The Presidential Circular No. 2026/7 (the “Circular“), published in the Official Gazette dated 4 July 2026 and numbered 33300, has entered into force together with the “Strategy Document on Enhancing Effectiveness in Combating Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Confiscation Practices in Türkiye (2026–2030)” (the “Strategy Document“).
The new Strategy Document builds upon the previous strategy covering the 2021–2025 period and aims to strengthen Türkiye’s institutional capacity in combating money laundering and terrorist financing while further enhancing compliance with international standards.
Purpose of the Strategy Document
The Circular emphasizes that an effective fight against money laundering and terrorist financing extends beyond investigation and prosecution processes. It highlights the importance of preventive measures, compliance programmes implemented by obliged parties, and enhanced inter-agency coordination.
Accordingly, the Strategy Document seeks to:
- Strengthen Türkiye’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework;
- Improve the effectiveness of asset seizure and confiscation practices;
- Enhance cooperation and coordination among relevant public authorities; and
- Further align Türkiye’s framework with international standards.
Alignment with FATF Standards
The Circular places particular emphasis on the importance of Türkiye’s compliance with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force (“FATF“), of which Türkiye has been a member since 1991. It is stated that the FATF requires countries to establish national strategies in terms of both technical compliance and effectiveness criteria.
Although the Circular does not introduce any new legal obligations directly, it establishes the policy framework that will guide future legislative amendments, secondary legislation and administrative practices in this area.
Accordingly, it is particularly important for:
- Banks and financial institutions,
- Payment institutions and electronic money institutions;
- Crypto-asset service providers;
- Companies operating in the insurance and financial services sectors; and
- Other persons and entities designated as “obliged parties” under Law No. 5549 on the Prevention of Laundering Proceeds of Crime.
to closely monitor the new regulations that may be introduced in relation to compliance programmes, Know Your Customer (“KYC“) procedures, suspicious transaction reporting, risk management, and internal control processes in the forthcoming period.
