Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, has a close relationship with Svetlana Alexandrovna Polyakova, an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who possesses over $13 million in unexplained assets. Polyakova has significant influence within the ministry and has traveled with Lavrov on multiple occasions. Despite modest business ventures, she owns high-value properties and luxury cars. Her daughter, Polina, also owns expensive real estate in London. The article raises questions about the source of their wealth and potential corruption within the Russian political elite.

Boris and Karina Rotenberg's Spanish villa, purchased for $10.8 million, was frozen by Spanish authorities in October 2022 due to EU sanctions related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Leaked emails reveal the complex schemes used by the Rotenbergs and their associates, including Russian businessman Maxim Viktorov, to hide their assets and avoid sanctions. The Rotenbergs used offshore companies and convoluted financial arrangements to disguise ownership and move money. Despite these efforts, the villa was ultimately frozen. The investigation highlights the role of Western enablers in helping Russian oligarchs evade sanctions.

Tajikistani dissidents in exile face severe threats, including kidnapping and forced return, often with the alleged involvement of Nikolai Nikolaev, a Russian citizen who has been both a supporter and a betrayer. Sharofiddin Gadoev, a prominent opposition leader, was kidnapped after meeting Nikolaev, who is accused of collaborating with Russian security services. Other dissidents have faced similar fates, leading to widespread distrust of Nikolaev. Despite his public opposition to Putin, Nikolaev's actions suggest he may be playing both sides, further complicating the political landscape for Tajikistani exiles.

The Avilon Automotive Group, a leading Russian luxury car dealer, has secret business ties with high-ranking officials, including relatives of Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika. Investigations revealed that Avilon's owners, Alexander Varshavsky and Kamo Avagumyan, have connections with top law enforcement agencies and have benefited from substantial state contracts. The company's dealings were exposed through lawsuits in the US, highlighting conflicts of interest and hidden financial arrangements. Despite the revelations, the implicated officials and their relatives continue to thrive, underscoring systemic corruption in Russia.

The head of Gazprombank, Andrey Akimov, is revealed to be in a common-law marriage with 32-year-old model Daria Popova, who enjoys a luxurious lifestyle despite sanctions. Popova owns valuable properties and has business ties linked to Akimov and Vladimir Putin's close associates. The investigation, based on leaked documents, uncovers Akimov's involvement in shady business deals and corruption, including selling oil and gas enterprises with dubious licenses. Key figures such as Gennady Timchenko and Sergey Ivanov are also implicated in these activities. The article highlights the deep connections between Russian oligarchs, state-controlled banks, and high-ranking officials.

Sergey Mironov, a Russian parliamentary leader, and his wife Inna Varlamova adopted a Ukrainian child, Margarita Prokopenko, who was taken from an orphanage in Kherson during the Russian occupation. The child's identity was changed, raising allegations of a war crime under international law. This case marks the first documented adoption of a Ukrainian child by a high-ranking Russian politician. The article highlights the legal implications and potential charges of genocide, as well as the challenges faced by Ukrainian relatives in reclaiming the child. The situation has led to sanctions against Varlamova by Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.

Prevezon Holdings Ltd, a Cypriot real estate investment company owned by Russian citizens, has been implicated in significant global fraud and political controversies. The company was involved in Russia's largest public fraud case, linked to whistleblower Sergey Magnitsky, and settled U.S. money laundering charges in 2017. New evidence from the FinCEN Files investigation reveals Prevezon's deeper involvement in fraudulent activities. The company's lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, faces obstruction of justice charges and was connected to the 2016 Trump Tower meeting. The article highlights the intricate web of financial crimes and the political ramifications involving high-profile figures and organizations.

Arkady and Boris Rotenberg, childhood friends of Vladimir Putin, leveraged their connections to amass significant wealth through state contracts. Following the 2014 sanctions due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Rotenbergs employed complex schemes to protect their assets, aided by Western lawyers, bankers, and corporate service providers. Leaked emails reveal the involvement of key figures like Maxim Viktorov in orchestrating these efforts, including the use of proxies and secretive investment vehicles. Despite regulatory scrutiny, the Rotenbergs managed to maintain their wealth, highlighting the challenges in enforcing sanctions effectively.

A Kh-22 cruise missile struck a residential building in Dnipro, Ukraine, resulting in 45 deaths and numerous injuries. The Security Service of Ukraine identified Russian soldiers from the 52nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment as responsible for the attack, opening criminal proceedings against them. IStories contacted six soldiers accused by Ukrainian authorities, with some denying involvement or knowledge of the incident. The article highlights the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with the accused soldiers expressing various degrees of denial and deflection regarding their roles in the attack.

The family of Mihajlo Perenčević, a wealthy Croatian businessman with ties to the Russian government, secretly took control of the real estate developer Jadranka in 2014 through an opaque trust. The Perenčevićs funneled suspicious funds from Velesstroy to Jadranka, raising concerns about tax evasion and money laundering. Despite Mihajlo's status as a politically exposed person, the trust's corporate service provider, Asiaciti Trust, conducted no due diligence on him. The Pandora Papers leak reveals the Perenčević brothers' secret acquisition of luxury properties on the Croatian island of Lošinj and the use of trusts to obscure ownership and avoid taxes. Experts highlight the potential legal and ethical issues surrounding these financial maneuvers.