James Dowsett

UK Sanctions Iranian Tycoon for Allegedly Financing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard UK accuses Iranian banker of funding Revolutionary Guard, imposing an asset freeze and travel ban against him.

UK accuses Iranian banker of funding Revolutionary Guard, imposing an asset freeze and travel ban against him.

www.occrp.org/en/news/uk-s...

Interpol Rejects Kyrgyzstan’s Request for a Warrant against Independent Media Co-Founder Kyrgyzstan requested a Red Notice for Rinat Tuhvatshin, co-founder of Kloop, in an apparent attempt to silence him abroad. The government has been cracking down on all independent media critical of its...

Kyrgyzstan requested a Red Notice for Rinat Tuhvatshin, co-founder of Kloop, in an apparent attempt to silence him abroad. The government has been cracking down on all independent media critical of its actions.

www.occrp.org/en/news/inte...

Azerbaijan’s Former Presidential Chief of Staff Placed Under House Arrest House arrest ordered for former Azerbaijani presidential chief of staff on treason, attempted coup, and money laundering charges.

House arrest ordered for former Azerbaijani presidential chief of staff on treason, attempted coup, and money laundering charges.

www.occrp.org/en/news/azer...

EXCLUSIVE: Azerbaijani Ex-Autocrat's Son Buys Back Luxury Hotel Sold Amid Political Upheaval Rza Talibov sold off assets in 2023 during a crackdown on his father’s oppressive administration in Nakhchivan, an autonomous region of Azerbaijan. Now, he’s re-taken control of a luxury hotel, along...

Rza Talibov sold off assets in 2023 during a crackdown on his father’s oppressive administration in Nakhchivan, an autonomous region of Azerbaijan. Now, he’s re-taken control of a luxury hotel, along with another property on Georgia's Black Sea coast.

www.occrp.org/en/news/excl...

“Tinder Swindler” Arrested in Georgia, Placed in Extradition Custody A Georgian court has remanded Israeli national Shimon Hayut, the focus of a 2022 Netflix documentary, in custody for three months pending a possible extradition request from Germany.

🚨 An Israeli man dubbed “The Tinder Swindler” in a 2022 Netflix documentary has been detained in Georgia at Interpol’s request, after Germany accused him of conning a woman out of nearly €44,000.

His lawyer told @occrp.org he denies the allegation.

Georgia Detains Former Defence Minister on Money Laundering and Abuse of Power Charges Juansher Burchuladze is alleged to have directed an embezzlement scheme, and used stolen funds to buy property in Spain. Through his lawyer, he denied the allegations.

Juansher Burchuladze is alleged to have directed an embezzlement scheme, and used stolen funds to buy property in Spain. Through his lawyer, he denied the allegations.

www.occrp.org/en/news/geor...

The War That Came Back to Me A veteran journalist thought she survived the siege of Sarajevo unscathed — but in recent weeks, horrific stories emerging from the war in Gaza reignited her long-buried trauma.

A veteran journalist thought she survived the siege of Sarajevo unscathed — but in recent weeks, horrific stories emerging from the war in Gaza reignited her long-buried trauma.

www.occrp.org/en/feature/t...

Seven years ago today, OCCRP, Berlingske, and international partners exposed the Azerbaijani Laundromat — a $2.9bn money-laundering operation and slush fund run by Azerbaijan's elite.

From bank shutdowns to arrests and jail time, here's what's happened since:

According to @rsf.org data, 220 journalists have been killed by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip in less than 23 months.

Today, OCCRP is joining an international media blackout campaign, organized by RSF and @avaaz.org, calling for the protection of Palestinian journalists in Gaza.

NGO Accounts Frozen in Georgia as Prosecutors Link Groups to 2024 Protests Prosecutors in Georgia launched a criminal probe into seven NGOs, freezing their bank accounts over alleged “sabotage” tied to anti-government protests.

Prosecutors in Georgia launched a criminal probe into seven NGOs, freezing their bank accounts over alleged “sabotage” tied to anti-government protests.

www.occrp.org/en/news/ngo-...

Scam Empire is a finalist for the @journalists.org’s #OJA in the Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism category.

Our cross-border investigation with ‪SVT + 30 partners exposed a global scam network that stole millions from victims. More about the project www.occrp.org/en/project/s...

