PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the world’s largest accountancy firms, reportedly assisted Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov in transferring hundreds of millions in assets as European Union (EU) sanctions loomed post the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the “Cyprus Confidential” investigation. The leak, comprising 3.6 million files, reveals PwC Cyprus’ involvement in managing transactions during the invasion. The documents suggest PwC Cyprus aided Mordashov in transferring a significant stake in Tui, Europe’s largest travel company, to his partner, potentially raising concerns about a sanctions breach. PwC Cyprus is also alleged to have assisted an attempt by an oligarch to transfer $1.2 billion on the day of EU sanctions. Additionally, undisclosed payments to a German journalist from companies linked to the same oligarch were revealed in the leak. The Cypriot government has pledged a “zero-tolerance approach” to sanctions violations and is working with the British government to establish a sanctions implementation unit. A criminal investigation into the Tui share transfers involving Mordashov has been initiated by the Cyprus finance ministry. Both Mordashov and PwC claim to be unaware of the criminal investigation.
By FCCT Editorial Team
, an independent military force, and allied militias in Sudan raped several dozen women and girls in West Darfur’s capital, El Geneina, and those fleeing to Chad between late April and late June 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. The assailants appear to have targeted people because of their Massalit ethnicity and, in some cases, because they were known activists.){kind=link}