Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project

OCCRP was founded by veteran journalists Drew Sullivan and Paul Radu. Sullivan was serving as the editor of the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) and Radu worked with an early Romanian center. The team paired with colleagues in the region on a story looking at energy traders. The project showed traders were buying power at below production rates while the public was paying increasingly higher fees.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

In 2019 the project received a Global Shining Light Award Citation of Excellence from the Global Investigative Journalism Network for its story entitled The Azerbaijani Laundromat.

{{cite web

|url=http://gijn.org/awards/

|title=The Global Shining Light Award

|website=gijn.org

|date=2016

}}

In March 2022, OCCRP was labeled as "undesirable organization" in Russia.{{cite web |date=2022-03-05 |title="Важные истории" и OCCRP внесли в реестр "нежелательных" организаций |url=https://meduza.io/news/2022/03/05/vazhnye-istorii-i-occrp-vnesli-v-reestr-nezhelatelnyh-organizatsiy |accessdate=2022-03-08 |website=meduza.io |language=ru}}

{{Expand section|date=December 2023}}

The OCCRP has been involved in a number of high-profile investigations, including looking at the offshore services industry, organized crime ownership in football clubs, casinos and the security industry.{{Cite news

|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5684942,00.html

|title=Private security firms in the Balkans harbor corruption, observers say

|publisher=Deutsche Welle

|date=2010-06-19

}}{{Cite news

|url=http://www.jurnalul.ro/stiri/observator/vintu-cercetat-alaturi-de-kiss-laszlo-pentru-o-frauda-de-8-milioane-de-euro-559934.html

|title=Vîntu, cercetat alături de Kiss Laszlo, pentru o fraudă de 8 milioane de euro

|publisher=Jurnalul Naţional

|date=2010-11-16

|access-date=2010-12-10

|archive-date=2017-10-18

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018032336/http://jurnalul.ro/stiri/observator/vintu-cercetat-alaturi-de-kiss-laszlo-pentru-o-frauda-de-8-milioane-de-euro-559934.html

|url-status=dead

}}{{Cite web

|url=http://www.viennareview.net/story/02388-hungary-corruption-continues

|title=In Hungary, Corruption Continues

|publisher=The Vienna Review

|date=2009-04-09

|access-date=2010-12-10

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314133925/http://www.viennareview.net/story/02388-hungary-corruption-continues

|archive-date=2012-03-14

|url-status=dead

}}

In 2013, it investigated the Sergei Magnitsky case, the largest tax fraud in Russian history, and wrote that funds stolen from the Russian treasury ended up in a company now owned by the son of Moscow's former transportation minister. Some of the money was used to buy high-end real estate near Wall Street.{{Cite news

|url=https://reportingproject.net/magnitsky_stories/#

|title=Magnitsky Stories

|publisher=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project

|date=2013-06-09

}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/11/nyregion/us-seeks-forfeiture-of-manhattan-real-estate-tied-to-fraud.html |title=U.S. Seeks Forfeiture of Manhattan Real Estate Tied to Fraud |date=September 10, 2013 |agency=The Associated Press |newspaper=The New York Times}} US prosecutors have since sought to seize $18 million in property from the company.{{cite news|title=U.S. Seeks Seizure Of Real Estate Connected To Magnitsky Fraud Scheme|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/us-seeks-seizure-of-manhattan-real-estate-magnitsky-fraud-scheme-prevezon/25102020.html|access-date=27 November 2013|newspaper=Radio Free Europe|date=Sep 10, 2013}}

It published stories on Montenegro's long-time President and Prime Minister Milo Đukanović. Two series looked at the ties between Đukanović and organized crime. One series traced the President's family-owned bank, Prva Banka (First Bank), and how the president privatized it to his brother cheaply, moved massive state funds into the bank and then loaned the money out to his family, friends and organized crime on overly favorable terms. When the bank failed under the weight of these bad loans, the president bailed it out with taxpayer money. The Central Bank said the government lied about repaying the loan{{which|date=May 2016}} simply shuttling funds back and forth and claiming the loan was repaid.{{Cite news |date=2012-05-20 |title=First Family First Bank |publisher=OCCRP |url=https://reportingproject.net/first_bank/en/}}{{cite web |last=Deliso |first=Chris |date=October 27, 2015 |title=Letter from Montenegro: Organized Crime's State of Play |url=https://www.the-american-interest.com/2015/10/27/letter-from-montenegro-organized-crimes-state-of-play/ |work=The American Interest}} A second series examined how the president through his staff kept close relationships to international drug traffickers like Darko Saric, and that municipalities controlled by the president's party gave prime coastal property almost for free to Saric. It also wrote that the Italian mafia was smuggling cigarettes to Italy from an island off the coast of Montenegro owned by Đukanović's good friend Stanko Subotić and controlled by Đukanović's head of security.{{Cite news |date=2014-07-01 |title=Unholy Alliances |publisher=OCCRP |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/unholyalliances/}}

It investigated an assassination attempt on a Russian banker which led the Moldovan government to ban the pro-Russian Patria political party from the 2014 elections and the party's leader to flee the country.{{Cite news|url=http://www.rise.md/video-asasin-in-lege/|title=Asasin-in-lege|publisher=RISE Moldova|date=2014-11-28}}{{Cite news|url=https://reportingproject.net/occrp/index.php/en/ccwatch/cc-watch-briefs/2734-moldova-pro-russia-party-banned-from-elections-after-occrp-expose|title=Moldova: Pro-Russia Party Banned From Elections After OCCRP Expose|publisher=OCCRP|date=2014-11-28|archive-date=January 1, 2015|access-date=January 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101180718/https://reportingproject.net/occrp/index.php/en/ccwatch/cc-watch-briefs/2734-moldova-pro-russia-party-banned-from-elections-after-occrp-expose|url-status=dead}} It also looked at a massive money laundering scheme, the Russian Laundromat, that moved tens of billions of dollars into Europe using offshore companies, fake loans and bribed Moldovan judges. Some of the Russian banks involved were owned in part by Igor Putin, a cousin of Russian President Vladimir Putin.{{Cite news|url=https://reportingproject.net/the-russian-laundromat/|title=Laundromat|publisher=OCCRP|date=2014-08-21|archive-date=March 20, 2015|access-date=January 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320124811/https://reportingproject.net/the-russian-laundromat/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last=Harding |first=Luke |title=The Global Laundromat: how did it work and who benefited? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/20/the-global-laundromat-how-did-it-work-and-who-benefited |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 March 2017 |accessdate=20 March 2017}}

