Corruption in the Caucasus is an investigative publication covering fraud, abuse of office and the movement of illicit money across the Caucasus region.
We follow the paper trail and the evidence. That means company registries, court filings, procurement records, asset declarations and banking documents. Nobody reads them, so a lot can sit there in plain sight. A state fund that sends money to a shell company registered in Delaware is a matter of public record. So is a call centre in Tbilisi that defrauds pensioners in Western Europe. Usually nobody has put the pieces side by side.
That is the work we do.
What we cover
Our reporting focuses on a few recurring patterns:
- Public money: state funds, procurement contracts and infrastructure spending, and where the money goes after it is allocated.
- Banking and financial fraud: lending schemes, insider deals and failures in regulatory oversight.
- Offshore structures: shell companies, nominee directors and the jurisdictions that make them possible.
- Organised fraud: call centre operations, investment scams and the networks that protect them.
- Accountability: what happens, or fails to happen, once wrongdoing is exposed.
Corruption in this region rarely stops at a border. Money raised in Baku can be parked in Dubai, routed through Cyprus and spent in London. We follow it where it goes.
How we work
Every published claim rests on documents or on sources we can name to our editors. When we rely on leaked or anonymously provided material, we check it against independent records before using it. If we can’t verify something, we leave it out.
Our data work covers corporate registries in the region and abroad, cross-referencing directors, addresses and shareholdings to find connections that don’t show up in a single filing. We give the people and companies we write about an opportunity to respond before publication. If they reply, we publish their response. If they decline or don’t answer, we say so.
Profiles
Our Profiles section gathers what the public record shows about individuals who come up again and again in our reporting: business interests, official positions, legal proceedings and documented associations. A profile is not an accusation. It is a reference file, updated as new information becomes available, and it is held to the same sourcing standards as our news reporting.
Corrections and right of reply
We get things wrong sometimes. When we do, we correct the article, note the correction at the bottom and date it. Anyone named in our reporting who believes something is inaccurate can contact us with supporting documentation. We review every request.
Independence
We take pride in our indpenednce and impartiality. We have absolutely no interets or conflicts of interests in the subjects and people that we cover. We do not accept any payment or in-kind compensation.
Corruption in Caucasus is funded by contributions and donations. None of our donors have any say or ability to influence our editorial process in any way.
For sources
If you have documents or information about corruption in the region, we want to hear from you. We protect the identity of our sources. We use secure channels for communication, like Proton Mail, Signal, Telegram and other secured means.