Elon Musk’s year in Tweets: Ukraine, buying Twitter, Trump, Bitcoin and blue ticks December 21, 2022 Elon Musk’s time as Twitter CEO has been controversial. Even before his purchase of the social media platform, the business magnate and investor was an avid Twitter user. After a turbulent year online – and off – we have done the painstaking task of trawling through the Tesla billionaire’s feed, for high (and low) points [...]
Government reforms needed to claim £1bn in extorted assets December 16, 2022 A potential £1bn of proceeds from political extortion are up for grabs if the UK Government undergoes reforms.
Russian oligarch seeks to block fraud lawsuit over sanctions December 14, 2022 A high-profile Russian oligarch is seeking to block an $850m (£685m) fraud lawsuit over claims the Russian banks suing him could use proceeds from the case to “fund the war in Ukraine”. Lawyers acting on behalf of Russian banker Boris Mints called for the High Court lawsuit to be put on hold in arguing any [...]
EU to push for greater sanctions compliance with new special envoy December 12, 2022 The EU is set to put one of its top civil servants to the task of pushing for greater compliance with sanctions against Russia, in third-countries including Turkey, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). David O’Sullivan, the bloc’s former ambassador to the US, is set to take up a new role in January, in [...]
Wealthy Russian businessman held by police officers investigating oligarchs December 3, 2022 A wealthy Russian businessman has been arrested at his multi-million-pound London home by officers investigating potential criminal activity by oligarchs. The 58-year-old man, who has not been named, was held by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on Thursday on suspicion of offences including money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the Home Office and conspiracy to commit [...]
Private bank Julius Baer fined £18m over ‘corrupt’ dealings with Yukos Oil November 30, 2022 The UK’s financial watchdog has fined private bank Julius Baer more than £18m over its “corrupt” dealings with Russian oil company Yukos Group. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today fined Julius Baer’s international business £18,022,500 and sanctioned three of its executives, over the private bank’s use of third-party agents in carrying out business with [...]
Lloyd’s of London to face £735m court battle over Dubai owned aircraft seized by Russia November 18, 2022 Lloyd’s of London is being sued for $875m (£735m) over its failure to pay out on a multi-million-dollar insurance claim filed over the Russian state’s decision to seize hundreds of planes this March. Airplane leaser Dubai Aerospace Enterprises Ltd (DAE) has filed a High Court claim against Lloyd’s seeking more than $875m from the insurer, [...]
Frozen Russian assets should act as ‘wake up call’ for UK government, campaigners say November 10, 2022 The billions in Russian assets frozen by UK authorities since the start of the war in Ukraine should act as a “wake up call” to the British government, to ensure it never allows a “kleptocratic regime” access to the country’s economy again, campaigners have said. The record £18.39bn in assets frozen by the UK’s [...]
Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to receive apology from Jersey Police over ‘illegal’ searches November 10, 2022 Roman Abramovich will receive an apology over illegal searches conducted by a Jersey police force, it has been revealed. A court order seen by City A.M. said the force on the Channel Island of Jersey acted illegally when conducting searches at properties reportedly connected to the billionaire in April 2022. The Russian-born Israeli oligarch was [...]
Cypriot PwC partners set up new firm to continue working with Russian clients November 8, 2022 Three ex-partners from PwC’s Cyprus office have left the Big Four accountancy firm to set up a new rival practice in order to continue working with Russian clients. The launch of KiteServe comes after the three ex-PwC partners took early retirement from the Big Four firm in June, after its sanctions policy blocked them [...]