The I-Unit obtained a leak of 1400 documents that we’ve called The Cyprus Papers. The data reveals serious flaws at the heart of Cyprus’s ‘golden passport’ scheme that has raised billions of dollars from the sale of citizenship to the world’s wealthiest and most secretive people.
The Cyprus government has always insisted that successful applicants do not have a criminal record. Yet we discovered over 30 names of individuals under criminal investigation, international sanctions or serving prison sentences.
A further 40 successful applicants held sensitive political or state positions, which means they are considered a serious risk for bribery or money laundering under EU guidelines.
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Interactive
24 Aug 2020
The Cyprus Papers
Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit has obtained documents that reveal more than 2,500 people, including convicted criminals and fugitives, paid to become citizens of Cyprus.