Cyprus Confidential

A new investigation by ICIJ and 68 media partners exposes the sprawling financial industry that has powered the Putin regime as it dominates its neighbors — and undermines the West.

👁 Image

In this investigation

👁 Wide shot overlooking azure coastline and marina full of yachts.

partner stories

An oligarch’s chef-turned-personal assistant, a Moroccan casino mystery, and more Cyprus Confidential stories from ICIJ’s partners

More than 270 journalists around the world collaborated on ICIJ’s latest investigation — here’s some of what they found in a trove of millions of leaked documents.

By Carmen Molina Acosta | December 6, 2023

👁 Image

IMPACT

FBI called in to help Cyprus investigate Russian sanctions dodging

The U.S. has deployed a team of experts to aid Cypriot authorities' response to ICIJ's Cyprus Confidential investigation, which exposed a rogue financial system serving the Russian elite.

By Spencer Woodman | December 4, 2023

👁 Image

Auditors

A US billionaire took over a tropical island pension fund — then hundreds of millions of dollars allegedly went missing

With help from PwC Cyprus, Hushang Ansary set up shell companies and oversaw a series of transactions that authorities say drained a Curacao fund holding pensions for 30,000 people.

By Spencer Woodman | November 20, 2023

Latest from Cyprus Confidential

👁 Image

IMPACT

Chelsea FC fined millions over secret payments under Abramovich ownership

Mar 17, 2026

👁 Image

CYPRUS CONFIDENTIAL

Greek court convicts Intellexa founder Tal Dilian, three others in wiretapping scandal

Feb 26, 2026

👁 Two people draped in Russian flags stand in the foreground looking out at the top of a nuclear submarine in the water beyond.

CYPRUS CONFIDENTIAL

Russia secretly acquired Western technology to protect its nuclear submarine fleet

Oct 23, 2025

👁 A photo of Sara Hamou and a photo of Tal Dilian,

SANCTIONS

‘Predator’ spyware firm Intellexa resurgent after US sanctions

Aug 12, 2025

👁 European and Cypriot flags stand in European Council HQ ahead of a meeting in March 2025 in Brussels.

IMPACT

Cyprus greenlights sanctions unit following ICIJ investigation into financial services sector

Jul 14, 2025

👁 Photo of Roman Abramovich's superyacht Eclipse moored off the French coast in 2011, with beachgoers in the foreground.

CYPRUS CONFIDENTIAL

Cyprus unable to claw back $15M in unpaid taxes from oligarch’s superyacht charter company

Jun 10, 2025

👁 Image

SANCTIONS

Cyprus misses EU deadline as long-awaited sanctions unit stalls

May 22, 2025

👁 Image

TAX HAVENS

UK MPs push for probe into Russian billionaire’s possible $1B tax dodge

Feb 05, 2025

👁 Image

TAX HAVENS

With sharp rise in incorporations, Wyoming cements reputation as US secrecy haven

Dec 03, 2024

👁 Image

Big Four

Deloitte held close ties to a now-sanctioned Cyprus firm accused of shielding oligarchs’ wealth, records reveal

Nov 14, 2024

👁 Image

IMPACT

Critics question the depth of Cyprus’ much-touted reforms to its secretive financial industry

Nov 13, 2024

👁 Grey-haired man in blue shirt standing in front of a swimming pool

SANCTIONS

Notorious ‘Predator’ spyware firm Intellexa hit with new US sanctions

Sep 18, 2024

👁 Image

IMPACT

Associate of oligarch Petr Aven forfeits $1M at heart of UK sanctions evasion case

Aug 01, 2024

👁 Photo of a torn Russian flag

Digital journalism

Why are Russian disinformation campaigns citing ICIJ?

Jul 24, 2024

👁 Image

IMPACT

Lithuania takes step toward reforms to strip citizenship after Cyprus Confidential revelations

Jun 14, 2024

👁 Cyprus President at a lectern on the floor of European Parliament.