In 2015, working with SVT Swedish Television and the TT News Agency, the OCCRP uncovered that the Swedish/Finnish Telecom giant TeliaSonera (now Telia), Vimpelcom and other phone companies had paid about $1 billion in bribes.{{Cite web |title=OCCRP, SVT and TT Awarded Golden Shovel for TeliaSonera Investigation |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/announcements/41-press-box/5042-occrp-svt-and-tt-awarded-golden-shovel-for-teliasonera-investigation |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=www.occrp.org |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Westerberg (TT) |first=Ola |title=The TeliaSonera Scandals: A Swedish Trauma − Corruptistan |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/corruptistan/azerbaijan/azerbaijan-telecom/the-teliasonera-scandals-a-swedish-trauma |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=OCCRP |language=en}} More than $800 million in assets were seized or frozen by law enforcement after the scandal. Vimpelcom attempted to negotiate a $775 million fine for their part in the bribes,{{Cite web |title=VimpelCom Negotiating Near-Record US$ 775 Million in Bribery Penalty |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/4650-vimpelcom-negotiating-near-record-us-775-million-in-bribery-penalty |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=www.occrp.org |language=en-GB}} but was fined $795 million, including a $230 million criminal penalty to both U.S. and Dutch authorities, and a $375 million penalty to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.{{Cite news |title=VimpelCom fined $795m in corruption case |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e5f63772-d693-11e5-8887-98e7feb46f27 |access-date=2023-12-24 |newspaper=Financial Times|date=18 February 2016 |last1=Scannell |first1=Kara }}{{Cite news |last1=Schreck |first1=Carl |last2=Eckel |first2=Mike |date=2016-02-19 |title=VimpelCom To Pay $795 Million Fine |language=en |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/vimpelcom-fine/27560774.html |access-date=2023-12-24}} OCCRP, SVT and TT News Agency were awarded the Golden Shovel Award, the most important award for investigative journalism in Sweden.

OCCRP worked on the Panama Papers project with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and Süddeutsche Zeitung producing more than 40 stories on corruption through the use of offshore entities, which won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize Journalism.{{cite web |title=Paul Radu |url=https://pulitzercenter.org/people/paul-radu |work=Pulitzer Center |quote=Paul Radu is co-founder and chief of innovation at OCCRP.. he was part of the Panama Papers team that won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism}} These included how friends close to Russian President Vladimir Putin were receiving large sums of money through offshore companies;{{cite web |date=October 25, 2017 |title=Investigation Says Putin's Inner Circle Has Amassed $24 Bln Fortune |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2017/10/25/investigation-says-twenty-four-billion-amassed-by-putin-proxies-a59360 |newspaper=The Moscow Times}} how the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev owned a majority of his country's mining industry through offshore companies;{{cite web |last=Fitzgibbon |first=Will |date=April 4, 2016 |title=How Family that Runs Azerbaijan Built an Empire of Hidden Wealth |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/panama-papers/20160404-azerbaijan-hidden-wealth/ |work=International Consortium of Investigative Journalists}}{{cite web |date=April 5, 2016 |title=Kyrgyzstan: Azerbaijan Ruling Family Sought Gold Interests |url=https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-azerbaijan-ruling-family-sought-gold-interests |work=Eurasianet}} and, how President Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine had violated Ukrainian law and avoided taxes using offshore companies.{{cite web |last=Carden |first=James |date=April 4, 2016 |title=Bombshell Revelations From the Panama Papers Show Just How Much We Need Financial Transparency |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/bombshell-revelations-from-the-panama-papers-show-just-how-much-we-need-financial-transparency/ |newspaper=The Nation}}

In 2019, OCCRP and 21 media partners discovered that Russia's former largest investment bank – Troika Dialog laundered $4.8 billion of funds. The so called scheme – Troika laundromat allowed funds to flow from Russian companies and figures into Europe and the US between 2003 and early 2013.{{Cite web |last=Project |first=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting |title=The Troika Laundromat |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/troikalaundromat/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=OCCRP |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Fitzgibbon |first=Will |date=2019-03-04 |title=Troika Laundromat reveals Russian bank's $8.8b offshore scheme |publisher=ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/russia-archive/troika-laundromat-reveals-russian-banks-8-8bn-offshore-scheme/ |access-date=2023-09-30 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Burroughs |first=Callum |title='Troika Laundromat' Russia money-laundering scandal clobbers more banks as allegations deepen |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/troika-laundromat-more-banks-feel-pain-from-money-laundering-scandal-2019-3 |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title='Troika Laundromat' Russia money laundering scandal clobbers more banks as allegations deepen |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/troika-laundromat-russia-money-laundering-scandal-clobbers-more-banks-as-allegations-deepen/articleshow/68292981.cms |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Business Insider}}

{{Main|Formations House}}

In December 2019, Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets) published "#29 Leaks" in partnership with the OCCRP and more than 20 outlets in 18 countries.{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2019 |title=#29Leaks: Inside a London Company Mill |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/29leaks/ |access-date=March 7, 2021 |website=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project |language=en}}

