiesEmployees of tax agenciesIndividuals and dealers who sell non-movable objects as well as precious metals, movable cultural items, antiques and other items that are valued over 15,000 EUR and paid in cashAccountant firmsCompanies that provide business incorporating servicesNotaries and people having notary licenses

Source: CoE, 2006

More specifically, the Client Due Diligence (CDD) amendment added to Lithuania’s AML law in 2015 (See Section I) is required for all entities held accountable for AML/TF laws to provide more stringent accounting. The requirements outlined in this amendment provide even more intentional measures to identify and verify customers or the beneficial owners of goods or transactions. Additionally, the law requires entities to verify that transactions match the intended business purpose stated by the customers and the source of funds is established. Also, AML/TF-covered entities are now expected to perform an ongoing monitoring of their client’s business relationships to prohibit potential laundering.

Furthermore, Lithuanian AML Law specifies that Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) should be performed in additional situations as well when a foreign Politically Exposed Person (PEP) is involved, a prior shortcoming noted in the IMF report (2014) discussed in section II, or when there is a great probability or risk of money laundering and/or terrorist financing. Such relationships are expected should be continuously monitored with “enhanced” procedures that require further investigations into the client or termination of the relationship when money laundering is suspected. Organizations subject to EDD are permitted to rely on due diligence by a third party as long as the provider is properly registered and follows the same or similar requirements as the engaging organization is required to follow. Important to potential areas of improvement in due diligence legislation is the fact that EDD pertains to foreign PEPs, but not domestic ones. (DOS) However, the fourth ML/TF directive does include PEP’s that are domestic or within the EU.

Lithuania further has a “Known Your Customer” (KYC) rule of identifying and establishing client identities. Furthermore, organizations are prohibited from “tipping off” anyone under investigation once a complaint has been filed with FCIS (Burnes & Munro, 2017).

Mens Rea & Money Laundering

There are several definitions of money laundering in Lithuania, which complicate enforcement (Burnes & Munroe, 2017). According to Lithuanian laws, one can be convicted of a crime if actus reus (physical commission of a crime) and mens rea(willful intention or knowledge of wrongdoing) are proven. The law in Lithuania was amended in 2004 to include “knowledge” of the crime as a punishable offense, with conversion, concealment, and acquisition of property or money all punishable by law. As such, to be prosecuted, the person must knowingly be party to the crime committed in the acquisition of goods or money, but does not necessarily have to be engaged personally in the act of concealment of the crime to be held accountable for it (Burnes & Munro, 2017).

Persecution of money laundering is largely influenced by the seriousness with which the EU approaches its legislation across all member states. The EU’s fourth directive considers money laundering to be a criminal crime and classifies it amongst the category “Serious Crimes.” EU directives apply mens rea so a lower count can be suitable for persecution in court. Their directives hold the leadership of organizations accountable, inclusive of anyone who has AML understanding and knowledge or who has enough understanding on this subject.

In 2011, Lithuanian Parliament amended the code XIP-1678(2) (Secretariat, 2011) to increase the fines for money laundering and terrorist financing. The purpose of the amendment was to be more effective and proportionate in administering punishment that would discourage the crime. Fines increased for failing to properly identify the person or beneficiary of a transaction and for failing to report suspicious activity. This was based on recommendations that critiqued divisions of power between those who oversaw the intention to commit money laundering (the FCIS) and those who investigated the perpetration of crimes (the police) (CoE, 2006).

Summary of the Situation in Lithuania

While Lithuania is part of the EU and is subject to the oversight of its membership organizations and outside parties, it still has numerous challenges in the implementation of its anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws. Lithuanian legislation is responsive to organizational recommendations, including a broad understandings of accountability with regards to covered entities, but enforcement remains an area for improvement, especially as the potential for money laundering remains high given its geographic location. There are many instances in which Lithuania could better address the concerns of the past evaluations, including having a more concise definition of money laundering and implementing enforcement mechanisms that hold parties accountable for following enhanced and customer due diligence requirements.

Recently, EU regulators noted that institutions in Lithuania are still failing to implement the minimum requirements necessary to identify their customers, as they still use old technologies and paper forms for information gathering. Furthermore, Deloitte’s reports found that financial institutions don’t have adequate software to identify the “red flags” of ML/TF transactions (Ambrasas, 2017). Also, most EU countries criminalized ML/TF as a “serious crime”, but they do not necessarily share a definition on what actions constitute the perpetuation of the offense. The result of this is EU-wide inconsistencies in the persecution of money laundering. Moreover, organized crime is common in Lithuania, and often they seek to operate in countries with the weakest AML/TF regulations.

