What are the EU misappropriation sanctions and what are we doing about them?

Posted on 19/03/201905/07/2023 by Lucia Cizmaziova

With the help of their corrupt networks, kleptocrats steal billions from their citizens every year. One of the tools the European Union has at its disposal to fight kleptocrats are sanctions that freeze their assets. On 6th of March, at a Brussels event co-organised by our partners at Transparency International EU, CiFAR launched EU Sanctions Watch – Read more about What are the EU misappropriation sanctions and what are we doing about them?[…]

Recovering the Moldovan billion

Posted on 01/03/201901/03/2019 by Agatino Camarda

Photo: Accent TV In our last post on Moldova, we talked about how in 2014 Moldovan kleptocrats allegedly stole over a billion dollars through a sophisticated bank fraud scheme. Things do not seem to be going in the right direction since then: the mastermind behind the fraud – Read more about Recovering the Moldovan billion[…]

Investigating cross-border corruption 101

Posted on 15/02/201921/02/2019 by Jackson Oldfield

One and a half years ago, CiFAR launched its first project with young, investigative journalists – Investigate the Mediterranean – supported by GIZ. This project was ambitious: to train young journalists who might have had no experience in investigations, let alone financial crime investigations, to bring them together with peers from North Africa and Europe, Read more about Investigating cross-border corruption 101[…]

Europe’s forgotten corruption heaven: Moldova

Posted on 25/01/201926/01/2019 by Agatino Camarda

Moldova – Europe’s tiny, little known and poorest country – has arguably become a giant of corruption and money laundering in the past ten years. Research indicates that the country landed in the hands of powerful kleptocrats – above all, Vladimir Plahotniuc – who were able to take control of most public institutions, making the Read more about Europe’s forgotten corruption heaven: Moldova[…]

The Nigeria “Cash Transfer Programme” and the $322 million return: More shadows than lights?

Posted on 11/01/201915/01/2019 by CiFAR

This blog is part of a series monitoring the utilisation of Nigeria’s recovered assets and was prepared by Oluwatosin Fatoyinbo. Read Oluwatosin’s previous article on Nigeria here. As CiFAR reported, Nigerian civil society is fighting hard to make the re-use of returned assets transparent and accountable, especially since the recent return of $322 million from Read more about The Nigeria “Cash Transfer Programme” and the $322 million return: More shadows than lights?[…]

CiFAR’s interview with Zarul de Garda

Posted on 07/12/201813/12/2018 by CiFAR

“Politicians must accept that stolen assets belongs to the Moldovan people and that they must be found and recovered” In October 2018, CiFAR co-founder Agatino Camarda travelled to Chisinau, Moldova to meet with activists and journalists fighting corruption. Zarul de Garda, one of the most important online and offline investigative journalism outlets in Moldova, interviewed Read more about CiFAR’s interview with Zarul de Garda[…]

The role of civil society in asset recovery and fighting corruption in Ukraine

Posted on 01/12/201803/12/2018 by CiFAR

This blog is a part of our Ukraine series – written and researched by Michael Howard. You can read the previous post here. On 4 November, media reported the passing of 33-year-old anti-corruption activist Kateryna Handzyuk, who three months earlier had been horrifically injured in an acid attack in the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine. Read more about The role of civil society in asset recovery and fighting corruption in Ukraine[…]

1MDB is moving forward, but it’s far from the end of the story

Posted on 23/11/2018 by Jackson Oldfield

The 1MDB scandal is the principle asset recovery case in Malaysia at the moment and for good reason: it involves a lot of money: potentially up to US $4.5 billion, it alleges wrongdoing at the highest levels, with former Prime Minister Najib at the centre of the allegations, and it involves multiple jurisdictions. The scope Read more about 1MDB is moving forward, but it’s far from the end of the story[…]

How to ensure a bright future for investigative journalism? – Reflections from the 18th IACC

Posted on 16/11/201828/11/2018 by Lucia Cizmaziova

Over the past few years, we have witnessed over and over again how immensely important and at the same time incredibly dangerous is the work of investigative journalists. To enhance the support for cross-border investigative journalism, in cooperation with the GIZ, we organised a workshop at the 18th International Anti-corruption Conference that took place between 22nd and 24th of Read more about How to ensure a bright future for investigative journalism? – Reflections from the 18th IACC[…]

Tracking Nigeria’s Recovered Assets

Posted on 09/11/201811/11/2018 by CiFAR

This blog is part of a series monitoring the utilisation of Nigeria’s recovered assets. The series is a follow-up to our latest article on Nigeria. This blog was prepared by Oluwatosin Fatoyinbo. The recent return of $322 million to Nigeria from Switzerland have led to new fears among citizens and reignited the debate on Read more about Tracking Nigeria’s Recovered Assets[…]