Leaked documents point to more than 1,000 allegedly backdated records linked to companies associated with Roman Abramovich.
An international investigation published on October 12 alleges that Deloitte’s Cyprus office and corporate services firm Meritservus helped backdate more than 1,000 records for over 100 companies linked to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
The reporting, based on leaked emails, corporate documents and financial records, covers transactions dating from 1999 to 2013. Journalists say the paperwork may have helped obscure the movement of billions of dollars in assets and reduce tax liabilities.
Deloitte Cyprus said it acts in compliance with applicable laws and could not comment on specific correspondence dating back more than 20 years. Abramovich’s lawyers denied that he knew of or participated in unlawful backdating, asset concealment or tax evasion.
The allegations have not been established as findings of a court. The investigation was reported by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, in collaboration with BBC Panorama and reporting partners including The Guardian and OCCRP.
The findings raise fresh questions about offshore company records, financial transparency and the role of professional advisers in managing the wealth of high-profile clients.