Nevertheless, prosecuting individuals and organizations for their failures to implement AML/TF laws in sectors such as insurance and banking is growing across the EU. This raises a question about how ready Lithuania is for the future of AML/TF implementation and enforcement. Can Lithuanian institutions better coordinate with other countries, as most money laundering in Lithuania has origins outside its borders, and will it invest in the infrastructure to carry out the needed oversight? No doubt, Lithuanian AML/TF laws have undergone significant revisions to go after offenders, especially those in organized crime, but they still face great challenges ahead.

_________________________

Resources:

Ambrasas, T. (2017), The fight against money laundering threat is gaining momentum [kova su pinig? plovimo gr?sme ?gauna pagreit?]. Retrieved from: https://www2.deloitte.com/lt/lt/pages/legal/articles/kova-su-pinigu-plovimo-gresme-igauna-pagreiti.html

Burnes, W.H. & Munro, R.J. (2017). Money Laundering, Asset Forfeiture and Recovery and Compliance: A Global Guide. NY, NY: Matthew Bender & Company. Retrieved from LexisNexis.

Council of Europe Secretariat General of Legal Affairs (CoE) (2006). Third Round Detailed Assessment Report on Lithuania: Anti-Money Laundering Forum and the Combatting of Terrorist Financing. Retrieved from http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/moneyval/Evaluations/round3/MONEYVAL(2006)12Rep-LTU3_en.pdf

Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism (Eurasian Group) (2013). Tax Crimes and Money Laundering Typology Report. Retrieved from http://www.eurasiangroup.org/files/Typologii%20EAG/Nalogovye_prestupleniya_Eng.pdf

Financial Crimes Investigation Service under the Ministry (FCIS) of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania (2015). Lithuanian National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering [Lietuvos Respublikos Nacionalinis pinig? plovimo ir terorist? finansavimo rizikos vertinimas]. Retrieved from http://www.fntt.lt/data/public/uploads/2016/10/d2_nrv2015.pdf

Gutasukas, A. (2011). Economic Crisis and Organized Crime in Lithuania, Jurisprudence, 18(1), pp. 303–326.

International Bar Association (IBA) (2014, April 4) Anti-Money Laundering Forum, Retrived from https://www.anti-moneylaundering.org/europe/lithuania.aspx

Know your Country (2016, July) Risk & Compliance Reporthttp://www.knowyourcountry.com/files/lithuaniaamlaug14_7_.pdf

MONEYVAL (2012, December 4) Report on 4th assesment visit in Lithuaniahttps://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/moneyval/Evaluations/round4/LIT4_MER_MONEYVAL(2012)29_en.pdf

Secretary General of the Lithuanian Parliament (2011). Administrative Code 172(14) of the Law [Administracini? teis?s pažeidim? kodekso 172(14) straipsnio pakeitimo ?statymo]. Retrieved from https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAP/TAIS.394849

US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (DOS) (2012, March 12). 2012 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR): Major Money Laundering Countries. Retrieved from https://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2012/vol2/184112.htm

Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Measures in Lithuania Read More »

Web Partners Welcomes Rokas Beresniovas as Senior Vice President of Growth

Rokas -siteWeb Partners is proud to announce and welcome Rokas Beresniovas as the company’s new Senior Vice President of Growth. Beresniovas will be in charge of Web Partners’ sales, marketing, and business development strategy and execution, as well as contributing to product improvement and general management responsibilities. Beresniovas said, “I am drawn to this position in digital marketing because I have long worked with healthcare professionals on the financial side of development. This will be an amazing opportunity to help grow their brands and identities in a new, relevant way.”

Mark Zawodny, President and CEO of Web Partners, added “Rokas comes with a breadth of sales and business development experience, along with strong leadership skills. As a company focused on providing exceptional service, Rokas clearly demonstrates passion and dedication for growing businesses, which our healthcare clients expect and deserve. We’re looking forward to his contribution to the team.”

A native of Lithuania, Rokas Beresniovas holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Kaunas College. He has over 15 years experience leading sales and business development efforts for companies such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, HSBC Bank, State Bank of India, and most recently CAF America, where he was Senior Director of Development for North America. He is active in the community, serving on advisory boards for Kids 4 Peace International, End Violence Against Women International, and an honorary advisory board member for The Embassy Series. Recently, Rokas was awarded the 2016 SmartCEO Washington DC Executive Management Award.