Outcry As Georgian Journalist Jailed For Slapping Police Officer Foreign embassies and media advocates condemned Mzia Amaghlobeli’s sentencing, after a Georgian court jailed the veteran journalist.

Foreign embassies and media advocates condemned Mzia Amaghlobeli’s sentencing, after a Georgian court jailed the veteran journalist.

www.occrp.org/en/news/outc...

Top Iranian Cleric Resigns Amid Land Grab Allegations Senior imam Kazem Sedighi had faced mounting pressure to step down since his relatives were arrested in early June, in the wake of a 2024 media report alleging that the cleric and his family were involved...

Senior imam Kazem Sedighi had faced mounting pressure to step down since his relatives were arrested in early June, in the wake of a 2024 media report alleging that the cleric and his family were involved in a corrupt land transfer deal.

www.occrp.org/en/news/top-...

EXCLUSIVE: U.K. Lawyer Fined Over Due Diligence Failures in Property Deal Linked to Family Members of Azerbaijani Official A British solicitor was sanctioned for breaching anti-money laundering rules related to funds from the children of Azerbaijan's former security minister, including a transfer earmarked for the purchase...

A British solicitor was sanctioned for breaching anti-money laundering rules related to funds from the children of Azerbaijan's former security minister, including a transfer earmarked for the purchase of U.K. property now held via an offshore structure.

www.occrp.org/en/news/uk-l...

German Ex-MP Convicted in Azerbaijan Bribery Scandal A German court has convicted a former Bundestag lawmaker of bribing officials on behalf of Azerbaijan, sentencing him to a suspended prison term in a major ruling tied to the Azerbaijani Laundromat corruption...

A German court has convicted a former Bundestag lawmaker of bribing officials on behalf of Azerbaijan, sentencing him to a suspended prison term in a major ruling tied to the Azerbaijani Laundromat corruption scandal.

www.occrp.org/en/news/germ...

Georgian Outlet’s Accounts Frozen as its Founder Faces Trial Batumelebi/Netgazeti claim that the Georgian authorities want to put pressure on the outlet as its founder Mzia Amaghlobeli faces prison for an alleged assault in proceedings condemned as unjust by hu...

🔒⚖️ Yesterday, Georgian authorities froze the bank accounts of news organization @netgazeti.org over a tax debt. The outlet says it is being pressured as its founder Mzia Amaghlobeli stands trial on charges that she calls retaliation for her work.

More details via @occrp.org👇

Azerbaijan Hands Long Prison Sentences to 7 Journalists, Critics say Trial was a Sham On Friday, an Azerbaijani court handed lengthy prison sentences to staff members of the independent outlet Abzas Media and a journalist from RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani service. The trial had been condemned ...

🚨 BREAKING: Azerbaijan jails journalists from Abzas Media and RFE/RL's Azerbaijani service in trial condemned as a ‘sham’

🗣️ @amnesty.org's Marie Struthers: “Azerbaijan's judicial system is being weaponized to muzzle independent journalism.”

More details via @occrp.org👇

The Death of Journalism in Azerbaijan A relentless crackdown over the past 18 months has eradicated any semblance of independent media from authoritarian Azerbaijan. But as President Ilham Aliyev casts critical journalists as enemies of t...

The Azerbaijani government’s relentless crackdown on journalists has eradicated any semblance of independent media from the country.

Here’s how smuggling charges, harsh prison conditions, and pro-government attack dogs are strangling press freedom 👇

www.occrp.org/en/feature/t...

Georgian NGOs, Media Defy Stricter Foreign Agents Law as It Takes Effect Georgia’s independent media and civil society groups are refusing to register under the new, stricter version of the “foreign agents” law. Despite the threat of legal sanctions, many vow to keep resis...

“𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿.”

Several Georgian independent media and civil society groups have vowed to defy a new foreign agents law, warning it will be used to silence dissent. Some are taking the fight to court.

More details via @occrp.org👇

Former German MP Affirms Indictment Accusing Him of Taking Bribes from Azerbaijan Eduard Lintner, a former parliamentarian with the CSU party, later said he didn’t think the payments he received were bribes.

