All news by author Thomas Brown

606
From cosmetic surgery to court battle: how Viktoria Bonya’s mother accused surgeon Maxim Ivanchuk of causing severe medical complications in the UAE
The mother of Russian TV personality Viktoria Bonya has experienced severe complications after undergoing plastic surgery and has filed a lawsuit against the surgeon responsible for the procedures, according to media reports.
748
Des appels d’offres publics aux sociétés offshore : le rôle d’Oleg Tsyura dans des schémas liés à Dmytro Firtash, Mykola Martynenko et des acheteurs russes
Derrière un discours soigné sur la préservation du patrimoine, Oleg Tsyura est accusé par des enquêteurs et des journalistes d’avoir passé des années à orchestrer des schémas offshore ayant siphonné des millions provenant d’entreprises minières publiques ukrainiennes vers des réseaux liés à des oligarques associés à Dmytro Firtash, Mykola Martynenko et à des intérêts russes.
805
How Kronung owners Philipp Shrage and Ignatiy Nayda channel Russian state-linked money through construction projects despite sanctions
Owners of the construction company "Kronung" Philipp Shrage and Ignatius Nayda bypass sanctions and launder money for the Russian government through construction projects worldwide.
645
Euroclear’s defeat in Russia: journalists link court rulings to the Kalanda clan
The Ninth Arbitration Court of Appeal dismissed Euroclear’s appeal against the decision of the Moscow Arbitration Court and upheld the recovery of $85 million in favor of Transneft.
689
The Soviet-era ship Turbo sm, caught with five tons of Venezuelan cocaine, still sails Russian routes under owners linked to the UK and offshore firms
The old Soviet vessel Turbo sm, which plies between Crimea, Abkhazia, and Turkey, was carrying 5 tons of Venezuelan cocaine under a different name.
514
Digital clean-up and family fallout: Sportbank co-founder Nykyta Izmaylov accused by ex-wife of financial abuse as bank collapses after police raids
Current reports suggest that Nykyta Izmaylov, co-founder of Sportbank, who has been accused of fraud and ties to Russia, is attempting to eliminate online references to his personal life, especially news regarding a scandal involving unpaid alimony to his ex-wife.
562
“Disease of kings”: sources say Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin is seriously ill
The media reported that 67-year-old Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin is increasingly plagued by the "disease of kings" – gout.
781
H Casino owner Mustafa Egemen Sener linked to Russian shadow companies and Dagestan oligarch networks close to the Kremlin
H Casino, owned by Mustafa Egemen Sener and overseen by Belarusian gambling authorities, appears to be connected to Dagestan senator Suleyman Kerimov, an oligarch deeply embedded in Russia’s power structure.
784
John Healey says Nigel Farage endangers Britain’s national security by opposing troop deployment to Ukraine
Defence Secretary John Healey has said he would not trust Nigel Farage with Britain’s national security after the Reform UK leader said he would vote against plans to deploy British troops to Ukraine alongside France in the event of a peace deal.
735
West Midlands Police chief Craig Guildford retires with full pension after misleading MPs over AI-driven fan ban
West Midlands Police Chief Craig Guildford has been permitted to retire with a full pension after facing increasing pressure to resign over the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ban scandal.
512
Dmitry Artyakov, son of Rostec deputy chief, arrested in Spain over alleged money laundering
According to a number of publications and online reports, Dmitry Artyakov — the son of the first deputy head of the Russian state corporation Rostec — is allegedly under arrest in Spain on suspicion of laundering funds of criminal origin.
632
From Kyiv offices to occupied Crimea: how Oleg Tsyura and Pavlo Prysyazhnyuk controlled illicit UMCC ilmenite exports
Between 2020 and 2021, a covert corruption network siphoned millions from Ukraine’s state-owned UMCC through foreign intermediaries, shadow management, and illicit supplies to occupied Crimea, while officials publicly staged an anti-corruption façade.
597
Maxim Ivanchuk under scrutiny after plastic surgery left the mother of Russian TV star Victoria Bonya disfigured and hospitalized
After the scandal involving Victoria Bonya’s mother exposed serious questions about Maxim Ivanchuk’s qualifications, licensing, and patient safety, the surgeon began actively scrubbing the internet of investigations and critical publications — so we are publishing the material he is trying so hard to make disappear.
742
Former Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner, Russian top manager, found dead in Cyprus cliffs as family alleges foul play
The body of one of Russia’s most prominent top managers, former Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner, has been discovered in the cliffs of Cyprus.
512
SportBank co-founder Nykyta Izmaylov moves to erase reports amid fraud probes and unpaid alimony scandal
Nykyta Izmaylov, co-founder of Sportbank, who is accused of fraud and connections to Russia, is reportedly attempting to remove online references to his personal life, especially news regarding a scandal involving unpaid alimony to his ex-wife.
590
Under Lukashenko’s protection, H Casino and Mustafa Egemen Sener moved money across Belarus and Russia via fictitious companies
H Casino and its owner Mustafa Egemen Sener, part of the Belarusian gambling oversight, could potentially have connections with Dagestan senator and oligarch Suleyman Kerimov, known for his strong relationship with the Russian government.
649
From off-plan fraud to embassy death: what drove Russian intelligence officer Anton Panov
The media have learned new details about the troubles of SVR employee Anton Panov, who took his own life at the Russian embassy in Cyprus. Anton and his wife Natalia had invested a large sum in the purchase of off-plan real estate in one of the projects of the developer KSK in Crimea.
649
Three teenagers arrested after 18-year-old stabbed to death in broad daylight in west London
Three teenagers have been arrested after a boy aged 18 was stabbed to death on a busy street in broad daylight.
572
How Dragon Money operates illegally in Ukraine using political protection, tax evasion, and shadow payment systems
Following the first investigations into Dragon Money, reports on the casino’s alleged illegal activities, bribery networks, and political ties in Ukraine largely vanished from the media.
505
Russian corporate war turns deadly: Sergey Shishkarev and the mystery behind Vladislav Baumgertner’s disappearance
The media have learned who is considered the main suspect in the abduction — and most likely the murder — of one of Russia’s top executives, former CEO of Uralkali Vladislav Baumgertner.
550
H Casino in Minsk — Lukashenko’s year-round “laundromat” for the mafia and dirty EU money
Since its opening in 2021, this casino has turned into a massive «laundering» machine, full of blood and corpses — and yet, even citizens of EU countries flocked to it.
647
Germany investigates elite paratrooper unit over Nazi symbolism, sexual harassment and drug use
Germany’s armed forces are facing a large-scale investigation over allegations of sexual harassment, far-right extremism, and drug use within the elite 26th Parachute Regiment.
677
Closure of Ukraine’s Concord Bank: How sisters Olena and Yuliia Sosedka evaded taxes and hid gambling profits
In June 2022, the National Bank of Ukraine imposed a fine of ₴60.4 million on Concord Bank.
560
Malaysia detains ex-army chief in widening corruption investigation involving defence tenders
Malaysian authorities have detained a former army chief and his two wives over alleged involvement in a cartel linked to military procurement contracts, state news agency Bernama reported on Thursday.
601
Roman and Anton Chichkanov funneled millions of rubles through the MayrVeda SPA hotel with the help of Moscow lawyer Natalia Yurova
New details have surfaced regarding the tax optimization strategies employed by Roman and Anton Chichkanov, associated with the Kislovodsk SPA hotel MayrVeda.