IMPACT

Cyprus and US to form partnership to combat financial crime

Mar 29, 2024

👁 Grey-haired man in blue shirt standing in front of a swimming pool

IMPACT

Spyware firm Intellexa hit with US sanctions after Cyprus Confidential exposé

Mar 06, 2024

👁 Image

IMPACT

Cyprus to launch new unit targeting sanctions evaders

Feb 14, 2024

👁 European Parliament and EU flag

IMPACT

Sudanese businessman accused of managing Hamas’ investment portfolio sanctioned by EU

Jan 22, 2024

👁 Image

IMPACT

US offers $10 million reward for information on five accused Hamas financiers

Jan 05, 2024

👁 Image

IMPACT

How the world responded to ICIJ’s investigations in 2023

Jan 05, 2024

👁 Composite image showing Hamza's face from a wanted poster and document clippings from Cyprus Confidential.

SANCTIONS

Alleged Hamas financier holds stake in Cyprus company that mines Egyptian gold, leaked files reveal

Dec 20, 2023

👁 Image

PARTNER STORIES

Leaked documents expose payments linked to a murdered Croatian journalist, ICIJ partners report

Dec 14, 2023

👁 Image

Real estate

A Ukrainian billionaire’s ties to a $122 million London penthouse raise questions about the UK’s foreign ownership crackdown

Dec 11, 2023

👁 Image

Cyprus

Lithuania seeks new powers to strip citizenship after Roman Abramovich’s children exposed as Lithuanian passport holders

Dec 08, 2023

👁 Image

IMPACT

Cypriot authorities face scrutiny over probe into Russian billionaire’s moves to dodge sanctions

Nov 28, 2023

👁 Image

IMPACT

Lawmakers call for EU crackdown after ICIJ’s Cyprus Confidential revelations

Nov 23, 2023

👁 Cyprus President at a lectern on the floor of European Parliament.

IMPACT

Cypriot president pledges government probe into Cyprus Confidential revelations

Nov 15, 2023

👁 Image

FAQS

Frequently asked questions about the Cyprus Confidential investigation

Nov 15, 2023

👁 Image

Cyprus

Cyprus firm helped a Putin ally move $5 million the day he was sanctioned

Nov 15, 2023

👁 An apartment building sinking into a pile of cash

REAL ESTATE

Oligarchs’ fixer made fortune from New York apartment building

Nov 15, 2023

👁 Image

SYRIA

A pariah regime used a Cyprus middleman in bid to evade oil-industry sanctions

Nov 15, 2023

👁 Image

SPYWARE

The spy, the lawyer and their global surveillance empire

Nov 15, 2023

👁 Roman Abramovich holding one hand high to wave, against a blue UEFA Champions League backdrop.

CYPRUS CONFIDENTIAL

Chelsea FC, once owned by Roman Abramovich, could face punishment over secret payments, experts warn

Nov 15, 2023

👁 Image

PRESIDENT'S WALLET

German journalist dubbed the ‘Putin connoisseur’ had secret book deal with Russian oligarch

Nov 14, 2023

👁 Image

OVERVIEW

Cyprus ignores Russian atrocities, Western sanctions to shield vast wealth of Putin allies

Nov 14, 2023

👁 Photo illustration of a tank with Russian flag against a background of document and currency cut-outs

SANCTIONS

As sanctions loomed, accounting giant PwC scrambled to keep powerful Russians a step ahead

Nov 14, 2023

👁 Image

Oligarchs’ Oasis

Confidential Clients

Nov 14, 2023

👁 Image

VIDEO

WATCH: Cyprus Confidential reveals island’s role in shielding Russian wealth

Nov 14, 2023

👁 Image

CYPRUS CONFIDENTIAL

About the Cyprus Confidential investigation

Nov 14, 2023

Read all stories from Cyprus Confidential

GIVE TO HELP US INVESTIGATE!

Help us fight corruption, injustice and inequality with just $25/month.

Donate

Want to know when we publish?

Help us change the world. Get our stories by email.

👁 Illustration for the Damascus Dossier investigation showing a desk scattered with documents and bullets.

Shadow Diplomats

VIDEO

👁 Image

Apr 02, 2026

WATCH: The Panama Papers — ten years of impact

BEHIND THE SCENES

👁 Photo of Panama City's skyline at dusk, with cars headlights illuminating a road in front of tall buildings.

Apr 02, 2026

Behind the veil of secrecy: Ten years of the Panama Papers, part 2

IMPACT

👁 Photo of protesters holding signs behind a police line, including one sign that reads 'What happens in Panama doesn't stay in Panama'

Apr 02, 2026

Ten years after the Panama Papers, enablers and tax cheats are still being brought to justice

BEHIND THE SCENES

👁 Image

Mar 31, 2026

URL: https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/