Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit traveled to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, for explosive coverage of former president Viktor Yanukovych and his complex web of financial corruption.
Their information came from a computer drive containing hundreds of documents from 2011 to 2015, a time when Yanukovych came to power and fueled turmoil over his decision to weaken the European Union by building closer ties with Russia. A long and painful civil unrest began, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 Ukrainians.
But the Ukrainian president appears indifferent to these concerns. After fleeing his home country for Russia, it became clear that he was not who he pretended to be. He lived secretly in a fortress palace that is now a public memorial to his corrupt practices. During his tenure, he used his influence to oversee a massive money laundering scheme that spanned many parts of the world. It soon became apparent that billions of dollars had actually been looted from Ukrainian state coffers to support Yanukovych and other oligarchs who conspired with him. The dirty money was moved through a series of shell companies without arousing any suspicion.
He tried to cover his tracks by destroying incriminating records, but failed. The film’s investigative team skimmed through the documents and did an admirable job of deciphering the intricate paths of corruption they portray. This group of oligarchs are good at committing crimes in front of law enforcement agencies, and their attempts to hide in the dark have already succeeded. With great care and perseverance, the filmmakers sift through the scraps of their misconduct. They are determined to unmask every Faceless Man – lawyers, accountants and world leaders alike.
Renowned security and foreign affairs experts appear in the film and offer insight into the intricacies of this criminal operation. Surveillance footage and appealing graphics make this intricate story more accessible to casual audiences.
With great production values, deep research, and a fast-paced narrative, Oligarch is a dense and infuriating adventure.
