Greetings From Amsterdam,

We have a new investigation about a Cypriot firm that appears to have helped ultra-wealthy Russians evade sanctions. 

But first, we wanted to remind you about our upcoming OCCRP Discussion on April 24. 

During the webinar, OCCRP journalists will talk about how the Pacific region has become a hotbed of illicit money flows and an arena for geopolitical struggle between China and the West. 

The discussion will be at 18:00 Sydney time. That’s 4 a.m. in Washington D.C. –– but don’t worry. All members of our Accomplice program will be sent a recording of the event. 

Now, for the latest in global corruption:

NEW INVESTIGATIONS

🇨🇾 Cyprus Firm Aids Another Sanctioned Russian Oligarch 🇷🇺

Meet Konstantin Malofeev, the founder of an influential pro-Kremlin television station. In 2014, the U.S. and EU sanctioned him for financing Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

But one Cypriot corporate service provider kept working with Malofeev, enabling him to move millions of dollars between shell companies. It’s called Meritservus, and this isn’t the first time the company has been accused of aiding sanctions evasion.

🌐 The Big Picture: This investigation shows the ease with which global elites can conceal their wealth in collusion with the “criminal services industry” — companies and individuals that will help pretty much anyone hide and move their money for the right price.

⚡ Real World Impact: Last week, the U.K. government sanctioned Meritservus, citing the firm’s connections to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, and his attempts to conceal his wealth. Some of the ties between Abramovich and Meritservus were exposed in previous investigations by OCCRP and The Guardian.

>> Read the full story

PRESS FREEDOM NEWS

🇨🇴 Continuing the Work of a Murdered Journalist — “If you have to kill me, kill me. But I am telling you straight on: you won’t silence me.”

Colombian journalist Rafael Moreno was murdered while investigating government officials and mining companies. But before he was killed, he gave some of his documents to the French journalism network Forbidden Stories — which worked with media partners to continue Moreno’s unfinished investigations. 
>> Read the full story
 

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🇷🇺 Another Kremlin Critic Sentenced — “The day will come when the darkness over our country will dissipate.”

Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison for treason and spreading “fake news” about the Russian army. Kara-Murza was a close associate of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was assassinated in Moscow in 2015. Kara-Murza himself was seriously injured in 2015 and 2017 from two suspected poisonings. 

THE OCCRP NETWORK

🇦🇲 Hetq: Our Armenian member center reveals that four former government officials and lawmakers have failed to declare luxury Dubai real estate.

🇷🇺 IStories: Our Russian member center reports on the “Legion of Russia,” a group of Russians who fight on the side of Ukraine. Some of these fighters are positioned in Bakhmut, a current flashpoint in the war. 

🇻🇪 Armando.Info: Our Venezuelan partner reports on the history of a mansion in the mountains above Caracas that was listed for USD$20 million — also payable in cryptocurrency. 

MORE CORRUPTION NEWS

🇦🇺 Australia: An anti-graft watchdog in the state of Victoria cleared Premier Dan Andrews of corruption charges, but highlighted the government’s questionable actions around public tenders in this Guardian podcast.

🇺🇦 Ukraine: As President Voldymyr Zelensky continues to address corruption within the country, some critics say the crackdown is being used to target high profile business people rather than those most guilty of graft. 

MORE ORGANIZED CRIME NEWS

🇺🇸 U.S.: Authorities sanctioned several leaders in Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel over fentanyl trafficking — including children of former drug lord El Chapo.

🇿🇦 South Africa: The country is experiencing a rise in gang-related killings and professional hitmen, according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

OCCRP IN PERUGIA

This week is the International Journalism Festival! Join the following sessions to hear OCCRP journalists discuss their work, reporting techniques, and views on the future of the industry. Learn more about how to attend and watch the sessions online.

April 20

• Getting ahead of the bad guys: what journalists need to know to keep up with organized crime’s 2023 playbook w/ Paul Radu, Stevan Dojčinović, and Pavla Holcová from OCCRP

• Two to tango: a closer look at the relationship between independent investigative teams and legacy media w/ Cecilia Anesi from IRPI

• Investigating the crimes of war w/ Anna Babinets from Slidstvo.Info

• Gender, leadership and surviving authoritarian regimes and cultures: women leading independent Arab media speak up w/ Rawan Damen from ARIJ and Diana Moukalled from Daraj
• Reporting on solutions to the world’s most pressing problems w/ Drew Sullivan from OCCRP

April 21

• Radical sharing: 15 years of cross-border collaborative journalism w/ Drew Sullivan from OCCRP

• The rise of populism and autocratism: how should journalists respond? w/ Andras Petho from Direkt36                                                                                               

April 22

• Latin America: how to cover a region that is always in crisis w/ María Teresa Ronderos from CLIP