Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #ShadowDiplomats
Most recents (9)
This year, ICIJ published more investigations than ever before – some were based on new leaks, others responded to unfolding global news events, and many dug into patterns and topics to emerge from past ICIJ projects.
🧵Here’s a recap of our top stories:
bit.ly/3VipDvJ
🧵Here’s a recap of our top stories:
bit.ly/3VipDvJ
When Russia’s war on Ukraine sparked an unprecedented campaign of sanctions against allies of Vladimir Putin, ICIJ reporters mined the #PandoraPapers and other offshore leaks to uncover secret money maneuvers used to secure the wealth of oligarchs and more.bit.ly/3x7MykS
ICIJ also finished updating the #OffshoreLeaks Database with structured data extracted from the 11.9 million records that make up the #PandoraPapers — allowing the public to explore companies and people that use (and sometimes abuse) tax havens.
bit.ly/3kyqvwb
bit.ly/3kyqvwb
1/ Few months ago, I found declassified WWII docs showing how Germany and Nazis used honorary consuls as spies and other helpers
@debbiecenziper+@ZivaBranstetter had the smart idea to make it part of @ICIJorg+@propublica's #shadowdiplomats investigation
propublica.org/article/shadow…
@debbiecenziper+@ZivaBranstetter had the smart idea to make it part of @ICIJorg+@propublica's #shadowdiplomats investigation
propublica.org/article/shadow…
2/ All in all, @debbiecenziper and I found about 20 honorary consuls suspected of supporting the Third Reich thru espionage and other activities, including smuggling jewels, spreading propaganda.
They were based in places like Brazil, Mexico, Bulgaria, the Gold Coast and Spain
They were based in places like Brazil, Mexico, Bulgaria, the Gold Coast and Spain
3/ In one declassified U.S. army document, officials referred to possible spies being "camouflaged" as honorary consuls, those private sector, volunteer diplomats who have long held special privileges and immunities under international law and custom.
NEW in #ShadowDiplomats: Since Putin became president, Russia has built a faithful network of honorary consuls embedded around the world including some who’ve supported contentious Kremlin campaigns like the invasion of Ukraine, ICIJ and @propublica found. bit.ly/3HawP9I
By embracing a largely unregulated system of international diplomacy, Russia helped grant protections and diplomatic credentials to a new class of well-connected elites across six continents — quadrupling its ranks of honorary consuls in a decade. bit.ly/3HawP9I
Though Russia does not release lists of its honorary consuls, ICIJ and @propublica identified consuls appointed by Russia who have served in at least 45 countries — encompassing a who’s who list of power brokers and oligarchs. bit.ly/3HawP9I
Exklusiv: Ist der Landmaschinen-Hersteller #Claas der erste deutsche Weltkonzern, der versucht, die #Russland-Sanktionen zu umgehen?
Uns liegen ein Geheim-Papier und Aussagen von hochrangigen Managern vor, die das belegen: zeit.de/2022/49/claas-… [Z+]
Uns liegen ein Geheim-Papier und Aussagen von hochrangigen Managern vor, die das belegen: zeit.de/2022/49/claas-… [Z+]
Die Claas-Gruppe (5 Mrd. Euro Umsatz) hat sich systematisch von Russland abhängig gemacht. Firmen-Erbin Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser traf sich mehrmals mit Präsident Wladimir Putin, kritisierte Russland-Sanktionen als "wirkungslos". Seit 2016 ist Claas
"Vaterländischer Hersteller".
"Vaterländischer Hersteller".
Claas plant mit einem Trick, die Embargo-Vorschriften zu umgehen. Um sanktionierte Einzelteile über die gesperrte russische Grenze zu exportieren, will Konzern Teile in Baugruppen "verstecken". Damit würden sie für den Zoll quasi unsichtbar. Das geht aus internen Plänen hervor.
We reporters searched court records, media archives and other sources in dozens of languages to find 500+ past and current honorary consuls accused of wrongdoing. Many had abused their diplomatic status.
The result: #shadowdiplomats @ICIJorg @propublica
icij.org/investigations…
The result: #shadowdiplomats @ICIJorg @propublica
icij.org/investigations…
The idea started with my #pandorapapers reporting partner, @debbiecenziper.
We soon asked reporters to join us. Many had also noticed sporadic scandals involving honorary consuls.