The 450 gigabytes of data came from Formations House (now The London Office), a "company mill" which registered and operated companies for clients included organized crime groups, state-owned oil companies, and fraudulent banks.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Suzanne |date=December 4, 2019 |title=The story behind the #29Leaks data dump |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2019/12/04/29-leaks-story-background/ |access-date=February 17, 2021 |website=Crikey}}{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Kevin G. |date=December 5, 2019 |title=How #29Leaks differs from Panama Papers, other leaks |url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/investigations/article238024734.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214155442/https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/investigations/article238024734.html |archive-date=December 14, 2019 |access-date=February 17, 2017 |website=McClatchy DC Bureau}}{{Cite web |last=Feidt |first=Dan |date=December 4, 2019 |title=Global Offshore Corporate Networks Exposed in Massive Data Leak |url=https://unicornriot.ninja/2019/global-offshore-corporate-networks-exposed-in-massive-data-leak/ |access-date=February 17, 2021 |website=Unicorn Riot}} The leak included emails, documents, faxes, and recordings of phone calls. Investigations revealed the firm ran a web of companies registered in Hong Kong, Cyprus, the British Virgin Islands and Pakistan,{{Cite web |title=The British company that set up firms for international criminals — Finance Uncovered |url=https://financeuncovered.org/stories/the-british-company-that-set-up-firms-for-international-criminals |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=financeuncovered.org |language=en}} helped clients avoid anti-money laundering rules{{Cite news |last=Gibbons |first=Katie |date=2023-12-24 |title=Undercover with Formations House: 'It won't be easy to take cash in . . . banks generally don't like it' |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/undercover-with-formations-house-it-wont-be-easy-to-take-cash-in-banks-generally-dont-like-it-9z3025slg |access-date=2023-12-24 |issn=0140-0460}} and had created banks in The Gambia in an attempt to create a tax haven.{{Cite news |author1=Brown, George |author2=Greenwood, Christian |author3=Eriksson, David |date=2023-12-24 |title=UK firm Formations House and corrupt dictator Yahya Jammeh |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/uk-firm-formations-house-and-corrupt-dictator-yahya-jammeh-pft20wdrx |access-date=2023-12-24 |issn=0140-0460}} According to The Times, there was no evidence that Formations House did anything illegal but their investigation highlighted worrying vulnerabilities in the UK’s defences against money laundering".{{Cite web |author-link=The Times |date=7 December 2019 |title=The Times view on Formations House: Dirty Laundry |website=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/article/the-times-view-on-formations-house-dirty-laundry-6mqjnmbwd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210705002304/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-on-formations-house-dirty-laundry-6mqjnmbwd |archive-date=5 July 2021}}

The release was compared to both the Panama Papers and the Paradise Papers. Belgian tax authorities initiated an investigation based on data from this leak and from the Cayman National Bank and Trust leak published by DDoSecrets the prior month.{{Cite web |last=Hope |first=Alan |date=December 22, 2019 |title=Tax authorities investigate new leaks incriminating Belgians |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/news-contents/economic/85298/tax-authorities-investigate-new-leaks-incriminating-belgians/ |access-date=May 23, 2021 |website=The Brussels Times |language=en}} Politicians in Sweden and the UK, including anti-corruption chief John Penrose said the leak showed the need for reforms on company creation and registration.{{Cite news |author1=Brown, George |author3=Greenwood, Christian |author2=Eriksson, David |date=2023-12-24 |title=Formations House leak shows need for reforms on creating companies, anti-corruption chief says |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/formations-house-leaks-show-need-for-reforms-on-creating-companies-says-anti-corruption-chief-3jq6lbk22 |access-date=2023-12-24 |issn=0140-0460}}

In March 2022, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the project launched the Russian asset tracker to showcase the assets of the oligarchs and other influential Russians who have links to the Russian president Vladimir Putin.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/21/russian-asset-tracker-publishing-ukraine-war-hidden-wealth-putin |title=What is the Russian asset tracker and why are we publishing it? |date=March 21, 2022 |newspaper=The Guardian}} In June 2022, the company revealed an investigation on LLCInvest.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2022/jun/20/russian-palaces-villas-and-yachts-linked-to-vladimir-putin-llcinvest |title=Russian palaces, villas and yachts linked to Putin by email leak – in pictures, maps and video |first=Daniel|last=Boffey |website=the Guardian|date=20 June 2022 }}

In February 2023, together with The Guardian and other publications, the OCCRP uncovered a vast disinformation campaign codenamed Team Jorge, organized by ex-Israeli special forces operative Tal Hanan, which is alleged to have conducted electoral meddling in more than 30 countries over the course of several years.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/15/revealed-disinformation-team-jorge-claim-meddling-elections-tal-hanan |title=Revealed: the hacking and disinformation team meddling in elections |first1=Stephanie|last1=Kirchgaessner |first2=Manisha|last2=Ganguly |first3=David|last3=Pegg |first4=Carole|last4=Cadwalladr |first5=Jason|last5=Burke |date=February 15, 2023 |newspaper=The Guardian}}

In November 2023, the OCCRP joined with more than 40 media partners including Cerosetenta / 070, Vorágine, the Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística (CLIP) and Distributed Denial of Secrets and journalists in 23 countries and territories for the largest investigative project on organized crime to originate in Latin America, producing the 'NarcoFiles' report. The investigation was based on more than seven million emails from the Colombian prosecutor’s office which had been hacked by Guacamaya, including correspondence with embassies and authorities around the world. The files dated from 2001–2022 and included audio clips, PDFs, spreadsheets, and calendars.{{Cite news |last=OCCRP |title=What Is 'NarcoFiles: The New Criminal Order'? Everything You Need To Know |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/narcofiles-the-new-criminal-order/what-is-narcofiles-the-new-criminal-order-everything-you-need-to-know |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=OCCRP |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Project |first=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting |title=NarcoFiles: The New Criminal Order |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/narcofiles-the-new-criminal-order/ |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=OCCRP |language=en}} The investigation revealed new details about the global drug trade and over 44 tons of "controlled deliveries" carried out to infiltrate the drug trade{{Cite web |title=The Highway to Europe: Inside a Global Drug Collaboration |url=https://cdn.occrp.org/projects/narcofiles-the-new-criminal-order/en/ |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=OCCRP |language=en}}{{Cite news |author1=Juanita Vélez (CLIP-OCCRP) |author2=Kevin G. Hall (OCCRP) |author3=Nathan Jaccard (OCCRP) |author4=Jacqueline Charles (Miami Herald) |title=Colombian Leak Gives Rare Glimpse Into Secretive World of 'Controlled' Drug Deliveries |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/narcofiles-the-new-criminal-order/colombian-leak-gives-rare-glimpse-into-secretive-world-of-controlled-drug-deliveries |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=OCCRP |language=en}} and how criminals corrupt politicians, bankers, accountants, lawyers, law enforcement agents, hackers, logistics experts, and journalists in order to use logistical, financial, and digital infrastructures.{{Cite news |last=Radu |first=Paul |title=The Transnational Public Enemy |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/narcofiles-the-new-criminal-order/the-transnational-public-enemy |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=OCCRP |language=en}}