About Web Partners

Web Partners is an award-winning digital marketing agency that exclusively serves the healthcare industry. Formerly known as Tivilon, the company was established in 2001 and has since grown to become a trusted, results-driven provider for well-recognized clients, such as Chesapeake Urology, Ascension Health, and Capital Women’s Care. Our CURIS™ Web Platform is a one-of-a-kind, HIPAA-compliant digital patient acquisition tool that includes our custom website design, social media, content creation, analytics, and reputation management services. We provide exceptional service to the medical community.

For more information about Web Partners, visit: or call (877) 848-4566.

Read more.

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CAF America planning philanthropic initiatives to engage diaspora communities

By |
Interview with the group’s Senior Director of Development Rokas Beresniovas.

Rokas Beresniovas is the Senior Director of Development, Marketing, and Communications at Charities Aid Foundation – America. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, CAF America bridges the gap between donors and beneficiaries. The organization has a presence in six continents and ensures that philanthropists both institutional and individual experience a hassle-free and effective transition of funds within the US as well as abroad. With experience spanning more than two decades, the organization has been managing charitable funds to the tune of more than $4 billion.

Prior to joining CAF America, the Lithuania-born Beresniovas was a Vice President at the State Bank of India California in Washington, DC.  He is a winner of the 2016 SmartCEO Washington DC Executive Management Award and was a finalist for the 2015 SmartCEO Washington DC Money Manager Award.

He has also served on the boards of a number of community organizations, including the Georgetown Business Association (GBA), Kids 4 Peace International and End Violence Against Women International.

In a freewheeling interview with the American Bazaar, Beresniovas talks about the organization’s endeavors for a clean and effectual philanthropic environment, globally, and, its plans to start diaspora funds.

Tell us about CAF America’s activities in India and South Asia. 

CAF America operates globally by supporting organizations that address immediate social needs through charitable giving, as well as maintaining connections between global communities. Our work in India and South Asia is no different and, by utilizing our services, donors are able to support a variety of great causes throughout the region ranging from food distribution to literacy training to environmental concerns, and many more. Additionally, our Global Alliance partner, CAF India, operates extensively within the country and works with a number of organizations on the ground.

For individual philanthropists and small organizations, what are the advantages of working with CAF America?

There are several advantages to working with a mid-size organization like CAF America. We are a proven leader in international giving with 25 years of experience in the field and counting. This allows our clients to give confidently, knowing their interests guide what we do on a day-to-day basis. In choosing to pursue philanthropic initiatives through CAF America, our clients are relieved of the administrative burdens of grantmaking while still being able to support the causes and issues that matter to them around the globe while still receiving a US tax-deduction that also benefits their growth and profitability in the US.

Our trusted expertise also allows us to explore creative solutions tailored to our clients should the need arise, including aligning charitable donations with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – in support of the SDG Philanthropy Platform, of which we are a partner along with other industry leaders such as the Hilton, Rockefeller, Ford, and MasterCard Foundations.

CAF America recently started a diaspora fund for Bangladesh. Tell us more about it.

The Diaspora Gives Bangladesh (DGB) is a recent philanthropic initiative of CAF America’s that is designed to engage with the Bangladesh diaspora and provide them with an easy, safe, and effective model to give back to Bangladesh with funds earned abroad.

DGB is a partnership led by CAF America with USAID and Chevron as instrumental partners. By providing a solution for international, tax-effective giving, DGB enables members of the diaspora to give in a concerted manner to support a variety of causes and geographic areas.

Diaspora communities possess a significant amount of financial and human capital while often having considerable interest in giving back to their home countries to address economic and social challenges. DGB’s objective is to empower the Bangladeshi diaspora to tax-effectively channel philanthropic capital to their country of origin in ways that are beneficial for community and country-wide sustainable development.

Are you considering similar funds targeting other diaspora groups, including Indian Americans?

CAF America is indeed considering opening similar funds focused toward other diaspora populations. Bangladesh is our inaugural initiative, but through diligent monitoring and research we expect to be able to identify a number of suitable diaspora communities residing in North America with which we hope to engage.

You are transitioning from banking to philanthropy and development. How big of a challenge is that?

Philanthropy and NGO’s both require considerable due diligence to ensure that the client’s financial capital is used for its intended purpose. This requires adhering to regulations, such as anti-money laundering rules, as well as taking care to mitigate risk and protect the client’s reputation. The difference with international development is that the financial investment also help donors to give back internationally to vetted charities around the world, which is a rewarding way to help direct investments. Read more.