But we wanted to know: how often was the abuse of the honorary consul system happening?
We soon asked reporters to join us. Many had also noticed sporadic scandals involving honorary consuls.
But we wanted to know: how often was the abuse of the honorary consul system happening?
The answer? No one knows.
So we stepped in, immersing ourselves in arcane rules of international law and building a database of alleged wrongdoing by honorary consuls from Nepal to Bolivia.
If data doesn't exist, build it yourself! Luckily, we had @delreuter to help.
So we stepped in, immersing ourselves in arcane rules of international law and building a database of alleged wrongdoing by honorary consuls from Nepal to Bolivia.
If data doesn't exist, build it yourself! Luckily, we had @delreuter to help.
Accused terror financiers, arms traffickers and drug runners among hundreds of rogue diplomats
Criminals and others accused of exploiting the position have infiltrated the ranks of honorary consuls
#ShadowDiplomats investigation by @ICIJorg @propublica
icij.org/investigations…
Criminals and others accused of exploiting the position have infiltrated the ranks of honorary consuls
#ShadowDiplomats investigation by @ICIJorg @propublica
icij.org/investigations…
14 Honorary Consuls Embroiled in Controversy
@ICIJorg and @propublica identified at least 500 current or former honorary consuls publicly accused of wrongdoing or embroiled in controversy.
Here are snapshots of some of those cases #ShadowDiplomats
icij.org/investigations…
@ICIJorg and @propublica identified at least 500 current or former honorary consuls publicly accused of wrongdoing or embroiled in controversy.
Here are snapshots of some of those cases #ShadowDiplomats
icij.org/investigations…
Main page for various articles and resources on #ShadowDiplomats
The untold story of how hundreds of rogue honorary consuls, including alleged terror financiers and criminals, have undermined a little-known system of global diplomacy.
icij.org/investigations…
The untold story of how hundreds of rogue honorary consuls, including alleged terror financiers and criminals, have undermined a little-known system of global diplomacy.
icij.org/investigations…
NEW: A ground-breaking global investigation by @ICIJorg & @propublica has found arms & drug traffickers, murderers & sex offenders among at least 500 current & former honorary consuls who've engaged in questionable activities. #ShadowDiplomats icij.org/investigations… via @ICIJorg
@ICIJorg & @propublica have identified nine current & former honorary consuls who have been linked to terrorist groups by law enforcement & governments. Most were tied to #Hezbollah, which the U.S. and other countries have branded a terrorist organization. #ShadowDiplomats
Thirty honorary consuls have been sanctioned by the U.S. & other governments, including 17 while they held their posts. Some were members of Russian President Vladimir #Putin’s inner circle, blacklisted after #Russia invaded #Ukraine in February. #ShadowDiplomats
NEW: #ShadowDiplomats exposes the global scale of misuse and exploitation of a little-known role in international diplomacy called honorary consuls, undermined by alleged criminals.
Investigated by ICIJ, @propublica and 160 journalists in 46 countries. 🧵 bit.ly/3hAFpUp
Investigated by ICIJ, @propublica and 160 journalists in 46 countries. 🧵 bit.ly/3hAFpUp
Founded centuries ago, the honorary consul system was meant as a lifeline for countries unable to afford foreign embassies but has since broadened into a mainstay of international relations, embraced by a majority of the world’s governments. bit.ly/3UTbZ2m
Honorary consuls are largely unregulated volunteer diplomats who work from their home countries to promote the interests of foreign governments — with some of the same protections and perks provided to career diplomats.
Many do the job honorably. bit.ly/3UTbZ2m
Many do the job honorably. bit.ly/3UTbZ2m
The #ShadowDiplomats, our latest investigation with @propublica and 150 journalists, examines the global threat of rogue diplomacy. icij.org/investigations…
During the last few months, @ICIJorg worked with @propublica and 59 media partners to identify +500 current and former honorary consuls who have been accused of crimes or embroiled in controversy.
icij.org/investigations…
icij.org/investigations…
How can you find out more about honorary consuls from your country?
@ICIJorg data team analyzed the level of transparency provided by countries about honorary consuls residing in their territory, and the ones representing their countries abroad.
icij.org/investigations…
@ICIJorg data team analyzed the level of transparency provided by countries about honorary consuls residing in their territory, and the ones representing their countries abroad.
icij.org/investigations…