{{Main|Cyprus Confidential}}

In November 2023, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Paper trail media and 69 media partners including Distributed Denial of Secrets and the OCCRP and more than 270 journalists in 55 countries and territories{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Inside Cyprus Confidential: The data-driven journalism that helped expose an island under Russian influence |publisher=ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/leaked-data-journalism-methodology/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130214812/https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/leaked-data-journalism-methodology/ |archive-date=2023-11-30 |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=About the Cyprus Confidential investigation |publisher=ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/about-cyprus-confidential-investigation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121093552/https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/about-cyprus-confidential-investigation/ |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=en-US}} produced the 'Cyprus Confidential' report on the financial network which supports the regime of Vladimir Putin, mostly with connections to Cyprus, and showed Cyprus to have strong links with high-up figures in the Kremlin, some of whom have been sanctioned.{{cite news |date=15 November 2023 |title=Cyprus Confidential: Leaked Roman Abramovich documents raise fresh questions for Chelsea FC: ICIJ-led investigation reveals how Mediterranean island ignores Russian atrocities and western sanctions to cash in on Putin's oligarchs |language=en |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/2023/11/15/cyprus-confidential-leaked-roman-abramovich-documents-raise-fresh-questions-for-chelsea-fc/ |access-date=15 November 2023}}{{cite web |date=14 November 2023 |title=Cyprus Confidential |publisher=ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/ |access-date=14 November 2023}} Government officials including Cyprus president Nikos Christodoulides{{Cite web |date=2023-11-15 |title=Cypriot president pledges government probe into Cyprus Confidential revelations |publisher=ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/cypriot-president-pledges-government-probe-into-cyprus-confidential-revelations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214203142/https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/cypriot-president-pledges-government-probe-into-cyprus-confidential-revelations/ |archive-date=2023-12-14 |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=en-US}} and European lawmakers{{Cite web |date=2023-11-23 |title=Lawmakers call for EU crackdown after ICIJ's Cyprus Confidential revelations |publisher=ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/lawmakers-call-for-eu-crackdown-after-icijs-cyprus-confidential-revelations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224114123/https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/lawmakers-call-for-eu-crackdown-after-icijs-cyprus-confidential-revelations/ |archive-date=2023-12-24 |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=en-US}} began responding to the investigation's findings in less than 24 hours, calling for reforms and launching probes.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Cyprus ignores Russian atrocities, Western sanctions to shield vast wealth of Putin allies |publisher=ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/cyprus-russia-eu-secrecy-tax-haven/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214002320/https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/cyprus-russia-eu-secrecy-tax-haven/ |archive-date=2023-12-14 |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Solutions |first=BDigital Web |title=Finance Minister perturbed over 'Cyprus Confidential' |url=https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/finance-minister-perturbed-over-cyprus-confidential |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224114126/https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/finance-minister-perturbed-over-cyprus-confidential |archive-date=2023-12-24 |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=knews.com.cy}}

According to the OCCRP, Vlast, and iStories, Uzbekistan's exports to Russia have increased significantly since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine (February 24, 2022), including cotton pulp and nitrocellulose. These components are key in the manufacture of explosives and gunpowder. At least two large Uzbek exporters worked with Russian military-industrial complex enterprises, and at least three Russian companies − Bina Group, Khimtrade and Lenakhim − sold Uzbek cotton pulp in Russia to military plants under US sanctions.{{cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/central-asian-cotton-powers-russias-sanctioned-gunpowder-plants|title=Central Asian Cotton Powers Russia's Sanctioned Gunpowder Plants}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2024/01/10/7436569/|title=White and fluffy death. How Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan help Russians produce gunpowder}}

OCCRP has investigated widespread fraud and corruption during COVID-19 relief efforts, exposing the misuse of funds, procurement scandals, and counterfeit medical supplies. Their work highlights how billions meant for healthcare and economic recovery were diverted, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in crisis management.{{Cite web |title=Crime, Corruption, and Coronavirus |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/project/crime-corruption-and-coronavirus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209041329/https://www.occrp.org/en/project/crime-corruption-and-coronavirus |archive-date=December 9, 2024 |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=OCCRP |language=en-US |url-status=live }}

OCCRP has investigate on head of Bangladesh’s capital markets regulator, Shibli Rubayat ul Islam, received payments from a bank account allegedly used in a $13-million fraud.{{Cite web |last=bdnews24.com |title=ACC prosecutes former BSEC chairman Shibli Rubaiyat over Tk 37mn bribes |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/39d726db597d#:~:text=The%20Anti-Corruption%20Commission,%20or,Tk%2037.6%20million%20in%20bribes. |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=ACC prosecutes Shibli Rubaiyat over bribery |language=en}} Based on this investigation by Zulkarnain Saer Khan, the accused Shibli has been arrested and Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh filed a case.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-05 |title=Former BSEC chairman Shibli Rubayat arrested |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/former-bsec-chairman-shibli-rubayat-arrested-3816371 |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}

Since 2012, OCCRP has highlighted extreme criminal activity through the Person of the Year Award that "recognizes the individual or institution that has done ... the most to advance organized criminal activity and corruption in the world".{{cite web|title=Venezuelan president wins OCCRP person of the year for 2016|url=https://www.occrp.org/personoftheyear/2016/|publisher=OCCRP|access-date=3 January 2017}}

