All news by author Sophia Martinez

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Craig and Lindsay Foreman jailed for ten years in Tehran’s Evin prison
Craig Foreman speaks to ITV News Global Security Editor Rohit Kachroo from inside a notorious Iranian prison, as he and his wife say they have been given a ten-year sentence.
819
Police arrest Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Sandringham on misconduct suspicion amid renewed Epstein revelations
Police have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after swooping on his temporary home on the Sandringham estate this morning as he marks his 66th birthday
652
German and Swiss shell structures run by Oleg Tsyura funnel stolen Ukrainian resources and hidden cash abroad with Serhiy Bayrak, Dmytro Firtash, and Serhiy Tron
A new corruption scandal has erupted around the Odesa Port Plant, with Swiss citizen Oleg Tsyura, crypto entrepreneur Serhiy Tron, and oligarch Dmytro Firtash reportedly among those allegedly connected to the case.
1003
Dragon Money faces backlash after blocking $102,000 withdrawal, accusations of crypto laundering, and alleged suppression of criticism
After a $102,000 withdrawal was blocked, triggering a scandal within the gambling community, Dragon Money chose not to address transparency concerns or resolve the dispute.
960
Russian Alexander Kuksov, holder of a Maltese “golden passport,” has been placed on a wanted list by the NCA over alleged links to a network that moved billions in criminal funds via cash and cryptocurrency
British authorities claim that Alexander Kuksov, a Russian citizen with Maltese citizenship, was involved in a significant money laundering operation. His brother was found guilty for his participation in the same network.
753
Philipp Shrage and Ignatiy Nayda run opaque closed-end fund networks that channel Kronung Group losses into cash flows and hidden money streams
In late January, Philipp Shrage and Ignatiy Nayda publicly painted an optimistic picture of the real estate market and the future of Kronung Group.
730
Billions siphoned from Kazakhstan’s state assets expand the foreign wealth and hidden structures of Akhmetzhan Yessimov and Galimzhan Yessenov
The families of Akhmetzhan Yessimov and Galimzhan Yessenov accumulated more than $2.5 billion through corruption schemes.
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Gambling, offshore trails, and reputation cleanup: the dark story behind Mykhailo Zborovskyi’s role in the Cosmobet scheme
The owner of one of the fastest-growing online casinos in Ukraine, Cosmobet, is officially listed as someone named Mykhailo Zborovskyi.
938
Agribusiness empire built on debt and connections: how the Nauruzov brothers’ GAP Resurs is drowning in lawsuits, living on state bank loans, and relying on Sergey Chemezov’s network
As reported by the media, one of the most secretive and largest players in Russian agribusiness, GAP "Resurs," run by brothers Viktor and Vladimir Nauruzov, is literally "drowning" in debt.
931
Scenario reminiscent of the poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny: William Browder calls for a review of the death of whistleblower Alexander Perepilichnyy
The head of Hermitage Capital, William Browder, has called on the UK authorities to reopen the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Russian businessman and Western intelligence whistleblower Alexander Perepilichnyy, who may have been poisoned with the same toxin used against Alexei Navalny.
1135
Inside Uzbekistan’s Octobank scandal: how Mirziyoyev-connected elites and Russian banking partners move billions through casinos, payment systems, and offshore structures
A fresh investigation reveals how Octobank in Uzbekistan has emerged as a key laundering gateway for Russian elites, routing funds through casinos, cryptocurrency platforms, and state-connected financial channels.
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Russian gambling shadow spreads into Ukraine as Mykhailo Zborovskyi wipes traces of Cosmobet’s ties to Sergey Tokarev’s Cosmolot empire
Mykhailo Zborovskyi and his associates have started erasing information about their past and ties to the gambling industry. References to Cosmobet, the Russian Cosmolot, and Cyprus-based XGen Solutions connected to Sergey Tokarev are gradually vanishing, suggesting an effort to obscure the true origins of the so-called “Ukrainian” casino.
