THREAD 👇
We're publishing a leak of documents we’re calling the #CyprusPapers
They show the EU nation of Cyprus sold passports to convicted criminals, sanctioned officials & politicians.
We'll be releasing new stories all week. Here's a first look at what we've found.
We're publishing a leak of documents we’re calling the #CyprusPapers
They show the EU nation of Cyprus sold passports to convicted criminals, sanctioned officials & politicians.
We'll be releasing new stories all week. Here's a first look at what we've found.
More than 2,500 people paid to become Cypriot citizens between 2017-19.
Each application costs $2.5 million & brings in needed investment for Cyprus.
We found at least 15 billionaires in the #CyprusPapers.
But we also found dirty money.
Each application costs $2.5 million & brings in needed investment for Cyprus.
We found at least 15 billionaires in the #CyprusPapers.
But we also found dirty money.
People with criminal records have always been banned from buying Cypriot citizenship.
So how come convicted fraudster ZHANG KEQIANG got his passport in 2018?
He’s one of 30 people we’ve found in the #CyprusPapers linked to criminality.
So how come convicted fraudster ZHANG KEQIANG got his passport in 2018?
He’s one of 30 people we’ve found in the #CyprusPapers linked to criminality.
The EU wants Cyprus to stop selling passports.
@sven_giegold told us why the scheme is a threat to European security because it attracts dirty money.
He says citizenship shouldn’t be a commodity.
@sven_giegold told us why the scheme is a threat to European security because it attracts dirty money.
He says citizenship shouldn’t be a commodity.
In 2019 Cyprus got tough (well, sort of).
They banned Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) from buying passports.
PEPs are a risk for corruption & money laundering.
But @HussainNowais is one of more than 40 PEPs we found in the #CyprusPapers
They banned Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) from buying passports.
PEPs are a risk for corruption & money laundering.
But @HussainNowais is one of more than 40 PEPs we found in the #CyprusPapers
In 2019 Cyprus got tough (well, sort of).
They banned Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) from buying passports.
PEPs are a risk for corruption & money laundering.
But @HussainNowais is one of more than 40 PEPs we found in the #CyprusPapers
They banned Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) from buying passports.
PEPs are a risk for corruption & money laundering.
But @HussainNowais is one of more than 40 PEPs we found in the #CyprusPapers
The Cypriot Interior Minister @NourisNicos told us no citizenship was granted in violation of regulations.
Passports of lawbreakers can now be torn-up.
But PEPs & “high-risk” persons who bought citizenship before the ban came into force, get to keep their passports.
Passports of lawbreakers can now be torn-up.
But PEPs & “high-risk” persons who bought citizenship before the ban came into force, get to keep their passports.
More than 1,000 of the names in #CyprusPapers are Russians.
Perhaps it’s because Cyprus has a favourable climate...for their money.
We found oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin as well as fugitives accused of robbing state companies.
It can be a fine line between the two.
Perhaps it’s because Cyprus has a favourable climate...for their money.
We found oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin as well as fugitives accused of robbing state companies.
It can be a fine line between the two.
There are also 500 Chinese names in #CyprusPapers.
An EU passport offers them a route to move assets out of China.
One name on the list is Asia’s richest woman,
Yang Hiyan - worth an estimated $27bn.
An EU passport offers them a route to move assets out of China.
One name on the list is Asia’s richest woman,
Yang Hiyan - worth an estimated $27bn.
Buying Cypriot passports is also a way for some people to escape repressive regimes. For this reason, we’ve redacted some names in #CyprusPapers.
Some have had relatives abducted in Hong Kong or jailed by MBS in Saudi Arabia.
Some have had relatives abducted in Hong Kong or jailed by MBS in Saudi Arabia.
We’ll be releasing more stories from the #CyprusPapers as the week goes on.
Tomorrow we’ll publish a data-story including 100 profiles of successful applicants and original source documents.
For the latest, keep following @AJIunit and @AJEnglish.
Tomorrow we’ll publish a data-story including 100 profiles of successful applicants and original source documents.
For the latest, keep following @AJIunit and @AJEnglish.
Buying Cypriot passports is also a way for some people to escape repressive regimes. For this reason, we’ve redacted some names in #CyprusPapers.
Some have had relatives abducted in Hong Kong or jailed by MBS in Saudi Arabia.
Some have had relatives abducted in Hong Kong or jailed by MBS in Saudi Arabia.
We’ll be releasing more stories from the #CyprusPapers as the week goes on.
Tomorrow we’ll publish a data-story including 100 profiles of successful applicants and original source documents.
For the latest, keep following @AJIunit and @AJEnglish.
Tomorrow we’ll publish a data-story including 100 profiles of successful applicants and original source documents.
For the latest, keep following @AJIunit and @AJEnglish.
