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CORRUPTION NEWS

The day Russian money didn’t freeze – despite international sanctions

By Ilya ShumanovFirst published on The Wilson Center Russia’s recognising the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic, followed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, became a formal pretext for the collective West to impose restrictions on Russia in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The negative consequences of such a scenario had been discussed Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Passports for sale: the risks of golden visa programmes

By Natalie Ritchie    First published on the Global Anticorruption Blog In 1984, the government of the small Caribbean island state of Saint Kitts and Nevis had a bright idea for attracting foreign capital: the country would grant permanent resident status to any foreign national who invested a sufficient amount in the country. The idea caught Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Poor ‘golden visa’ due diligence a gift to the corrupt

By Daniel GayneFirst published on Global Witness Yesterday, 11 March, was Commonwealth Day, and this year’s theme was A Connected Commonwealth. How appropriate – it is after all, the Commonwealth’s incredible connectedness that has made its members such successful players in the fast-expanding US$3-billion ‘Golden Visa’ market. Golden visas – or citizenship-by-investment programmes for those Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

EU golden visa programme a risky business

From time to time in the South African media, articles appear that talk about the various so-called golden visa programmes offered by several EU countries. This is essentially EU residency or citizenship and a passport in return for money – lots of it. A substantial investment in the country of choice will secure these benefits, Read more >