A former German lawmaker has said that an indictment against him in the #AzerbaijaniLaundromat trial is correct — but later told journalists that he was innocent as he didn’t consider payments from Azerbaijan’s government to be bribes.

www.occrp.org/en/news/form...

The Baku Connection - European Press Prize The following article is part of a wider project: The Baku Connection. Find the project website including several more stories here.Read more about The Baku Connection ›

The #BakuConnection project by @forbidden-stories.bsky.social , OCCRP, Abzas Media and 13 partners has received the Special Award at this year’s European Press Prize.

It continued the work of jailed Abzas reporters, exposing abuses by the Aliyev regime.

www.europeanpressprize.com/article/the-...

EXCLUSIVE: UK Sanctions Azerbaijan State-Owned Tanker for Shipping Russian Oil The sanctions on Azerbaijani companies and individuals come as the country is deepening energy ties with the European Union.

EXCLUSIVE: A tanker ship just sanctioned by the U.K. for shipping oil on Russia’s behalf is owned by the Azerbaijani government, corporate docs show.

@zakavkaza of @FPRI said the move is a “clear warning shot” for the Aliyev government.

www.occrp.org/en/news/excl...

Despite Criminal Probe, Georgian Call-Center Scammers Are Back At Work Last month, more than 30 media outlets reported on a global scam operation based in Tbilisi, prompting Georgian authorities to launch an investigation. But newly obtained telecom records show that the...

NEW: Despite a criminal probe in Georgia, call center from our #ScamEmpire investigation appears to be back. According to newly obtained records, the scammers have continued making calls using a VoIP service that allows them to disguise their country of origin. www.occrp.org/en/project/s...

UK Sanctions Two Influential Georgian Judges For Alleged Corruption The U.K. has sanctioned two influential Georgian judges, claiming they were corrupt and favored the ruling party.

🇬🇧 The UK has sanctioned two influential Georgian judges for allegedly “abusing their position” to favour Georgia's ruling party.

One of them has denied the allegations, calling the decision politically motivated.

More details via @occrp.org👇

Georgia Advances Controversial 'Foreign Agents' Bill Amid Crackdown on Civil Society Georgia's ruling party advanced a foreign agents bill modeled on the U.S. FARA law, sparking fears it will be used to suppress civil society and independent media in an increasingly authoritarian crac...

🇬🇪 Georgia’s ruling party is pushing a bill modelled on the U.S. FARA, sparking fears it will be used to suppress civil society and media in an increasingly authoritarian crackdown.

🔎 More details via @occrp.org 👇

Georgia Freezes NGO Bank Accounts, Accuses Them of “Sabotage” Linked to Mass Protests Georgian prosecutors have launched a criminal probe into five civil society groups, freezing their bank accounts and accusing them of “sabotage” for supporting anti-government protests, in what critic...

Georgia Freezes NGO Bank Accounts, Accuses Them of “Sabotage” Linked to Mass Protests occrp.org/en/news/geor... via @occrp.org

Azerbaijan Escalates Crackdown on Civil Society, Arrests NGO Figures, Targets Exiled Activists Azerbaijan has intensified its crackdown on civil society, arresting NGO figures and targeting exiled activists and journalists with criminal charges.

Azerbaijan Escalates Crackdown on Civil Society, Arrests NGO Figures, Targets Exiled Activists occrp.org/en/news/azer... via @occrp.org

Georgia Freezes Assets of Top Scammers in Massive Call Center Fraud Georgian authorities have frozen the assets of key figures involved in a massive call center fraud, including real estate and business shares, following an investigative exposé.

#ScamEmpire: Georgia Freezes Assets of Top Scammers in Massive Call Center Fraud www.occrp.org/en/news/geor... via @occrp.org

Georgian Court Adds 9 Years to Ex-President’s Sentence Mikheil Saakashvili, who is already serving a six-year prison sentence, was accused of embezzling $3.3 million in government funds for luxury spending.

Georgian Court Adds 9 Years to Ex-President’s Sentence occrp.org/en/news/geor... via @occrp.org

Georgia Launches Criminal Probe Into Scam Call Center Exposed by Journalists Georgian prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into a Tbilisi-based scam call center that defrauded thousands worldwide, following its exposure by journalists.

#ScamEmpire: Georgia Launches Criminal Probe Into Scam Call Center Exposed by Journalists