The Global Anti-Corruption Consortium Journalists and Activists for Justice

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1 The Global Anti-Corruption Consortium Journalists and Activists for Justice Award winning investigative journalists and anti-corruption activists turn headlines into action

2 We live in an information age, where data and technology weave increasingly complex webs around our lives. Criminals and the corrupt are exploiting the combination of technology with secrecy in the financial system Corruption and the illicit wealth it produces are distorting the economies of London, New York, Miami and beyond at great cost to the countries whose public coffers have been burgled. We know this because great investigative journalists are connecting the dots, following the illicit money trails across borders, and publishing the incriminating facts. We know corruption is not a victimless crime. Corrupt individuals and networks, through secrecy and in collusion with powerful institutions and businesses, steal money that should go to public services. Among the many available channels to hide their illicit wealth are secretive anonymous shell companies and offshore trusts, often set up with the help of professional enablers lawyers, bankers and wealth managers. This system helps to perpetuate poverty, inequality, and undemocratic power structures. Instead of building schools and hospitals or funding other much needed public services, corrupt money is supporting luxury lifestyles and encouraging illicit activities such as land grabbing. Corruption gives dictators and some of the worst perpetrators of human rights abuses both a motive to remain in power and a way to buy loyalty. It undermines development and democracy, peace and security. The innovative and exciting goal of the Global Anti-Corruption Consortium is to disrupt this corrupt system by taking the findings of investigative journalism and using them to create change. We turn headlines into action by linking activists with journalists. After journalists have exposed the corrupt, activists work to hold them to account, campaigning to enact reforms, enforce laws and put the guilty behind bars.

3 The model is already operational. We ve started by identifying 10 major cases that include money laundering, banking corruption and corporate bribery across three continents. The goal is to tackle 20 of these cases in the first phase of the project. But this work takes time and skills. It requires rigorous investigation and research, training, and risk assessment combined with the expertise to develop sophisticated advocacy and communication plans that will have real impact. Our success will be measured not only in the number of readers we reach, but in the number of laws that are strengthened and enforced, the number of corrupt who are sanctioned and punished, and the amount of money that is returned to the public. We have already secured $5 million to kick-start the project. Our goal is to raise a further $2 million to ensure that as many investigations as possible are followed up with campaigns that have measurable, headline grabbing impact.

4 CASE STUDY Impact of the Global Anti-Corruption Consortium on the Azerbaijani Laundromat Story Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) representatives visited Azerbaijan to discuss corruption. PACE lost two people to scandal: one who resigned after the story, and PACE s President who resigned in early October. PACE launched an investigation into the scheme and called for evidence. Reporters gathered the evidence they had and passed it on to TI activists who presented it to PACE. Kalin Mitrev, board member of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is shut out from decisions on Azerbaijan. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) proposed an amendment to EP s report on corruption and human rights addressing the story s revelations. Reporters were called before EP to testify. Bulgaria s Chief Prosecutor announced an investigation, as did Belgium. UK parties called for an investigation, as did Hungary s foreign minister. Slovenia: presidential candidate Smago Jelincic Plemeniti dropped out of the electoral race after he was exposed receiving thousands from the Laundromat. Danske Bank launched an investigation, looking all the way back to 2007 with thousands of customers, hiring the former head of Denmark s intelligence agency, Jens Madsen, to work with the bank s Compliance and Incident management team. Azerbaijan s government denied involvement. Azer Gasimov, the Azerbaijani President s press secretary, called the stories ridiculous and biased. Ali Hasanov, the president s assistant for Public and Political Affairs stated the accusations toward the government were a smear campaign, organized by the UK, the Armenians and the United States. Yet the government blocked OCCRP s website in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan released 16 people from custody, including the director of Azerbaijan s only independent media outlet. Thousands of Azeris demonstrated in Baku to protest the alleged role of government leaders in the Azerbaijani Laundromat. Russia rejected reports on Russian state-owned weapons company paying US$ 29 million. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia s Foreign Ministry, called it fake news. Transparency International and Global Witness are calling for countries involved with the Laundromat to launch investigations.

5 Great journalism will be a catalyst for change US$ 4.4 billion in assets frozen or seized 84 criminal investigations and 147 arrest warrants with 7 suspects on the run 81 calls for action from civil society organizations and international bodies 20 major sackings, including a President and a Prime Minister Over 1,400 company closures Committed activists will make sure it happens Corruption Perceptions Index ranking countries shames the corrupt Campaigns on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and Organisation for Economic Co-Operation & Development (OECD) Anti-Bribery Convention Advocates for Governments to establish public beneficial ownership registers with commitments in 12 countries to date.

6 The story so far... Both OCCRP and TI have already had significant impact on the fight against grand corruption by shining a light on what kleptocrats do and how they do it. High-profile scandals like the Paradise Papers, the Panama Papers, the Azerbaijani Laundromat, and the Russian Laundromat across borders,make headlines and put pressure on global leaders to respond. TI s recent ground-breaking reports, including Doors Wide Open: Corruption and Real Estate in Four Key Markets, and Tainted Treasures: Money Laundering Risks in Luxury Markets explain what needs to be done to root out corruption. But headlines, investigations and research must not mark the end of the story. The corrupt try to wait out public outrage. They need to be brought to justice. The systems that allowed them to steal and launder money must be changed. That is where the Global Anti-Corruption Consortium comes in. Our goal is to turn evidence into actionable cases for positive, effective campaigns. Both of the partner organisations have a track record of success, established over years. However, together we can do more for people everywhere. Be it legal reform, asset recovery, lawsuits or campaigns to bring people onto the street to demand change, the consortium can have real impact. This is your opportunity to be part of our mission. We are trying to raise a further $2 million to ensure that we can follow through with our commitment to hold the perpetrators of corruption to account in each and every one of our investigations. Now is the time to press our advantage and end impunity for the corrupt. At this time where there are efforts to weaken financial regulations, help us keep the pressure on the international and national bodies that should be stopping illicit financial flow. Support this innovative partnership. Demonstrate your commitment to the fight against corruption and support proven organisations implementing cutting-edge work. The Global Anti-Corruption Consortium will deliver investigations around the world into corruption and at least 10 follow-up campaigns. In 2018 we will: Expand the first-ever open source global investigative platform that combines data with the collaborative tools and services that make that data useful. Train investigators and activists across four continents to use this platform to identify crime networks and the enablers of corruption: the banks, offshore facilitators, lawyers etc. who set up the secret companies and deals that allow corrupt money to flow around the world. Assemble legally actionable case study files that can be used by government law enforcement agencies and international bodies to investigate and prosecute corruption cases. Develop campaigns at the local, national and cross-regional level to make sure the corrupt are held to account. Grow and develop networks of investigative journalists and anti-corruption activists.

7 The close partnership at local level between investigative journalists and TI chapters meant that as soon as the first story, the Azerbaijani Laundromat, was published in 2017 by the OC- CRP journalist network, the TI chapters launched focussed, pre-planned advocacy campaigns. New cases are being selected and developed to ensure there will be effective follow up actions by activists armed with the tools and necessary evidence to hold the corrupt to account. Be part of our success: join the Global Anti-Corruption Consortium. For more information on how you can become involved and for more information on the criteria for the cases, the countries under consideration and the people involved please contact: Casey Kelso at Transparency International and Camille Eiss at The Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project

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