List of Previous Winners{{Cite web |title=person-of-the-year |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/person-of-the-year |website=www.occrp.org}}

• 2012 – Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan – Other mentions: Naser Kelmendi, Milo Đukanović, Vladimir Putin, Miroslav Mišković, Islam Karimov, Darko Šarić{{cite web|title=OCCRP names Aliyev "Person of the Year"|url=https://www.occrp.org/index.php/en/press-box/1772-occrp-names-aliyev-qperson-of-the-year-q|publisher=OCCRP|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=January 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103165711/https://www.occrp.org/index.php/en/press-box/1772-occrp-names-aliyev-qperson-of-the-year-q|url-status=dead}}
• 2013 – Parliament of Romania – Other mentions: Darko Šarić, Gulnara Karimova{{cite web|title=OCCRP announces 2013 Organized Crime and Corruption "Person of the Year"|url=https://www.occrp.org/index.php/en/press-box/2269-occrp-announces-2013-organized-crime-and-corruption-person-of-the-year|publisher=OCCRP|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=January 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103165553/https://www.occrp.org/index.php/en/press-box/2269-occrp-announces-2013-organized-crime-and-corruption-person-of-the-year|url-status=dead}}
• 2014 – Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation – Other mentions: Viktor Orbán, Milo Đukanović{{cite web|title=OCCRP Person of the Year − Vladimir Putin|url=https://www.occrp.org/personoftheyear/2014/|publisher=OCCRP|access-date=3 January 2017}}
• 2015 – Milo Đukanović, Prime Minister of Montenegro – Other mentions: First Family of Azerbaijan, Nikola Gruevski{{cite web|title=OCCRP announces 2015 Organized Crime and Corruption 'Person of the Year' Award|url=https://www.occrp.org/personoftheyear/2015/|publisher=OCCRP|access-date=3 January 2017}}
• 2016 – Nicolás Maduro, President of Venezuela – Other mentions: Rodrigo Duterte, Bashar al-Assad, ISIL/ISIS, Raúl Castro/Luis Alberto Rodríguez, Vladimir Putin
• 2017 – Rodrigo Duterte, President of the Philippines – Other mentions: Jacob Zuma, Robert Mugabe{{cite news |title=OCCRP announces 2017 Organized Crime and Corruption 'Person of the Year' Award |url=https://www.occrp.org/personoftheyear/2017/ |work=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project}}
• 2018 – Danske Bank (as Actor of the Year, because it is a company, not a human), for the money laundering scandal{{Cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/poy/2018/|title=DANSKE BANK|author=OCCRP Staff|website=www.occrp.org|language=en|access-date=2019-01-26}} – Other mentions: Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orbán, Mohammed bin Salman, Donald Trump
• 2019 – Joseph Muscat, for the flourishing of criminality and corruption under his leadership as Prime Minister of Malta{{Cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/poy/2019/|title=Joseph Muscat|author=|website=www.occrp.org|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}} – Other mentions: Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Denis-Christel Sassou Nguesso
• 2020 – Jair Bolsonaro, President of Brazil, for "surrounding himself with corrupt figures, using propaganda to promote his populist agenda, undermining the justice system, and waging a destructive war against the Amazon region that has enriched some of the country’s worst land owners." – Other mentions: President of the United States Donald Trump, President of Turkey Recep Erdoğan, and Ihor Kolomoyskyi{{ cite web |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/poy/2020/ |title=Person of the Year · 2020 Winner: Jair Bolsonaro |website=www.occrp.org |year=2020 |access-date=30 December 2020}}
• 2021 – Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, "in recognition of all he has done to advance organized criminal activity and corruption." – Other mentions: Former President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, President of Syria Bashar al-Assad, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Former Chancellor of Austria Sebastian Kurz{{cite web |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/poy/2021/ |title=Aleksandr Lukashenko |publisher=OCCRP |year=2021 |access-date=2021-12-28}}
• 2022 – Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian oligarch and mercenary leader, "for his tireless efforts to “extend Russia's vicious and corrupt reach, to steal for Vladimir Putin, and to punish those who resist.”" – Other mentions: European Court of Justice, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega{{cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/poy/2022/|title=Person of the Year − 2022 Winner: Yevgeny Prigozhin|website=www.occrp.org|year=2023|access-date=2023-01-09}}
• 2023 – María Consuelo Porras, Attorney-General of Guatemala, for "derailing democracy, working to keep the corrupt government in power by overseeing efforts to prevent president elect Bernardo Arévalo from assuming office, and brutally persecuting honest prosecutors, journalists, and activists." – Other mentions: President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina{{cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/poy/2023/|title=Person of the Year − 2023 Winner: María Consuelo Porras|website=www.occrp.org|year=2023|access-date=2024-01-26}}
• 2024 – Bashar al-Assad, 2000–2024 President of Syria – Other mentions: President of Kenya William Ruto, former President of Indonesia Joko Widodo, President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, Gautam Adani

Drew Sullivan said that Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte "has made a mockery of rule of law in his country. While he is not your typical corrupt leader, he has empowered corruption in an innovative way. His death squads have allegedly focused on criminals but, in fact, are less discriminating. He has empowered a bully-run system of survival of the fiercest. In the end, the Philippines are more corrupt, more cruel, and less democratic."

The website of the organization provides daily updates about alleged instances of corruption and organized crime around the world.

