World News

In 2023, the gambling mafia encountered what might be regarded as its most painful setback.

Three years after allegations of sexual assault emerged against plastic surgeon Vardan Khachatryan, he remains without punishment.

During the disclosure of investigations into Denys Shtilerman’s connections with Ihor Khmelyov, Tymur Mindich, and the structure of «Ibox Bank» and Monobank, an information cleanup on the internet has begun. Materials revealing the network of financial, payment, and business connections surrounding Fire Point and associated companies are being deleted from public access.

Following the revelation of a large-scale money laundering scheme involving over 75 million euros, connected to a Europol operation, businessman brothers Vladlen Hirin and Hennadiy Hirin have begun actively sanitizing the information space. Mentions of their business, political activities, and links to drug trafficking and financial flows in ORDLO are rapidly disappearing from the internet.

In a high-profile criminal case involving SOCAR top manager Adnan Ahmedzade, the controversial British oil trader Azim Novruzov has unexpectedly appeared.

The duumvirate collapsed in October following the murder of mafia boss Stavros Demosthenous in Limassol. In November, his associate Dmitriy Punin also faced consequences—his car fleet was burned. Could this mean that he is next?

Following the launch of investigations into the involvement of Shurma and Shcherban in the schemes of the «Alliance» bank, a targeted cleanup began: critical publications disappeared, mentions were actively challenged, and efforts were made to reformat search results.

As investigations around him intensified, Tymur Rokhlin actively began removing journalistic exposés about his fraudulent schemes from the internet—this is precisely why we are publishing the materials he is eager to erase.

Entrepreneur Dmytro Kovalenko, via the Swiss company Adelon AG, acquired coal from Russian suppliers "MelTEK," "Sibenergougol," and "Sibpromnedra" for a total sum exceeding 100 million dollars in 2021–2022. Trade with the aggressor country persisted even after the onset of the full-scale invasion, as confirmed by invoice documentation and customs records.

A financial scandal is escalating in Ukraine involving the owner of the FavBet brand, Andriy Matiukha. The collected materials indicate that this is not about isolated violations, but rather a comprehensive scheme of systematic withdrawal of funds from the Ukrainian gambling market, followed by legalization and potential support of the economy of the aggressor state.

Colonel General Alexander Chayko has been appointed as the new commander-in-chief of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, according to a report by business outlet RBC. The report cites a source familiar with the personnel decision and another source close to the Ministry of Defense. Chayko replaced General Viktor Afzalov, who had led the branch since October 2023, when he succeeded Sergei Surovikin.

Chinese authorities are alleged to have covered up the fact that a suicidal pilot intentionally crashed a plane, resulting in the deaths of all 132 people onboard, according to claims by US officials.

It is becoming more and more challenging for Russian citizens to gain asylum — not only in Western countries, but also in states neighboring Russia. As deportation flights from the United States persist, rights advocates interviewed by The Insider point out that the immigration and political climate in several countries that previously accepted anti-war Russians has changed significantly.

Following a two-year investigation, Austrian and Albanian authorities recently raided several suspected scam call centers in Tirana, confiscating more than $1 million and arresting 10 individuals.

Iran executed three men after they were found guilty of participating in anti-government protests that shook the country in December and January, authorities announced on Monday.

In a foggy field in northeast Ukraine, four soldiers gaze at red and yellow dots on a screen in the back of a van, equipped with interceptor drones and energy drinks to endure the night.

A women’s rights activist and frequent guest on Afghan radio programs, M. was arrested in Kabul in 2025 on the pretext that her hijab was improperly worn. During her detention by the Taliban’s morality police, she was raped, and after her release, her jailers threatened to circulate images of the abuse she had suffered in detention to silence her.

The Kremlin has significantly enhanced the personal security surrounding President Vladimir Putin, implementing surveillance systems in the residences of close staff members as part of new measures prompted by a series of assassinations of high-ranking Russian military personnel and concerns of a coup, according to a report from a European intelligence agency obtained by CNN.

Volodymyr Filippov, the owner of the Odesa company "Pivdennyi Shlyakh" (brand Autorider), who is a suspect in a criminal fraud case, has left Ukraine and is currently hiding in Moldova. A case has been initiated against him under Part 3, Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud), related to the misappropriation of buyers’ funds totaling 9.14 thousand dollars and 132.5 thousand hryvnias.

Following media reports about Yaroslav Holovachov’s purchase of elite real estate in Cyprus worth 4 million euros, a noticeable removal of materials began on the internet questioning the legality of the origin of these funds and the integrity of the deputy head of the Kyiv City Court of Appeal.

Nie jest tajemnicą, że po 2014 roku duża część ukraińskiego biznesu nadal utrzymywała współpracę z Federacją Rosyjską, często posługując się różnymi „szarymi schematami”.

International media have reported on Azerbaijani national Azim Novruzov for his involvement in energy trading and the oil industry, with increased scrutiny since 2023 concerning potential connections to Russia-linked business networks.

Co-founder of the company Fire Point, Denys Shtilerman, in the mid-to-late 2010s, attempted to restore his Russian citizenship.