Greetings from Sarajevo, 

Don’t forget that our documentary, “The Killing of a Journalist,” premieres on May 1 at Toronto’s Hot Docs film festival. OCCRP Producer Matt Sarnecki, who directed the film, spoke about the project and how it started with the Golden Globes.

Now, here’s the latest in global corruption:

NEW INVESTIGATIONS

🇷🇺 Lingering Russian Interest at RCB 🇨🇾 — The day Russia invaded Ukraine, Russian state-owned VTB Bank said it had sold its shares in Cyprus’s RCB Bank, which has long sought to downplay its connections to the Kremlin. 

In fact, we found that VTB sold its share to two opaque Cypriot companies that both appear to have ties to the bank’s management. One is even beneficially owned by RCB’s CEO Kirill Zimarin, who has close ties to VTB’s board. Read the full story.

PRESS FREEDOM NEWS

🇪🇺 EU Tackles SLAPP — At long last, the European Commission is considering a directive to limit so-called “strategic lawsuits against public participation,” or SLAPPs, a form of  frivolous legal action used to silence criticism.

Under the proposal, claimants would be responsible for paying the defendant’s legal fees and other compensation if a judge finds their lawsuits to be “manifestly unfounded.” 

🕊️ WPFD Conference — OCCRP Deputy Editor in Chief Miranda Patrucic will join the World Press Freedom Day Conference to discuss Pegasus spyware and digital security with Reporters Without Borders. 

The event will be held virtually from Uruguay on May 2 at 1600 CET. 

🇰🇬 More Accusations Against Kyrgyz Journalist — ​​Kyrgyz authorities have accused our colleague Bolot Temirov of forging documents and illegally crossing state borders after his news outlet reported on the son of a high-ranking official who won state contracts. The allegations follow months of surveillance and harassment directed at Temirov and his team.

NEW SUISSE SECRETS

🇺🇬 Ugandan Arms Dealer — Arms dealer Emmanuel Katto kept a Credit Suisse account even after he was publicly named in a judicial investigation as being involved in a corrupt deal to provide Uganda’s government with Belarusian helicopters. The deal cost the government millions, and the helicopters were later found to be “in a sorry state.” Read the full story. 

THE OCCRP NETWORK

🇱🇰 Watchdog: Our Sri Lankan partner has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the country’s medical system, which is in a state of crisis after Sri Lanka’s recent economic unraveling. 

🇷🇸 KRIK: Our Serbian member center reports on Belgrade’s boom in illegal construction, much of which is overseen by an official long accused of corruption. 

🇷🇺 IStories: Our Russian partner reports on the Russian military’s actions in the region of Chernihiv, where soldiers used tactics similar to those deployed in Bucha.

MORE CORRUPTION NEWS

Navalny Group Lists Kremlin Enablers: A month after Russian dissident Alexei Navalny’s prison sentence was extended, his Anti-Corruption Foundation published a list of 6,000 “warmongers,” “propagandists,” “corruption officials,” and other people who’ve allegedly enabled the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Jordanian Relative Sentenced: A Jordanian businessman and uncle-in-law of King Abdullah II was sentenced to 18 years of hard labor and fined roughly $269 million for corruption and abuse of office. 

Canada Sanctions Putin Allies: Canada sanctioned 14 more Russians tied to the Kremlin, including President Vladimir Putin’s two adult daughters.

U.S. Indicts Russian Legislator: The U.S. charged a Russian lawmaker and two of his staffers for operating an international foreign influence and disinformation campaign.