OCCRP Aleph is an investigative data platform containing an archive of government records and open databases. OCCRP grants access to journalists and activists on a case by case basis.{{cite web |title=about |url=https://aleph.occrp.org/pages/about |website=aleph.occrp.org |access-date=19 August 2022}}

The UBO register does not allow search-by-owner-name, only company name or registration number. OCCRP received, from Le Monde, 3.3 million documents about 140,000 Luxembourg companies, scraped from the registry.{{cite web |title=OpenLux |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/openlux/ |website=OCCRP |publisher=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project |access-date=19 August 2022 |language=en}} Reporting about this are:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Le Monde (France){{Cite web|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/|title=Toute l'actualité en continu|newspaper=Le Monde}}
• IrpiMedia (Investigative reporting project Italy) (Italy){{Cite web|url=https://irpimedia.irpi.eu/|title=IrpiMedia|date=February 27, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Investigative reporting project Italy |url=https://irpi.eu/ |website=IRPI.eu |access-date=19 August 2022}}
• IStories.media (Russia){{Cite web |url=https://istories.media/ |title=Важные истории |website=istories.media}}
• {{Ill|Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism|de}} (Middle East){{Cite web |url=https://en.arij.net/ |title=Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) |website=en.arij.net}}
• KRIK.rs (Serbia){{Cite web |url=https://www.krik.rs/en/ |title=Home |website=KRIK}}
• Bivol.bg (Bulgaria){{Cite web |url=https://bivol.bg/en/ |title=Bivol.bg |website=Bivol.bg|date=30 March 2023 }}
• {{ill|Investigace.cz|cs}} (Czech Republic){{Cite web |url=https://www.investigace.cz/ |title=České centrum pro investigativní žurnalistiku |website=investigace.cz}}
• Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany){{Cite web |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/ |title=Aktuelle Nachrichten, Hintergründe und Kommentare |website=Süddeutsche.de GmbH, Munich, Germany}}
• Le Soir (Belgium){{Cite web |url=https://www.lesoir.be/ |title=La Une |website=Le Soir}}
• Woxx (Luxembourg){{Cite web |url=https://www.woxx.lu/ |title=woxx – déi aner Wochenzeitung |website=www.woxx.lu}}
• McClatchy/Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald (U.S.){{cite news |title=Miami Herald |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/ |website=www.miamiherald.com |access-date=19 August 2022}}
• Revista Piauí (Brazil){{Cite web |url=https://piaui.folha.uol.com.br/ |title=pra quem tem um parafuso a mais |website=revista piauí}}
• Tempo (Indonesia){{Cite web |url=https://www.tempo.co/ |title=Berita Terkini, Berita Hari Ini Indonesia dan Dunia |website=TEMPO.co}}
• Armando.Info (Venezuela){{Cite web |url=https://armando.info/ |title=Armando.info |website=armando.info |date=December 8, 2020}}
• La Nacion (Argentina){{Cite web |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/ |title=Últimas noticias de Argentina y el mundo |website=LA NACION}}
• Inkyfada.com (Tunisia){{Cite web |url=https://inkyfada.com/fr/ |title=inkyfada.com, média indépendant basé à Tunis |website=inkyfada.com}}
• {{Ill|Infolibre.es|es|Infolibre}} (Spain){{Cite web |url=https://www.infolibre.es/ |title=infoLibre – Información libre e independiente |website=infolibre.es}}

{{div col end}}

The Global Anti-Corruption Consortium (GACC) is a partnership that brings together investigative reporting from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and advocacy driven by Transparency International (TI). TI uses evidence from OCCRP’s corruption investigations to inform and strengthen policy and legal advocacy.{{cite web |title=Global Anti-Corruption Consortium |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/global-anti-corruption-consortium |website=Transparency International |access-date=5 December 2024}} For example, OCCRP’s 2017 Azerbaijani Laundromat investigation revealed a US$2.9 billion money-laundering operation and slush fund run by Azerbaijan’s ruling elite. Run through four shell companies registered in the UK, with billions passing through Danske Bank – Denmark’s biggest bank – the laundered money was used to influence European politicians and representatives of international organizations, including delegates to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) — Europe’s most significant human rights body.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

TI rallied public pressure, presented European and national policymakers with evidence of reputation laundering and advocated for an independent investigation into allegations of corruption at the PACE. Resignations at the highest levels of the PACE followed almost immediately. A year later, PACE's independent external investigation found numerous breaches of codes of conduct and, in some cases, corrupt activities.{{Cite web |title=Global Anti-Corruption Consortium − Projects |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/global-anti-corruption-consortium |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=Transparency.org |language=en}}

OCCRP's stated mission to spread and strengthen investigative journalism around the world and expose crime and corruption so the public can hold power to account.{{Cite web |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/about-us |title=About Us |website=www.occrp.org |access-date=2016-11-25}} Its stated mission is a more informed world where lives, livelihoods, and democracies are not threatened by crime and corruption.

The organization provides training to reporters and partners.

OCCRP has claimed the following totals as a result of its investigations since they began recording impact in 2009:{{cite web |url=http://www.occrp.org/en/impact-to-date |title=Impact to Date |website=OCCRP |date=February 3, 2025}}

• >US$10 billion in fines levied and assets seized by government agencies
• 820 government actions
• 736 arrests, warrants, or sentences
• 430 official investigations
• 261 civic actions
• 145 corporate actions
• 135 resignations or sackings of key figures, including a President, Prime Minister and CEOs of major international corporations

Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) is a registered name of the Journalism Development Network (JDN), a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) organization.{{Cite web |title=The Journalism Development Network |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/jdn|access-date=2022-02-22 |website=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) |language=en}} OCCRP is governed by a board of directors: Marina Gorbis, David Boardman, Anders Alexanderson, Sue Gardner, Sanita Jemberga, Tifani Roberts, Drew Sullivan and Paul Radu.{{Cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/aboutus/board-of-directors |access-date=2022-02-22 |website=www.occrp.org |language=en}}

