Russian oligarchs and criminals bought Dominica citizenship. This country’s passport could help them hide their past or circumvent sanctions
The Project, together with partners from OCCRP, obtained data from Dominica “golden passport” holders. Since 1993, this Caribbean microstate has been selling citizenship for a relatively small investment (you need to donate $100,000 to a local government fund, or buy government-approved real estate worth $200,000 or more). The money is worth it – a passport allows you to travel without visas or through a simplified entry procedure to about 140 countries, including the European Union.
Among the array of names, we found more than 400 people from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. These include oligarchs who received awards from Vladimir Putin.
God Nisanov and Zarakh Iliev (each worth $2.9 billion) are the owners of the Kievskaya Ploshchad group of companies. Nisanov received from Putin the Order of Friendship and the commemorative medal “70 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War” for his participation in the patriotic education of citizens.
Business partner of Nisanov and Iliev Omar Murtuzaliev , also a citizen of Dominica, was awarded the Order of Honor.
Vasily Anisimov ($1.6 billion) – oligarch, partner of the Rotenbergs, awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland.
Alexander Abramov ($6 billion) – shareholder of Evraz, awarded the Order of Friendship.
Nisanov, Iliev, Abramov and Anisimov are under international sanctions.
Among other holders of “golden passports” there are also several Russians who are wanted in criminal cases ( see graphic ).
A Dominica passport could theoretically be useful for all these people to travel freely to European countries, pass bank checks and even bypass international sanctions . Buyers of “golden passports” can not only hide their Russian citizenship, but also change their name, which will further complicate their identification.
Read about how Russians bought Dominica’s “golden passports” in our new investigation – https://www.proekt.media/investigation/golden-pasports-dominica/