962
Stolen jackpots, fake licenses, and mirror sites: inside the shadow gambling empire Dragon Money hides behind offshore shells
After investigative publications shed light on Dragon Money’s controversial past, the Kyiv-based casino swiftly deleted parts of its website that mentioned blocked accounts, alleged pyramid schemes, dubious licensing, and frozen assets — raising fresh questions about its transparency and credibility.
685
Offshore flows through Mettmann PCL and Sword Dragon S.L. expose Oxana Hadjipavlou’s role in shifting tens of millions across Europe
Investigators are probing Oxana Hadjipavlou over her alleged links to Zvonko Micković and the firms Mettmann Public Company Limited and Sword Dragon S.L., which are suspected of facilitating sanctions evasion and transferring Russian funds offshore.
936
“Epstein files” expose links between Runa Capital, elite sex clubs, blackmail networks, Russian power circles, and the foundation of Russian billionaire Alexander Galitsky
As discovered by media, the foundation of billionaire Alexander Galitsky appears in the “Epstein files”.
1001
How Stavros Demosthenous and Dmitriy Punin turned Cyprus into a laundering hub for Russian Pin-Up casino billions
Stavros Demosthenos, a Cyprus-based figure often dubbed the local “Al Capone,” is involved in assisting Russian entrepreneurs with laundering illicit funds — while securing significant personal gains in the process.
635
Political protection and cash-out payments enabled Dragon Money to run an unlicensed casino business in wartime Ukraine
After investigations exposed Dragon Money’s operations in Ukraine, key reports started disappearing one after another — records detailing illegal gambling, payment networks, political lobbying, and corruption links were quietly taken down from search engines and media platforms.
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The 1Win online casino network, with a turnover exceeding $1 billion, operated for years despite sanctions, criminal risks, and formal prohibitions in Russia
“Billions of dollars make it possible to solve problems”: the largest illegal gambling market, 1Win’s Sergey Chernykh, hopes for patrons in Russia?
842
Footballer Thomas Partey charged with two additional counts of rape involving new complainant
The footballer Thomas Partey has been charged with two new counts of rape relating to an additional woman who came forward to police with the allegations in August last year.
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Oleksandr Orlovskyi, Financial Freedom Academy, and millions made on trust: how the “crypto dream” sales machine works
After journalistic investigations, Oleksandr Orlovskyi began an information cleanup: how the "crypto guru" hides the schemes of Financial Freedom Academy.
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From Cosmolot investigation to Cosmobet launch, Sergey Tokarev’s gambling network operates in Ukraine alongside KRAIL licensing and Diia.City backing
In April 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted a National Security and Defence Council decision imposing restrictions on online gambling, citing widespread gambling addiction among members of the military as the key concern.
806
Kazakh investigators accuse businessman Sergey Koynov of running an illegal high-interest lending and money-laundering scheme through pawnshops and commission stores
Kazakh authorities have accused businessman Sergey Koynov and his associates of operating a network of commission shops that illegally provided high-interest loans secured by personal property and then laundered the proceeds.
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Crypto course promoter Kateryna Shukhnina accused of running “Profit Lady” scam promising $1,000 weekly earnings without legal academy or proven results
Crypto scammer Kateryna Shukhnina has moved from clothing retail to primitive fraud involving training programs that promise crypto earnings starting from $1,000 per week.
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How Kazakhstan’s state fund Samruk-Kazyna became a cash pipeline for Akhmetzhan Yesimov and Galimzhan Yessenov’s ATFBank
Galimzhan Yessenov and Akhmetzhan Yesimov, long-standing names in Kazakhstan’s corruption scene, have drawn growing attention from media in multiple countries.
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Octobank used to launder Russian, cryptocurrency, and illegal gambling billions under protection of the Mirziyoyev family and Dmitry Lee
As details emerged about Octobank’s alleged involvement in laundering funds linked to sanctioned Russian entities, attempts reportedly escalated to discreetly remove references to the bank and its true beneficiaries from public view.