OCCRP include the Center for Investigative Reporting (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (CIN) in Sarajevo, the RISE Project in Bucharest, the Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo − Serbia (CINS){{Cite web |url=https://www.cins.org.rs/ |title=Prvi kada je u pitanju znanje |website=www.cins.org.rs}} in Belgrade, Investigative Journalists of Armenia (HETQ){{cite web|url=http://www.hetq.am|title=Новости, статьи и расследования|website=Hetq.am|date=15 April 2016}} in Yerevan, the Bulgarian Investigative Journalism Center{{Cite web |url=http://www.bijc.eu/en/index.php |title=Bulgarian Ivestigative Journalism Center :: Home |access-date=2010-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404181209/http://www.bijc.eu/en/index.php |archive-date=2011-04-04 |url-status=dead}} in Sofia, {{Interlanguage link|Átlátszó.hu|hu}}{{Cite web|url=https://atlatszo.hu/|title=Tényfeltárás, oknyomozás, adatújságírás |website=atlatszo.hu|date=May 26, 2018}} in Budapest, MANS{{Cite web|url=http://www.mans.co.me/|title=MANS — Mreža za afirmaciju nevladinog sektora|website=www.mans.co.me}} in Montenegro, Re:Baltica{{cite web|url=http://www.rebaltica.lv/en/|title=Re:Baltica|publisher=Re:Baltica}} in Riga, SCOOP-Macedonia{{Cite web|url=http://scoop.mk/|title=СКУП|website=scoop.mk|access-date=November 20, 2019}} in Skopje, Bivol.bg{{Cite web|url=https://bivol.bg/|title=Bivol.bg|website=bivol.bg|access-date=November 20, 2019}} in Bulgaria, {{Ill|Slidstvo.info|uk|Слідство.Інфо}}{{cite web|url=http://slidstvo.info/|title=Головна|work=Слідство.Інфо − Агенція журналістських розслідувань}} in Ukraine, The Czech Center for Investigative Reporting{{Cite web|url=https://www.investigace.cz/|title=České centrum pro investigativní žurnalistiku|website=www.investigace.cz}} in Prague and RISE Moldova in Chișinău, the Belarusian Investigative Center in exile in Poland among others. It is also partnered with Novaya Gazeta in Moscow and the Kyiv Post in Kyiv. New member centers were added to the OCCRP Network between 2015 and 2016, including the Investigative Reporting Project Italy (IRPI), Direkt36 in Hungary, Slidstvo.info in Ukraine, and DOSSIER in Austria.{{Cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/members|title=OCCRP Network Members|website=www.occrp.org|access-date=2016-11-25}}

OCCRP is supported by numerous donors. The donors are listed on the OCCRP website, OCCRP's annual reports, and in their non-profit tax reports. The donors include the Dutch Postcode Lottery, Ford Foundation, Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, National Endowment for Democracy, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), the United States Department of State, the Swiss Confederation, Google Ideas, Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the Knight Foundation.{{Cite news |date=2024 |title=Supporters |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/about-us/who-supports-our-work |work=OCCRP}}

In 2024, it was reported that OCCRP receives nearly half its funding from USAID.{{Cite web |author1=Stefan Candea |author2=Yann Philippin |date=2024-12-02 |title=The hidden links between a giant of investigative journalism and the US government |url=https://www.mediapart.fr/en/journal/international/021224/hidden-links-between-giant-investigative-journalism-and-us-government |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Mediapart |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Grim |first=Ryan |title=A Giant of Journalism Gets Half its Budget From the U.S. Government |url=https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/occrp-budget-funding-us-government-usaid |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=www.dropsitenews.com |language=en}} OCCRP issued a statement in response to the report.{{Cite web |title=Report on OCCRP Distorts Facts |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/announcement/report-on-occrp-distorts-facts |website=OCCRP.org}}

OCCRP won the 2015 European Press Prize Special Award for its work, with the judges saying "the OCCRP is a memorably motivated, determined force for good everywhere it operates. Its members do not get rich, but the societies they serve are richer and cleaner for the scrutiny only true, independent journalism can provide."{{Cite news|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/european-press-prize-2015-winners-announcement-499549241.html|title=European Press Prize 2015 Winners Announcement|publisher=PR Newswire|date=2016-04-15}}

It won the 2015 Investigative Reporters and Editors Tom Renner award for "The Khadija Project," an initiative to continue the work of imprisoned OCCRP/RFE reporter Khadija Ismayilova.{{Cite news|url=http://ire.org/awards/ire-awards/winners/2015-ire-award-winners/#.Vx0TZTB94hc|title=2015 IRE Award winners|publisher=IRE|date=2016-04-16|archive-date=October 30, 2019|access-date=April 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030222250/https://ire.org/awards/ire-awards/winners/2015-ire-award-winners/#.Vx0TZTB94hc|url-status=dead}} It has been a finalist for three years running for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists' Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding International Investigative Reporting. It was a 2010 finalist for its project on the illegal document trade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reportingproject.net/occrp/index.php/press-box/640-occrp-finalist-for-pearl-award|title=OCCRP Finalist for Pearl Award|website=www.reportingproject.net|date=2010-03-18|access-date=September 4, 2012|archive-date=March 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313190921/http://www.reportingproject.net/occrp/index.php/press-box/640-occrp-finalist-for-pearl-award|url-status=dead}} It won the 2011 Daniel Pearl Award for its project{{Cite web|url=http://hetq.am/eng/news/5491/|title=OCCRP Wins Daniel Pearl Global Investigative Journalism Award|website=hetq.am|date=2011-10-18|access-date=2011-11-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018033544/http://hetq.am/eng/news/5491/|archive-date=2017-10-18|url-status=dead}} "Offshore Crime, Inc.",{{Cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/offshore-crime/|title=Offshore Crime, Inc|website=www.occrp.org}} a series of stories documenting offshore tax havens, the criminals who use them and millions of dollars in lost tax money. It was again a finalist in 2013 for its story about an international money laundering ring called the Proxy Platform.{{cite web|title=stories on crime, corruption and public health are Daniel Pearl Awards finalists|url=http://www.icij.org/blog/2013/09/powerful-cross-border-stories-crime-corruption-and-public-health-are-daniel-pearl|publisher=ICIJ|access-date=Sep 12, 2013|date=2013-09-12}} It won the Global Shining Light Award in 2008 for investigative reporting under duress for its series on energy traders.{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmcumeds/memo/press/ucps1202.htm|publisher=Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom|title=Memorandum submitted by Drew Sullivan|date=January 2009}} OCCRP was double finalist for the same award in 2013 for its stories on the first family of Montenegro's bank, "First Family, First Bank".{{Cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/first-bank-first-family/|title=First Bank − First Family|first=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting|last=Project|website=OCCRP}} It won the award{{cite web|url=http://gijc2013.org/2013/10/15/global-shining-light-award-winners-announced/|title=Global Shining Light Award Winners Announced|author=GIJN Staff|date=15 October 2013|work=Global Investigative Journalism Conference 2013}} for its stories on the first family of Azerbaijan's ownership of major companies in that country. It partnered with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists for a project on tobacco smuggling