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Rokas to moderate a panel on Social Development With the BRICS

Rokas to moderate a panel on Social Development With the BRICS at the Embassy of Russian Federation in Washington DC

THE EURASIA CENTER / EURASIAN BUSINESS COALITION The 5th Annual “DOING BUSINESS WITH THE BRICS” CONFERENCE

Monday, May 15, 2017 |Washington, DC | 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Evening Reception 5:30-7:00 pm)

In Cooperation with:

The Ambassadors and Embassies of the BRICS Nations, Washington, DC

Hogan Lovells Conference Center (Morning Session) 555 13th St. NW, Washington, DC 20004

THE EMBASSY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (Afternoon Session) 2650 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

Conference Agenda

8:00 – 9:00 am – Registration/Breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 am – Welcome/Introduction
Dr. Christine Warnke, Senior Governmental Affairs Advisor, Hogan Lovells
The Eurasia Center/Eurasian Business Coalition Officials

9:15 – 10:15 am – 1st Morning Panel
New Developments in the BRICS –
Multinational Investment Support for Businesses:
New Development Bank (NDB/BRICS);
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
Moderator: Charles Sills, Senior Advisor, The Eurasia Center/EBC
Minister Fernando Pimentel, Head of the Economic Section, Embassy of Brazil
Gilles Alfandari, Advisor, Multilateral Organizations, The World Bank
Kate Bishop, Business Development, EXIM Bank

10:15 – 11:15 am – 2nd Morning PanelExpanding Market Share & Trade Development with the BRICS: Opportunities for Product & Service Sector Growth, Moderator: Richard Trifan, VP, Government Relations & Trade, EC/EBC
Ambassador James Keith, Managing Director, Leads McLarty Associates Asia Practice
Arunish Chawla, Minister, Economic Affairs, Embassy of India
Malose Letsoalo, Minister, Economic & Commercial Section, Embassy of South Africa

11:15 – 11:40 am – BRICS Networking Break

11:40 am – 12:45 pm – 3rd Morning Panel & Lunch
New Infrastructure, Transportation Projects & Joint Ventures with the BRICS
Moderator: Earl Rasmussen, Executive Vice President, Eurasia Center/EBC
Aman Khanna, Consultant, World Bank
Secretary Ricardo Daskal Hirschbruch, Head, Trade & Investment Bureau, Embassy of Brazil
Suzanne Etcheverry, Director, Funds Portfolio Management, Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Reston Limousine Bus Service available to Paid Conference Participants (transfer) 1:00 pm

Conference Continues at The Embassy of the Russian Federation

THE EMBASSY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (Afternoon Session)
2650 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

2:00 pm – Welcoming Remarks
Denis Gonchar, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Russian Federation

2:15 – 3:15 pm – 4th Panel Afternoon
Initiatives for Technological Innovation with the BRICS: The New Energy Grid
Moderator: Ralph Winnie Jr., VP Global Development, Director China Program, EBC
Christine Warnke, Senior Governmental Affairs Advisor, Hogan Lovells
Andrey Bondarev, Head, Economic Section, Embassy of the Russian Federation
Li Bin, Counselor, Head, Economic Affairs Section, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

3:15 – 4:15 pm – 5th Panel Afternoon
BRICS: Managing Political/Financial Risk, Legal Developments and Challenges
Prospects for Improving East and West Relations, The Way Forward
Moderator: Tom Thomson, Managing Director, T. Thomson & Associates
Rajen Ranchhoojee, Special Legal Counsel, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Thomas Sullivan, Attorney, Marks & Sokolov, LLC
Timothy O’Toole, Attorney, Miller & Chevalier Charterece

4:15 – 4:30 pm – BRICS Networking Break

4:30 – 5:30 pm – 6th Panel Afternoon
Global Growth Regions in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
Social development with the BRICS: Education, Health, Workforce Training
Moderator: Rokas Beresniovas, Senior Director, CAF America (Charities Aid Foundation of America)
Vlad Sukhoparov, Director, Eurasian Markets, Research International
Aleksandr Kondrashin, future official working for Trade with the Russian Far East, Moscow
Sergei Andronikov, Dean, School of Business, American College of Commercial Technology
Ksenia Dyadyunova, Eiffel Scholar, Aix-Marseille University Labor Law Center (CDS)

5:30 – 7:00 pm – Evening Reception and Golden BRICS Awards

Register here.

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