2020 Year in Review Crime, Corruption, and Coronavirus Table of Contents OUR MISSION & VISION ................................. 2 LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER ...................... 3 IT TAKES A NETWORK FACING THE FIGHT: JOURNALISTS TO FIGHT A NETWORK BATTLE CRACKDOWNS, CONTROL, AND CRISES ...................................................... 4 THE NETWORK: OUR MEMBER CENTERS ................................. 5 OUR MISSION OUR THEORY OF CHANGE THE NETWORK: By developing and OCCRP exposes and explains the relationship between money and power and serves as a catalyst that PUBLISHING PARTNERS ................................. 6 equipping a global network arms others with the information needed to drive positive change. As investigative journalists, we expose crime and corruption at the highest levels. Using these revelations, advocates can press for policy reform IMPACT TO DATE ............................................. 7 of investigative journalists and package information for law enforcement, which has the authority to act on evidence and deliver and publishing their stories, justice. Policymakers can point to investigative findings to pass legislation and advance reforms. Citizens THE YEAR IN NUMBERS .................................. 7 OCCRP exposes crime and who read our work get the information they need to act and organize on their own behalf. STORIES THAT MATTERED: corruption so the public can 2020 HIGHLIGHTS ........................................... 8 hold power to account. CUTTING EDGE TECH, DATA, AND ADVANCING THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA RESEARCH TO FOLLOW THE MONEY .......... 13 The historic adoption of Goal 16 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable De- OCCRP PRODUCTIONS ................................ 14 velopment made peace, governance, and anti-corruption central to advancing CORRUPT PERSON OF THE YEAR ................ 15 international development around the world for the first time. OCCRP’s work di- rectly contributes to the global community’s ability to meet this goal and reach AWARD HIGHLIGHTS .................................... 15 OUR VISION key targets: • 16.4: to “significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the re- RESPONDING TO RISING THREATS ............. 17 A world where lives, covery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime;” livelihoods, and democracy ACCELERATING IMPACT ............................... 18 • 16.5: to “substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.” are not threatened by ACCOMPLICE PROGRAM .............................. 18 crime and corruption. Our work also addresses Goal 10, to reduce inequalities, by exposing how or- ganized crime and corrupt politicians launder vast sums through the global OUR REACH .................................................... 19 financial system and further widen the gap between elites and the rest of so- STRATEGIC PLAN 2020-2023 ........................ 20 ciety. Our work contributes to achieving a key target: improved regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions and strengthening of the LOOKING AHEAD .......................................... 20 implementation of such regulations. BOARD OF DIRECTORS ................................. 21 OUR SUPPORTERS ......................................... 23 FINANCIALS ................................................... 24 PAGE 2 We are living in interesting times. Precarious times, clearly, that showed the many ways governments and criminals for independent media. Around the world there is rising took advantage of the crisis. Despite personal and profes- Letter from the Publisher authoritarianism, as heads of state solidify their power by sional challenges — sometimes to the brink — our brave whittling away democratic institutions. The independent staff circumvented the difficulties of reporting during lock- press often is the first obstacle for them to overcome and downs and what seemed like non-stop crises. they do it by bearing down financially, legally, and some- Despite significant difficulties, we published more than 100 times physically. Autocrats have found common cause to unique investigative stories with profound results. Our sto- undermine democracy with libertarian billionaires, orga- ries have now contributed to more than $7.3 billion seized nized crime, and special business interests. State borders by governments, levied in fines, or otherwise given back to matter little to those who seek to build circles of influence the people from criminals and corrupt actors. across many boundaries. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation by giving illiberal states the excuse to plun- Among the many awards we won this year, we were de- der budgets, crack down on the press, foster distrust of lighted to be the first media outlet to win a Skoll Award for the media, and deny access to public information. In some Social Entrepreneurship, given to a handful of organiza- countries, new emergency laws let governments arrest tions who have had “significant, proven impact on some anyone it deems to be distributing “fake news,” leading to of the world’s most pressing problems.” We are also really repercussions for critical reporting. proud of our first “EPPY Awards” from Editor & Publisher magazine for our Riviera Maya Gang series. And our Troika But we are also living in what I call the golden age of inves- Laundromat investigation won the Sigma Data Journalism tigative journalism. Robust cross-border collaboration, in- Award and is now part of the City, University of London’s novative tech tools, and vigorous training have dovetailed financial journalism curriculum, helping us educate new to create roaming cross-media, virtual international re- generations of investigative reporters. porting teams that work together to take on crucial issues. They have effectively countered false information being We started the “OCCRP Accomplice” membership program, pumped out by repressive regimes, highlighted the power and we’re incredibly grateful to the many readers who and money grabs during the pandemic, and un-blanketed signed up and contributed to our mission. This support the strange bed partners undermining democracy. Report- and the comments we get with donations — “Your work is ers across our 50+ member center network help combat fundamental to democracy” and “I admire your courage and disinformation every day by giving citizens trustworthy, perseverance in the fight against corruption”— remind us evidence-based reporting, empowering them to make why we do this work: for the people. decisions based on facts. Reflecting this spike in demand for reliable reporting, our website traffic rose more than You can count on us to be tenacious and truthful; it’s not 30 percent this year, with almost 40 million unique page just a job for us, but a lifelong calling. And we’ll never stop views. until we achieve our vision of a world where lives, liveli- hoods, and democracy are not threatened by crime and We are extremely fortunate to work with some of the best corruption. journalists on the planet. After the pandemic hit, our team quickly pivoted to launch the “Crime, Corruption, and Coro- navirus” project and publish a flurry of stories and analysis With Gratitude, Drew Sullivan PAGE 3 We literally have a fake news government. Anuška Delić, Investigative Reporter and Founder, Oštro, Slovenia The government pruning of the presidential press corps sends a Facing the Fight: Journalists Battle strong message about media control. Crackdowns, Control, and Crises Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher, Premium Times, Nigeria As the pandemic spread around the world, our In the early months of the crisis, the situation on journalists fought treacherous conditions as they the ground changed moment to moment. Report- tried to do their jobs. Reports from across our ers in our network weighed in almost daily about 52-member center network illustrate how govern- what they were seeing, such as the limitations ments used a range of tactics to control coverage and lockdowns, and how journalists were being Government programming has extremely wide reach, and jour- of the COVID-19 outbreak and tighten their grip treated by their governments. Many journalists nalists who ask questions are being crucified on social media by on public information. These developments dealt feared retaliation for reporting the truth as they pro-government media. a crushing blow to freedom of the press in many watched colleagues get hauled in by the authori- Saška Cvetkovska, Co-founder, Investigative Reporting Lab Macedonia countries following years of decline, denying citi- ties for a social media post or a news story. Peo- zens access to the truth at a crucial time. ple across the OCCRP network commiserated and sent messages of support, offering tactics on how In countries with poor press freedom records, to circumvent restrictions. Reporters in embattled authorities used crisis conditions to crack down countries were connected to publications in freer further. Our Middle East editor Rana Sabbagh Since the pandemic started, the government has practically countries, which published honest accounts of reported that throughout the region — one of the stopped answering any questions from independent organiza- current events. most threatening in the world for reporters — tions. governments made it clear to journalists that any With no signs of these conditions abating, we Tamás Bodoky, Reporter, Editor, and Publisher, ATLATSZO, Hungary criticism would not be tolerated. “COVID-19