{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/business/global/19montenegro.html?pagewanted=2

|title=Montenegro Reaches for Respectability With Port

|newspaper=New York Times

|date=2010-08-18

}} that won the Overseas Press Club Award and Investigative Reporters and Editors's Tom Renner Award for crime reporting.{{Cite web

|url=http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=4884

|publisher=American Journalism Review

|title=Playing Defense

|date=June 2010

|access-date=2010-12-10

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722050814/http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=4884

|archive-date=2013-07-22

|url-status=dead

}}{{Cite web

|url=https://www.reportingproject.net/occrp/index.php/projects/tobacco-project/1-latest-projects/245-icij-wins-tom-renner-award

|title=ICIJ Wins Tom Renner Award

|publisher=OCCRP

|date=2009-04-02

|access-date=September 4, 2012

|archive-date=October 11, 2014

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011154444/https://www.reportingproject.net/occrp/index.php/projects/tobacco-project/1-latest-projects/245-icij-wins-tom-renner-award

|url-status=dead

}}

OCCRP and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty{{cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org|title=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty|work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty}} journalist Khadija Ismayilova, based in Baku, Azerbaijan was blackmailed by an unknown party with video captured in her bedroom using a camera installed in the wall. The camera was planted two days after OCCRP/RFERL published a story by Ismayilova about the presidential family in Azerbaijan and how it secretly owned Azerfon, a mobile phone company with a monopoly 3G license.{{cite news|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/azerbaijan_president_aliyev_daughters_tied_to_telecoms_firm/24248340.html|title=Azerbaijani President's Daughters Tied To Fast-Rising Telecoms Firm|work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|date=28 June 2011 |last1=Ismayilova |first1=Khadija}} A note threatened to show the videos if Ismayilova did not "behave". She went public about the threats and the videos were shown on at least two websites. Ismayilova said that "the evidence shows that the government agencies were involved in the crime and prosecutor’s office fails to act as an independent investigative body".{{Cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/28-ccwatch/cc-watch-indepth/1474-azerbaijan-fails-to-investigate-harassment-of-occrp-reporter|title=Azerbaijan Fails to Investigate Harassment of OCCRP Reporter|website=www.occrp.org}}

After this incident, Ismayilova published articles stating that the first family also owned shares in six major goldfields{{cite web|url=https://www.reportingproject.net/occrp/index.php/en/ccwatch/cc-watch-indepth/1495-azerbaijans-president-awarded-family-stake-in-gold-fields|title=Azerbaijan's President Awarded Family Stake in Gold Fields|last=OCCRP|access-date=September 4, 2012|archive-date=January 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102120019/https://www.reportingproject.net/occrp/index.php/en/ccwatch/cc-watch-indepth/1495-azerbaijans-president-awarded-family-stake-in-gold-fields|url-status=dead}}{{primary source inline|date=June 2023}} and they owned one of the construction companies that built the new showcase Crystal Hall{{cite web|url=https://www.reportingproject.net/occrp/index.php/en/ccwatch/cc-watch-indepth/1499-presidents-family-benefits-from-eurovision-hall|title=President's Family Benefits from Eurovision Hall|last=OCCRP|access-date=September 4, 2012|archive-date=January 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102121901/https://www.reportingproject.net/occrp/index.php/en/ccwatch/cc-watch-indepth/1499-presidents-family-benefits-from-eurovision-hall|url-status=dead}}{{primary source inline|date=June 2023}} auditorium in Baku, the site of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. In September 2015, Ismayilova was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty wrote that the charges were "widely viewed as being trumped up in retaliation for her reports linking family members of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to massive business and real estate holdings". Amal Clooney offered to act as her lawyer.{{cite news |title=Clooney Offers To Take On Ismayilova Case |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-khadija-amal-clooney/27497079.html |website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |date=19 January 2016 |access-date=19 August 2022 |language=en}}

OCCRP started the Khadija Project, an investigative reporting effort to continue Ismayilova's work.{{Cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/corruptistan/azerbaijan/khadijaismayilova/|title=The Khadija Project − Corruptistan|first=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting|last=Project|website=OCCRP|access-date=May 28, 2016|archive-date=March 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308161241/https://www.occrp.org/en/corruptistan/azerbaijan/khadijaismayilova/|url-status=dead}}

From 2016 to the present (2021), OCCRP's website has been permanently blocked in Azerbaijan by the Aliev government, without any court decision.{{Cite news|title=OCCRP blocked in Azerbaijan|language=en|work=Meydan.TV|url=https://www.meydan.tv/en/article/occrp-blocked-in-azerbaijan/|access-date=2021-07-08}}

In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Azerbaijan government failed to properly investigate a 2012 "sex video" and the subsequent threats of its public disclosure.{{cite web |title=Finally a sliver of justice for brave journalist Khadija Ismayilova |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/01/azerbaijan-european-court-ruling-provides-some-justice-for-journalist-who-faced-sex-tape-ordeal/ |website=Amnesty International |access-date=19 August 2022 |language=en |date=10 January 2019}}{{cite web |title=Khadija Ismayilova v. Azerbaijan |url=https://merlin.obs.coe.int/article/8492 |website=European Court of Human Rights |access-date=19 August 2022}}

• Center for Public Integrity (United States)
• Distributed Denial of Secrets
• European Investigative Collaborations
• International Consortium of Investigative Journalists

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• {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer|260898750}}

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