Melars Group Limited: A Maltese Company with a Russian Twist?

Cyprus and Malta: The Weakest Links Once Again Exploited to Infiltrate European Financial and Trade Systems? Melars Group Limited (‘Melars’), a Malta-registered entity established in 2015, appears at first glance as a modest player in the international transport sector. However, a closer investigation into its ownership structure, legal disputes, and affiliations reveals a labyrinth of […]

Dubious Connections of Integral Petroleum S.A.: Scandals, Risks, and Counterparties

Convicted fraudster, Murat Seitnepesov, the head of Integral Petroleum S.A., has built a complex network of companies spanning Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. However, despite the appearance of a successful business, the operations of Integral Petroleum are marred by numerous legal issues, questionable connections, and collaborations with enterprises involved in lawsuits and international […]

Agrokor’s Legacy: How Ivica Todorić Became Croatia’s Most Controversial Businessman

Ivica Todorić’s Legal Battles and Political Comeback Ivica Todorić, the founder of the Agrokor Group, faced significant legal challenges following the company’s collapse in 2017. In October 2017, an international arrest warrant was issued for him, leading to his extradition from the UK in late October 2018. He was briefly imprisoned before being released on […]

Behind the Curtain: How Nicolae Buzaianu’s Network Evades Scrutiny Across Europe. Part 2: current state and non-existent consequences.

Nicolae Bogdan Buzaianu, once a central figure in Gambia’s illicit rosewood trade, continues to operate a vast network of interconnected businesses across Europe and Africa, strategically structured to conceal his involvement. Recent reports reveal his efforts to extend influence into Africa, further solidifying his reputation as a resource exploiter and manipulator of financial systems. Despite […]

The European Blindspot: Luxembourg Freeport, Hidden Networks, and the Myth of Imported Corruption

By Pavel Dimitrov When Europe confronts corruption scandals with global dimensions, the narrative often frames foreign actors as the primary culprits. Reports from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) frequently position Europe as the victim of imported corruption. But the story of the Luxembourg Freeport—a tax-free […]

Behind the Curtain: How Nicolae Buzaianu’s Network Evades Scrutiny Across Europe

Nicolae Bogdan Buzaianu, once notorious for his role in Gambia’s rosewood trafficking, operates a vast, intricate web of proxies, luxury properties, and shell companies across Europe, hidden from public view. This investigation reveals how Buzaianu maintains his empire through a sophisticated system of nominees, dissolved entities, and strategic distancing from direct ownership. A Gambia Connection […]