Thread by @ICIJorg

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

🇲🇪 The first honorary consul named by Russia in Montenegro, Boro Djukic, took on an aggressive role in local politics, backing a movement that aimed to empower allies of the Kremlin and working to undermine the fragile government. bit.ly/3HawP9I

🇺🇸 Russia nominated a series of American citizens as consuls on US soil, including the founder of a Russian art museum in Minnesota, the president of a Russian trading firm in Puerto Rico and the former president of St. Petersburg College in Florida. bit.ly/3HawP9I

🇲🇰 In North Macedonia, an intelligence report accused honorary consulates overseen by Sergej Samsonenko and another consul in the country of being “intelligence bases” used for Russian propaganda and to interfere with the country’s bid to join NATO. bit.ly/3HawP9I

Moscow’s honorary consuls have remained active in some countries even as Western nations have levied sanctions amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

They’re among hundreds of controversial honorary consuls uncovered in the #ShadowDiplomats investigation. bit.ly/3Ft1sG2

Honorary consuls around the world have been accused of abusing their positions and of serious crimes, including drug and weapons trafficking, murder and fraud.

At least 57 were convicted of crimes while they held their honorary consul positions, we found. bit.ly/3iHwuBh

ICIJ and @propublica previously identified nine honorary consuls who have been linked to terrorist groups by law enforcement and governments.

Most were tied to Hezbollah, a political party, social services provider and militant group in Lebanon. bit.ly/3BggdcR

While governments have appointed thousands of honorary consuls, no one has a reliable count of them.

78 countries do not publicly identify their consuls, a lack of transparency that fuels the controversies at the heart of #ShadowDiplomats. bit.ly/3XUV9T3

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