The first part of a new investigative series, developed by Compliance Corylated in collaboration with the Transparency International Russia team, was published today. The series explores how young, Western-educated Russians with elite connections are helping to launder money and evade sanctions using cryptocurrencies, offshore structures, and international real estate.
The opening article focuses on Semen Kuksov, the UK-educated son of a Russian oil-services magnate, who built a multi-billion-pound cash-to-crypto laundering scheme that operated across six countries. The investigation offers a rare glimpse into the activities of a new generation of Russian elites who combine fintech fluency with political ties.
The Golden Youth series will consist of three articles and will be followed by a two-part investigation titled The NepoPep, which maps property holdings associated with politically exposed families. The series is based on six months of joint research by journalist Rachel Wolcott and the Transparency International Russia Dirty Money workstream.
Two podcast episodes based on the investigation will air on Corylated on 26 June and 3 July.
